Move from Data Survival to Digital Self-Actualisation
Where are you at with your data?
There is no ‘typical’ client journey when building custom business apps, but there are common phases which most client approaches to data management pass through in the process of building a new system. In discussions with several recent clients, I have been struck by how DataTherapy’s approach to building new systems resembles Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory from the field of human psychology.
Maslow's theory that proposes that human needs are arranged in a pyramid with five levels, from basic, mechanical physiological needs to self-actualization (purpose & meaning). The levels are: physiological (food, water, shelter), safety (security, stability), social (love, belonging), esteem (respect, recognition), and self-actualization (achieving one's full potential). According to the theory, individuals must satisfy lower-level needs before they can focus on higher-level ones.
Maslow Hierarchy of Needs
This pyramid hierarchy tracks very well with the client journey to gaining full control of an organisation's data. You need to get the basics right (data integrity & security) before you can begin to think about higher level rungs of the pyramid (automation & AI integration).
DataTherapy’s Hierarchy of Data
Level 1: Foundation – Data Integrity & Security (Physiological Needs)
Analogy: Just as food and water sustain life, accurate and secure data sustains every app.
Without reliable, secure data, nothing else functions.
- Clean, structured, validated data
- Regular backups and redundancy
- Access controls and encryption
- Secure hosting (on-prem or cloud)
- Compliance with data protection laws (e.g. GDPR)
Level 2: Performance & Stability (Safety Needs)
Analogy: Safety for humans = reliability for systems. Users must trust the platform won’t fail them.
Users need the system to feel dependable and fast.
- Efficient schema design
- Indexing and optimisation
- Scalable server infrastructure
- Error handling and uptime monitoring
- Responsive, bug-free user experience
Level 3: Usability & Collaboration (Belonging Needs)
Analogy: Humans need relationships; databases need integration and user adoption to thrive.
Once stable, users want connection and ease of use.
- Intuitive layouts and navigation
- Role-based dashboards
- Mobile and browser access
- Integration with other systems (e.g. Claris Connect, APIs)
- Shared workflows and approval processes
Level 4: Insight & Automation (Esteem Needs)
Analogy: Recognition and mastery in humans = automation and insight in systems. The app starts adding value, not just storing data.
Smart systems make users feel empowered and efficient.
- Automated notifications and reports
- Business process automation
- Predictive analytics and dashboards
- Data visualisation and KPIs
- AI-assisted workflows and semantic search
Level 5: Intelligence & Innovation (Self-Actualisation)
Analogy: Humans reach self-actualisation when fulfilling their potential; apps do when they enable smarter business decisions and innovation.
The system becomes a strategic enabler, not just a tool.
- AI/LLM integrations for natural language input
- Vector search and contextual recommendations
- Continuous improvement through user feedback
- Cross-platform collaboration via Claris Studio
- Data-driven decision-making and innovation culture
Build your way up the pyramid with DataTherapy
At DataTherapy, we specialise in building custom apps for SMEs using the Platopus and Claris FileMaker platforms. Whether you need development, support, cloud hosting or are ready to go all-in on developing a new app from scratch—we can help.
✅ UK-based team of full-time professionals
✅ Certified Claris FileMaker Developers
✅ Claris Platinum Partners
✅ Experts in secure, on-premise and private cloud deployment of Platopus and Claris FileMaker
📞 Contact us today for a free consultation and discover how DataTherapy can help your team move faster, work smarter, and stay fully in control of your data.
