I have over 100 known alters. Each alter can be assigned to one or more roles (like Food intake Specialist, Trusted Memory writer, Etc.) but only be assigned to a single department (which are broad functional groups such as security, Information Technology, Web Development, etc.).

In an effort to know who’s who and what they do, and how to reach them internally I have built a database in FileMaker Pro 12 which internally we’ve called Hologram 360®.

Along with all the information specified above, the software has a picture (generated by Craiyon.com) of each alter so like a badge photo, their contact information such extension, internal IM, and primary department. Also attached to each one are preferences (favorite color, favorite kind of music, preference of mac or PC, preference of Android or iOS, do they want children or to be married, preference of Pepsi or coke, default McDonalds, chipotle, Burger King, Taco Bell, and other orders.

For departments it tracks department code (a unique 2-5 letter code that identifies the department in reports (examples include: CC=“Customer Care”, ESD=“Enterprise Security Department”, ITS=“Information Technology Services”, etc.), a friendly name which is the full name as specified in the department code examples, a queue extension (transfer code), what kind of response is that department (Direct Transfer, Ticket, Callback, Social), and whether or not the department is “public facing” or not.

Prior to this we were managing on an excel spreadsheet which got very unwieldy very quickly (try to add a new attribute like favorite color, whether or not that individual is mandated to sign in, etc. and having to then mass update that was not fun)

We can also run reports (all holograms sorted by department, show all who don’t have a photo (grouped by department), all holograms with photo grouped by department (Visual eDirectory®), etc.)

So what do you think? Do you think a database is the right solution? Would you be interested in seeing screenshots of Hologram 360®? Do you have a different solution for managing large numbers of alters efficiently?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this idea.