As a result, IT departments can't fulfill every workgroup's request for software applications. Because few workgroups have the budget to hire their own outside programmers, many of them develop their own applications. The clear leader in this market is not Microsoft Access, even though Access is bundled in some versions of Microsoft Office. It is FileMaker Pro, a product that emigrated from the Mac world. FileMaker exploits a gap in Microsoft's product line.
Office is a suite of productivity tools for end users.
A FileMaker app built on Windows runs on Macs without modification. And vice versa. Some people are even taking successful FileMaker workgroup solutions and distributing them companywide. And that's why I nominate FileMaker as a Berst-Kept Secret. But don't tell Microsoft about this stealth competitor.