AI Is Moving Fast. Your Technology Partner Should Be, Too
Just a year ago, artificial intelligence was largely a topic of curiosity. Businesses were experimenting with tools like ChatGPT, but for many organizations, AI still felt like something on the horizon.
Today, that has changed.
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of the everyday business technology landscape. From drafting communications and analyzing data to automating workflows and accelerating software development, organizations are actively exploring how AI can improve efficiency, reduce manual effort, and create new opportunities for growth.
At The Support Group, we’re closely monitoring these developments. But we’re approaching AI the same way we’ve approached every major technology shift over the last four decades: thoughtfully, strategically, and with our clients’ business goals at the center.
The Technology Is Changing; the Need for Partnership Isn’t
One of the biggest misconceptions about AI is that it’s simply a tool replacement.
The reality is more nuanced.
AI can help generate code, create prototypes, analyze information, and automate certain tasks at remarkable speed. In many cases, work that once took hours—or even days—can now be completed in a fraction of the time.
That’s exciting.
But technology alone doesn’t solve business problems.
Understanding workflows, identifying bottlenecks, evaluating tradeoffs, and designing solutions that fit the way a company actually operates still requires experience, context, and collaboration. Those are the same skills that have always been at the heart of successful software projects.
Our role has never been limited to building databases or writing code. Our role is to understand your business challenges and help you find the right solution.
AI simply gives us another powerful set of tools to do that.
What We’re Seeing From Clients
Perhaps the biggest change over the last year isn’t the technology itself—it’s the level of interest from businesses.
When Claris introduced AI integration capabilities in FileMaker 2025, it opened new possibilities for organizations that rely on custom business applications. Businesses can now leverage AI directly within FileMaker solutions to summarize information, process documents, generate content, analyze data, and automate workflows without leaving the systems they already use every day.
Clients want to know:
- What’s possible?
- Where does AI make sense?
- What are the risks?
- How can it improve existing workflows?
- How do we implement it responsibly?
These are exactly the kinds of conversations we enjoy having. We’ve had one client, a refrigeration repair company, ask if we can use AI to clean up notes from their technicians. Another customer is looking to have personalized email messages created based on their customer data: how long since they were last in the store, how long since they bought something, what they bought last time, etc. We’ve even seen success implementing AI for document processing and data analysis with our client, Har-Conn Chrome – read more about that solution here.
Because every organization is different, there is no one-size-fits-all AI strategy. Some use cases deliver immediate value. Others may not make sense at all. The key is identifying opportunities where AI genuinely improves efficiency, accuracy, or user experience—not adopting technology simply because it’s new.
Learning by Doing
We’re also committed to exploring AI internally.
The best way to help clients navigate emerging technology is to understand it firsthand. Our team continually experiments with new tools, workflows, and capabilities so we can better evaluate where AI adds value and where traditional approaches remain the better choice.
That practical experience helps us separate the hype from the reality.
AI is powerful, but it isn’t magic. Like any technology, its success depends on how it’s implemented and how well it aligns with business objectives.
Looking Ahead
As we look toward the next generation of FileMaker and the broader evolution of AI-powered business applications, one thing is clear: change is coming quickly.
We’re excited about that.
Not because AI replaces the need for expertise, but because it expands what’s possible for our clients. It allows us to build smarter solutions, move faster, and create new opportunities for automation and innovation.
The tools may evolve.
The mission doesn’t.
The Support Group remains focused on helping organizations solve problems, improve processes, and get more value from their technology investments. Whether that solution involves FileMaker, AI, or something entirely different, our goal remains the same: to be a trusted partner who understands your business and helps you move forward with confidence. Reach out to discover what’s possible!
