Your FileMaker system does not need to be replaced. It needs to be modernised.
Businesses outgrow their FileMaker systems slowly, then all at once. Performance degrades, layouts look dated, integrations break, and users start working around the system instead of in it. That is a modernisation problem, not a replacement problem.
BasicData has been modernising production FileMaker systems since 2018. We upgrade, refactor, and extend what you have rather than starting over and asking you to fund a rebuild.
What a FileMaker modernisation project actually covers.
Modernisation is not a single task. It is a structured set of improvements across the data model, interface, logic, performance, and infrastructure layers of your system. We scope each area independently so you can prioritise what matters most.
Version upgrade and compatibility testing
UI and layout redesign for modern workflows
Script and logic refactoring
Data model restructuring and optimisation
Performance tuning and query optimisation
REST API and third-party integration updates
Security audit and access control review
WebDirect and FileMaker Go readiness
Documentation and knowledge transfer
The system you have is worth more than you think.
The instinct when a system starts showing its age is to replace it. That instinct is expensive. A mature FileMaker system contains years of data relationships, business rules, and workflow logic that took years to build correctly. Throwing it away means rebuilding all of that from scratch, and getting it wrong the first time again.
BasicData has been extending and modernising production FileMaker systems since 2018. Our clients have been with us for an average of eight years. The systems we inherit are rarely beyond saving. Most of the time, the foundation is sound and the problems are in the layers built on top of it.
We are a registered member of the Claris FileMaker Business Alliance, the formal partner programme for professional FileMaker development companies.
Businesses whose FileMaker systems have grown faster than the original build.
Our modernisation clients are typically businesses that built a solid FileMaker system several years ago and have been extending it incrementally ever since. The core still works, but the system is starting to creak under the weight of growth, version changes, and new requirements it was never designed for.
Questions about FileMaker modernisation.
When to modernise, what it involves, and how we do it without disrupting your business.
How do I know if my FileMaker system needs modernising?
Common signs include: users working around the system rather than in it, slow performance as data volumes grow, layouts that do not work on newer screens or devices, scripts that break after FileMaker version updates, and integrations with other systems that no longer function. If your system feels like it is holding your business back rather than keeping up with it, that is the signal.
Do we need to rebuild the system from scratch?
Rarely. Most modernisation projects extend and refactor what exists rather than replace it. Years of business logic, data relationships, and workflow are embedded in a mature FileMaker system. We preserve what works, fix what does not, and build on the foundation you already have.
What FileMaker versions do you upgrade from and to?
We upgrade from any version of FileMaker, including FileMaker 6, 7, and older file formats that pre-date the .fmp12 format. All upgrades target the current Claris FileMaker platform. Older formats require a conversion step before modernisation work begins.
How long does a modernisation project take?
It depends on the size and condition of the system. A focused modernisation of a single module typically takes four to eight weeks. Large systems with significant technical debt are scoped in phases so you see improvement incrementally rather than waiting for a single large release.
Can you modernise our system while we are still using it?
Yes. We work in a development copy of your system and release changes in tested stages. Your live system keeps running throughout the process. We coordinate updates to minimise disruption and schedule any required downtime during off-peak hours.
What does FileMaker modernisation cost?
Cost depends on the scope of work identified in the initial audit. We quote per phase rather than as a single fixed price, so you have control over the investment at each stage. We will not quote blind, but we will give you a clear picture after an assessment.
Tell us about your existing system.
Describe what you have and what is not working as well as it should. We will tell you honestly what modernisation would involve and whether it is worth doing.