The FileMaker Conference 2025 in Hamburg is over - and it was a special milestone in many respects. Not only because this year's conference focused on many topics related to artificial intelligence, performance and modern workflows - but also because the personal exchange and the "family atmosphere" of the FileMaker community once again came into its own. For me personally, it was an intensive, inspiring and all-round enriching time - right from the very first evening.
Arrival & kick-off: The long Sunday evening
The FileMaker Conference officially began on Monday, but as is so often the case, the hard core arrived on Sunday - and this year I was definitely one of them. What at first glance looks like a relaxed welcome evening quickly developed into a real networking event in the best sense of the word: open conversations, new faces, old acquaintances - and of course a drink or two. As a result, we didn't finish the evening until around two o'clock in the morning - not out of a sense of duty, but because the exchange was simply too exciting.
The first evening has its very own rhythm: no official program, no time pressure - just people meeting on a deep, professional and personal level. Especially after the long pandemic break and the digital overdose of recent years, it was soothing to feel real, analog FileMaker life again.
Start of the conference: focus on artificial intelligence - but not only
On Monday, things really got going - albeit for some (including me) with a slight pressure on the forehead from the previous evening. But that's exactly what this conference is all about: It doesn't just thrive on sessions, but on togetherness - and that includes late-night expert discussions over beer or wine.
The content was clear to see: Artificial intelligence has found its way into the FileMaker world. Many presentations and sessions focused on current developments - be it in terms of prompting, model performance, client-server combinations or the integration of external AI services into FileMaker workflows.
Particularly exciting: HOnza's AI performance session
A personal highlight for me was the session by HOnza, who came from the Czech Republic from 24U Software had traveled to the event. He presented current tests on AI performance within FileMaker, especially in interaction with MLX (Apple Machine Learning Framework) and various locally running models.
What was previously only considered a theoretical experiment is now becoming practical: FileMaker applications that interact directly with AI models, locally or hybrid - and in real time. Honza's tests impressively demonstrated the speeds that can now be achieved if the architecture is chosen wisely and modern components are integrated.
Even those who previously thought AI was an "external topic" realized this at the latest: The future will be intelligent, integrated - and customizable. There are enormous opportunities for developers working on this today.
Current survey on the future of Claris FileMaker and AI
Further topics: JavaScript, performance, FileMaker optimization
In addition to the focus on AI, there were of course also sessions on classic yet highly topical subjects:
- JavaScript in FileMaker - from basic integration to advanced UI customizations
- Performance tuning - how to create smooth user experiences even with large amounts of data
- FileMaker server optimization - Important tips for administrators who want to get more out of their hardware
All in all, the selection of topics was broad enough to provide valuable impulses for both newcomers and old hands - and at the same time focused enough to make current trends tangible.
FMM Awards: A beautiful tradition lives on
On the second day of the conference, a fixed part of the conference program was on the agenda: the presentation of the FMM Awards by Klemens Kegebein from K&K-Verlag, the publisher of the FileMaker Magazine.
Three awards were presented this year - a worthy recognition for outstanding achievements in the FileMaker environment. Whether for innovative solutions, creative plugins or pioneering community contributions: The FMM Award continues to be a symbol of commitment and quality in the scene. Once again this year, Klemens managed to give each award winner the deserved stage with a short, personal review - without much fanfare, but with heart and expertise.
Unexpected interruption: fire alarm in the hotel - with blanket, wind and humor
What would a good conference be without a little incident? This year, it was a real fire alarm that made for an unforgettable moment - and inadvertently became the talk of the evening.
It was the second evening. Most of the participants had already made themselves comfortable in the large hotel bar. A really impressive room with plenty of space, subdued lighting and a pleasant mix of beer, wine, whisky - and conversations that were as deep as they were relaxed. I had just gone back to my room myself - a quick detour to roll myself another cigarette. So I'm in my room, rolling my cigarette in peace and making my way back to the elevator. But before I can get in, the indicators suddenly start flashing - and the display says: "Lift under fire". I stumble and think: "Well, that's a bad joke now..."
So I take the stairs - you're careful - and arrive at the bottom. There's actually a policeman standing in the lobby. I approach him and ask him a relaxed question:
"Fire? Nah, probably not, right? All good?"
The Hamburg policeman's answer, dry as an old Lemberger:
"I don't know - somehow they're not able to give us any information here."
You couldn't have put it more aptly. I just thought to myself: "All right, then, have a smoke first". And while others might have been pacing around nervously, I walked through the back exit of the hotel, out into the fresh air, and smoked my cigarette. When I came back, suddenly... no one was there. The whole hotel seemed deserted. I went in through the side entrance, but there was no one to be seen anywhere. Then it dawned on me: they've evacuated! And indeed - a short time later I met three colleagues in the corridor who confirmed to me that all the guests had been taken outside. So I had missed half the scenario.
We then wanted to see what was going on together - but a colleague had to go to the toilet urgently. And in the wild, as we all know, it's much more complicated for ladies. So I showed them the back entrance - and the four of us sneaked back into the hotel. It was a bit tricky because there were now several police officers in the lobby. But somehow the three of us managed to get past them.
I myself went out again - and this time to the front of the main road. That's where the entire conference party was - neatly grouped on the opposite side of the street. Only the hotel staff were allowed to stay close to the building. And it was windy. Really windy. I didn't have a jacket and couldn't get into my car (the underground parking garage was closed), so we stood there - around 150 people - and slowly but surely froze our evening away. But: exemplary organization. After about ten minutes, the hotel staff arrived with a large load of blankets. Whether from the fire department or the hotel itself - it didn't matter. In any case: fast, friendly, efficient.
After around half an hour, the spook was over. Three fire engines, police vehicles, sirens - the full program. But it turned out to be a false alarm. No fire, no smoke - presumably a smoke detector in the kitchen had gone off. Shortly afterwards, we were all allowed back in - and our drinks were still waiting for us. The evening went on as if nothing had happened - just with a bit more to talk about.
A small incident that shows: The FileMaker community remains stable even when the fire alarm goes off. Humor, solidarity and a good blanket help through every crisis.
Electronic invoices: A topic with growing relevance
A clearly noticeable focus at this year's FileMaker conference was the topic of electronic invoicing - particularly with regard to the upcoming legal changes in Germany and the EU. From 2025, many companies will be obliged to issue and accept e-invoices in ZUGFeRD or XRechnung format. In several discussions, it became clear that the FileMaker community is increasingly concerned with the technical implementation and integration of such formats.
Some developers presented their first individual solutions based on FileMaker, while others discussed the advantages of ready-made systems or external libraries. In any case, it was clear that the time to integrate e-invoices into your own workflow is now. Because the legal and technical framework conditions are changing rapidly - and bureaucracy will punish those who are late.
gFM-Business Professional: E-bill included
With this in mind, it is worth noting that the FileMaker-based gFM-Business ERP softwareespecially the Professional version, already supports the creation of electronic invoices as standard. Users can conveniently create ZUGFeRD or XRechnung-compatible PDF files directly from the invoice layout - at the touch of a button and without in-depth technical knowledge. The system generates valid XML data structures and embeds them correctly in the PDF - exactly as required by public clients and many larger companies.
This functionality was mentioned positively at the conference, especially by those participants who are struggling with the increasing effort involved in creating and processing e-invoices. Anyone looking for a practical, ready-to-use solution to create legally compliant e-invoices should take a closer look at gFM-Business Professional - a good example of how modern FileMaker solutions can combine legal requirements with user-friendliness.
Open for developers: gFM-Business as a licensable FileMaker base
A special highlight for FileMaker developerThe gFM-Business ERP software is not only available as a ready-to-use application, but also as an open license for developers. This gives FileMaker professionals the opportunity to use the entire system as a mature development basis for their own customer projects - for example to adapt it to industry-specific requirements or to integrate additional modules such as warehouse management, serial numbers or production processes.
The open license includes a fully-fledged developer module in which all tables, fields, scripts, layouts and functions of the software are transparently documented - directly in the application. This gives developers access to a solid, documented code base that has proven itself over many years of practical use. For more complex customer projects or e-billing in particular, gFM-Business offers a fast and secure entry point for implementing modern business processes with FileMaker.
Review & perspective: FileMaker, AI, future
The third and final day of the conference was a little quieter. It was clear that many discussions had already been held and many impressions had already been processed. But there was still some exciting content on this day.
Claris itself was represented with two of its own sessions, which presented the new possibilities of the current FileMaker version. It was also clear from the unofficial discussions that the integration of artificial intelligence in FileMaker will be one of the key topics in the coming years. Whether local, hybrid or via APIs - those who deal with this early on will have a long-term advantage. And those who supplement their FileMaker solutions with generative or analytical AI functions will not only be able to work more productively, but also more competitively.
What will I take away from the FileMaker Conference 2025?
Many valuable conversations - some with people I have known for years, some with new faces with whom there was an immediate connection. The feeling of having created resonant impulses with my book project - the reactions were consistently positive. Many people spoke to me directly about it.
Yes, it was a smaller conference than in the past - perhaps around 100 participants. But that's exactly what made it particularly familiar again. The FileMaker community is alive - and growing again. Young developers have joined, experienced developers have stayed. And everyone is united by the desire to create good solutions for real people.