Retail Company needs Web Server Replication For many brick-and-mortar companies, adding an web site as an additional sales channel has been a successful strategy. However, this new mode of expansion brings its own problems such as lack of connectivity to an ISP-hosted E-commerce database, creating a new wrinkle in the old challenge of customer service. Web customers want to know if a product is in stock and when it will ship. Failure to address these issues can cost a company its reputation. In the example below FileMaker Pro, enhanced with SyncDeK's synchronization capabilities, solves this simple yet costly problem. Problem: Database Disconnection A successful retail company recently launched its new FileMaker driven website. The new launch precipitated a 75% increase in orders. Unfortunately, the large number of records created in the web-hosted database must be downloaded from the web server and imported into the FileMaker Pro solution that has always managed customer info, tracked inventory, and integrated with accounting. Staff handled this import manually twice daily, and after each import a new database with updated inventory was uploaded to the web server and replaced the existing database. Between imports, order fulfillment was slowed, while inventory status was murky at best. The staff was frustrated by their inability to predict product availability to the public, while inventory shortfalls frustrated the "have-to-have-it-yesterday" website customers. The Solution: Synchronize Web and Office Databases with SyncDeK SyncDeK was configured with the FileMaker database files. FileMaker Server is located at the ISP where it serves databases through a web interface. This setup was duplicated in the office by setting up a local FileMaker Server there. SyncDeK is automated on each end, so that synchronization occurs between main office and the Web Server every few minutes. Syncing activities are handled by SyncDeK, eliminating new processing requirements for the servers, and making the process transparent to end users. Should the company experience a web server or office database failure, SyncDeK log files can augment the hourly tape back-ups to bring the system back up-to-date quickly and accurately. Another benefit is the quick availability of new product information and price changes on the web site. As these entries are made in the home office they are replicated to the website in the next scheduled sync. As the SyncDeK-enabled solution smoothly delivers information, sales and customer satisfaction levels have increased again, but this time the company is connected. Product: Multi-Server Starter Kit or FMS-to-SQL Starter Kit Proven Benefits