Solution
Replacing Excel and FileMaker
We replace home-grown Excel, Access and FileMaker solutions with a web application that mirrors your process exactly, can be used by several people at once and is connected to your ERP and accounting. The switch is made step by step, with a clean data migration.
Who it is for: For businesses whose core process lives in a self-built solution that is reaching its limits.
Starting point
How the process runs today
The solution was created years ago because the ERP could not do something. It has grown ever since: macros, linked files, special cases. It works, but only on certain computers, only for one person at a time and only as long as the colleague who built it is around. Every change is a risk.
What it costs
- Key knowledge rests with one person who may retire or resign.
- Several people cannot work at the same time, and files get overwritten.
- Reports for management are produced by hand.
- No access on the move, no permissions, no audit trail.
- FileMaker licences and old versions cause ongoing costs and security gaps.
Process
What the process looks like afterwards
01
Inventory
We document what today's solution really does, special cases included.
02
Target picture
Together we decide what is carried over, simplified or dropped.
03
First stage
The area causing the most pain is replaced first and goes into live use.
04
Data migration
Existing data is cleaned up, migrated in a trial run and reconciled.
05
Integration
ERP, accounting and email are connected, and duplicate entry disappears.
06
Switch-over
Training, parallel running where needed, then the old solution is archived.
Integrations
Which systems are connected
The new application does not replace your ERP. It takes over the part the ERP does not cover and exchanges master data, orders and documents with it.
- ERP and accounting
- Abacus
- bexio
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
- SAP Business One
- proALPHA
- Calendar and collaboration
- Microsoft 365
- Documents and archive
- DMS and archive
Make or buy
Off-the-shelf or custom?
Off-the-shelf software is enough if
- A module of your ERP or an industry solution covers 80% of the process.
- The solution is used by a few people and is not business-critical.
- The process is standard and does not set your business apart.
Finished products for this case: An add-on module for your ERP, industry software or tools such as Airtable, Microsoft Lists and Power Apps.
Custom is worth it if
- The process is your competitive advantage and should stay as it is.
- Several departments and sites work with it at the same time.
- Permissions, traceability and reporting are required.
- The solution has to exchange data with the ERP, production or customers.
Effort
Price range and duration
- Price range
- CHF 40'000 to 150'000
- Duration
- 3 to 8 months
Non-binding estimate, excl. VAT.
What drives the effort
The deciding factors are the functional scope of today's solution, the data quality and the number of integrations. The first stage is usually live after six to ten weeks.
The price becomes binding after the fixed-price discovery phase.
Replacing Excel and FileMaker
Frequently asked questions
What happens to the data in Excel or FileMaker?
It is cleaned up and migrated. Migration is a stage in its own right: we analyse the existing data, define rules for duplicates and gaps, and carry out at least one trial run before the switch.
Can we switch over gradually?
Yes, and we recommend it. The area causing the most pain is replaced first, while the old solution carries on for the rest. The benefit shows early and the risk per step stays small.
Who holds the rights to the code and the data?
The data is yours. The source code is kept in a repository you have access to, and the usage rights to it pass to you once the work is paid in full. We rely on widely used technologies such as Next.js, C# and PostgreSQL, so that another team can take the software forward if needed.
Let us talk about your case.
20 minutes are enough to find out whether a custom solution is worth it for you.