Centogram

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an owner of a construction firm called The Nelson Stark Company. We do commercial developments and provide plumbing services around Cincinnati.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Centogram?

We hired them to develop and design a custom application that allowed us to track all of our equipment. We also asked them to redo our website, which was very outdated.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Centogram built the app from scratch, handling both the development and design aspects. They added all the key features and functionalities we requested and made sure we could access the app through various platforms — mobile phone, desktop, and tablet.

Additionally, they rebuilt our website, updating its features and design. To be specific, they made it a lot easier for us to update; we can now upload pictures and other content on our own.

We’re planning to have them maintain our website on a monthly basis.

What is the team composition?

We have one main point of contact from their team. 

How did you come to work with Centogram?

We did some research online. After shortlisting about 4–5 companies, we decided to go with them based on their pricing and because they really understood what we needed better than the rest.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $115,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in February 2019, and our engagement is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

All of my personnel love the app; they’ve been using it every day, which has definitely saved us a lot of time and money. Overall, we’re 100% satisfied with Centogram’s services.

How did Centogram perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve followed through on everything they promised without any delays. If there are any issues, they resolve them quickly. We communicate mainly through phone calls and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m very impressed with their ability to fully understand our business and how we operate. Not many companies are as business-oriented as they are.

Are there any areas they could improve on?

I can’t think of anything negative about their work — they’ve really done a great job.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to call them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a computer programming services company that provides custom programming to smaller organizations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Centogram?

We needed someone to help us build a mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Centogram developed a mobile app that provides specification tools for engineers in the synthetic industry. This app is compatible with all small-screen devices and it was developed using Vue.js, MongoDB, and the whole Node environment. They’ve also deployed a website in addition to the mobile version.

The product is a specification finder and it allows engineers to narrow down the type of product they need. Other features include a logistics tracker, a product comparison, and account management.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was Jerod (Founder).

How did you come to work with Centogram?

I’ve worked on a number of projects with Jerod for years, and what made me go with Centogram was their ability to understand the challenges, and recommend solutions.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $120,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October 2020–November 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We had a great working relationship and the app was everything we expected it to be — we also got good feedback from our client and their clients. Centogram is highly skilled in mobile development and we definitely got good value for the dollar.

How did Centogram perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management was easy and it worked well for us. We used Basecamp as our primary management tool and Zoom to communicate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re very impressed with their development expertise.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We wanted the project to go faster but apart from that, we have no complaints.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would advise them to just keep communications open and have weekly meetings.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a 9–12 all-girls Catholic high school, and I’m the director of technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Centogram?

Our school has a very unique daily schedule that can be very hard to navigate. We had a mobile app that allowed students and teachers to know at any moment what class they should be in and where to go. It was originally designed by a student, but it was several years old and needed to be updated.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Centogram rebuilt the app from the ground up, not using any of the old code or design. It’s a mobile app for both iOS and Android, and they’re also creating a webpage. It has a file storage piece in Microsoft Azure and a MongoDB web-based database.

What is the team composition?

I had one main point of contact. 

How did you come to work with Centogram?

I did some research on mobile app developers in the region around Cincinnati. I reached out to and had calls with a number of them to discuss our needs and to provide a bid. 

Centogram was one of those companies, and they seemed to have the best grasp on what we were trying to accomplish and their proposal was the most specific in terms of cost and what they would accomplish. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $15,000 on the app development project. 

What is the status of this engagement?

My first conversation with them was in May 2020, and the project kicked off in June 2020. The mobile app was live in both the Apple Store and the Google Play Store in July 2020, but there were some minor tweaks that went through August 2020. We’ve started a new project with them that involves making branding changes to the app. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The app is used daily by our parents and teachers. We have approximately 800 daily users. If there were any issues, Centogram would let me know immediately. The app is a significant improvement on what we had previously.

How did Centogram perform from a project management standpoint?

The team met every single deadline or exceeded it, and they were constantly informing me of the status of the project and communicated what they needed from me in a clear fashion. I wasn’t inundated with contact; it was just the right level. We mostly used Basecamp, but we also communicated through email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

My main point of contact at Centogram went out, without my asking him to, and met with one of the students to find out how they were using the previous app. 

The design suggestions that he made outside of what I had asked to be done were a great improvement because of the knowledge he got from that student on how the schedule worked and what the student needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I can think of. I’m very satisfied. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as clear as possible with what you’re trying to accomplish with the project, and Centogram will move forward with you. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a compliance manager for a healthcare service provider. We produce a medical stretching device to aid patients who are recovering from knee replacement.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Centogram?

We wanted to transfer our paperwork onto a HIPAA-compliant mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The mobile app Centogram created allows our distributors to attest that they’ve been compliant with government regulations. There’s a document with HIPAA rights as well as directions for customers, so they know how to use the device at delivery.

The app also functions as a digital inventory and barcoding system. It tracks customer contact information to allow for authorization at delivery, which links into a GPS system so delivery drivers can navigate to their addresses. We can also keep track of maintenance, repairs, and alterations done to the equipment. 

It’s compatible with both Android and iOS, and it includes an admin management system. 

What is the team composition?

I deal primarily with one point of contact, though there may have been a larger team working behind him.

How did you come to work with Centogram?

I did an online search, and narrowed my list down to six providers. Two didn’t call me back, and two didn’t seem like the right fit, so that left Centogram and one other vendor. We primarily chose them because they were local, which was important to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $15,000–$20,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since December 2017. The work has been ongoing, as Centogram has tweaked the platform and added updates on an as needed basis.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The team worked really hard to make sure they delivered exactly what we needed. Though elective surgeries have been down recently due to COVID-19, we’re confident that once they pick up again, the app will be incredibly helpful to our delivery staff. It compiles everything they need to complete deliveries into one app, so they don’t have to spend time keeping track of folders of paperwork.

One major impact of Centogram’s work is that we no longer have to worry if we’re being government compliant — the app ensures it. We can’t put a value on that.

How did Centogram perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed really well. We’re a small company, and we’ve never worked on a project like this before, but Centogram was patient, organized, and helpful. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They listened to our requirements and concerns, and did their due diligence learning about our product. I was afraid they were going to deliver exactly what we’d asked for but not what we needed, but Centogram cut through what we were saying to deliver what we truly needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing that comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Tell them what you need and listen to what they have to say. Centogram has a lot of experience in a lot of areas and can bring in that expertise.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing editor of a literary magazine called The Cinncinati Review. We publish creative writing pieces twice a year.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Centogram?

We had a very outdated website that was challenging to update and wasn’t user friendly. It also used Adobe Flash, making it difficult to view on some browsers. They set up a new website for us using WordPress.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us with website migration and rebuild. They migrated everything from our old website to a new WordPress format. The backend of our new site was more user friendly and easy to update. 

What is the team composition?

Jerod (Director of Development) was my main point of contact. I know there were other people working on the project, but I only interacted with Jerod. 

How did you come to work with Centogram?

I believe that my predecessor had worked with Jared on a previous project. 

How much have you invested in them?

We spent between $25,000–$50,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

They did the website migration and set up in May 2017. We’re still working with them on updates and ongoing maintenance. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

They’ve had a tremendous impact on our organization. Our website traffic is more robust because of improved accessibility. We’ve also been able to start an online series because it’s easier for us to add content to the website on our own. 

Their work was a great help. I can’t imagine what we’d be doing without the website as it is now. 

How did Centogram perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication is always clear. With the migration project, everything went smoothly. Even if there were hiccups, they were quick to fix it.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We get the experience and knowledge of a large company, but from a smaller vendor, so it’s more intimate and effective. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have any complaints. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Just ask questions. They’re great at answering all inquiries. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a megachurch with about 3,000-4,000 attendees. I'm the communication director, and I manage our creative team.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Centogram?

We launched a state-of-the art website in 2013. It was fully responsive, and it suited our purposes for a while. The site had a lot of information, and we wanted something that was simpler and easier to access. Our sermons and messages are currently housed on the site as mp4 files, but we'll move to on-demand video and livestreaming in 2020.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We don't have a huge staff, and they're integral to a lot of pieces behind the scenes. They created a CMS and synching tool that saves us from entering information into the backend of the website. They also built up new iOS and Android apps from scratch. The homepage is simple, but it has all our current messages and an archive. There are links to all our events, and users can access the website from the app. There are community opportunities listed, and the app does everything the website does in a more simplistic way. There were some issues with the new iOS version, and they put in a lot of time to fix glitches that were associated with that change.

What is the team composition?

I worked with their CEO, and I believe there were other team members who worked with him behind the scenes.

How did you come to work with Centogram?

Their CEO is a member of our church, and he agreed to build our website for us.

How much have you invested with them?

They've given us an extreme discount, and we've spent about $45,000 so far. We're expecting the other enhancements will cost another $3,000 or so.

What is the status of this engagement?

They started working on the app in June 2018. There were some delays on our side, but the majority is complete. We're still working on new features, and we plan to launch the livestream capability in early January 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

They were a dream to work with. I've never worked with anyone who was so responsive, and they always gave 120%. They did an amazing job with our analytics, and we have close to 500-600 users a week or two after launch. We get nothing but positive feedback, but we're making a few small changes to make it even more user-friendly.

How did Centogram perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is great. We use Basecamp for updates and changes, and they come meet with us in person on occasion. Compared to our other development projects, working with Centogram is unbelievably good.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their attitude and customer services are excellent. We're a picky client, but they met or exceeded our requests every time. They know their trade, and we've had a great experience all around.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything they should improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would trust them with any kind of business. They have amazing suggestions, and they would be a great partner to anyone who wants to launch a new app.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of marketing at Enable Injections, an early stage company that manufactures high-volume subcutaneous infusion devices for pharmaceutical drugs. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Centogram?

We reached out to Centogram to develop a mobile app that could monitor the inner workings of one of our digital devices. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Centogram designed and developed a mobile app that connects to one of our products from scratch, including wireframes. The app allows users to monitor one of our digital devices, which connects to the app through Bluetooth. They also integrated a calendar, videos, training functions, barcode scanning, and real-time updates regarding the use of the device. 

What is the team composition? 

We work with Jarod (Director of Development, Centogram), along with anyone else on his team. 

How did you come to work with Centogram?

We found them on Clutch and liked that they were local and responsive. They also seemed very knowledgeable and understood what we were trying to achieve. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested around $20,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them since March 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

After conducting demonstrations of the app at conferences and to prospective partners, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. There's nothing else on the market like it. They were also able to code the app very quickly, coming on site to help debug the device until it functioned perfectly.

How did Centogram perform from a project management standpoint?

They're extremely responsive. From the start, we were impressed that they were willing and able to tackle our project in a relatively short timeframe. We mostly interact over email and by phone, but they also come to our office on occasion to make sure our device is reading the signal properly. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I'm impressed with Jerod's professionalism and ability to achieve difficult requests quickly, all while maintaining a positive attitude. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They've been great. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don't be afraid to ask them to take on challenging objectives, because their capabilities will surprise you. They're extremely knowledgeable and able to overcome barriers that other consultants may have thought were impossible. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of marketing for a B2B service provider.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Centogram?

We needed a partner to develop an app that would better connect our service and sales teams.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We came up with requirements and wireframes together, and Centogram built all the technology and reporting around the solution. They also created the logo and did other design services. The app pulls local business information that our service team evaluates to identify specific services that could benefit the potential client. The data is then integrated with our CRM and given to the sales team.

Centogram build the mobile app from scratch for both iOS and Android, and they currently handle the updates and maintenance. Since they first created it, we’ve gone through numerous iterations and feature additions, such as Dynamics integration.

What is the team composition?

We work with Centogram’s owner.

How did you come to work with Centogram?

We searched for a local company that had the mobile capabilities we needed. We used this project as a test case and were pleased with the results, so we’ve worked with them ever since.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in June 2015, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Working together has been extremely successful. The app looks great and is easy to navigate. User feedback is almost always positive—I’ve never had any issues or questions about the usability.

How did Centogram perform from a project management standpoint?

Our main point of contact is incredibly responsive and fixes any bugs quickly. If we ever have questions, we’ll hear back from him in the same day, sometimes within an hour. We’ve talked in person a few times and have meetings whenever necessary. We mainly communicate through daily emails.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their turnaround times are good, and the cost is great. They’re a smaller shop, but I get the same service I’d get from a bigger organization.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

They’re a good choice. They need minimal oversight, communicate well, and are easy to work with.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the COO of Prspctr, LLC. We're a business solutions company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Centogram?

We wanted to make it easier for business people to refer each other in less than 15 seconds, so we were looking for a company to develop an app for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We asked Centogram to build an app that aggregates data and can send qualified referrals in real time through a system that people can manage themselves. They built an app for iOS and Android that allows our clients–small and medium-sized businesses–to manage the referrals for their industries. Centogram delivered an incredibly robust app in a reasonable timeframe and for an affordable cost.

What is the team composition?

We mostly work with Jerod (Owner, Centogram).

How did you come to work with them?

It was a referral.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent between $100,000–$150,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2016 and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Our revenue was about $100,000 before we had the app. This year, we're on pace to make about $2.5 million in revenue. Our clients are happy and say the app is easy to use. As small and medium-sized companies, our clients are proud to have a tool that meets their specific needs.

Centogram is very proactive in terms of updates on both the Android side and the Apple side. If we have any challenges, they resolve them within an hour.

How did they perform from a project management standpoint?

They finished the app three months earlier than we had planned. We use email, text, occasional phone calls, and Basecamp to communicate. We also personally met Jerod, who is not only an IT genius, but also deeply cares about the success of the product.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I've dealt with some smart people in the IT world, but Jerod has the head and the heart together. He took our complex idea and produced something that is beautiful and easy to use.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. I had a remarkable experience.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Come to them with a clear idea of what you want and they will deliver a great product. If we had been more prepared, the process would have been even faster.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the vice president for N.A.L. Company, a family-owned and -operated paperboard protective packaging company. We manufacture corner protectors for load containment and stabilization.  We also produce laminated and non-laminated chipboard sheets commonly used as slip sheets, tier sheets, pallets tops and pallet bottoms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Centogram?

We needed a branding partner to help with our graphics and package and web design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked with Centogram to define the project scope and figure out how to combine computer programming with our actual process. They then developed different model platforms that range from PCs to iPad integration mobility on forklifts. They built both a mobile app and a web app—before we were just using Microsoft Excel. Some of the software is done in Drupal.

Operators can use the iPad cameras to scan QR barcodes and manage production and inventory control. Centogram also integrated Bluetooth scanners so that the iPads can scan from 15–20 feet away, meaning the operators don’t have to get on and off the forklift. They set up automated emails that get sent out depending on product thresholds and also created a portal that allows clients to see the progress.

What is the team composition?

We worked with one developer.

How did you come to work with Centogram?

I met them socially and then researched them when I began looking for a partner. Some of their past clients said their engagements had been a great success, so I hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $200,000–$1 million.

What is the status of this engagement?

We partnered in September 2015, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve been able to collect vast amounts of information that we can use to track work and update customers. Instead of having to wait a day to provide customers with product information, we can give it to them immediately. Plus, we haven’t had a single bug or crash since launching.

Two clients currently use our customer portal, and they’ve had great success. It helps them align their systems and audit inventories in real time to know what we have on the floor. Because of Centogram’s system, we’re now able to do same-day shipments.

How did Centogram perform from a project management standpoint?

Centogram has clear and effective project management. We use Basecamp to track the project and record documents and decisions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re versatile and knowledgeable. They listen to what we need and create effective solutions. The partnership has been successful, and we’ve developed a good friendship.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Lay out your entire project and then talk with them about the whole scope. They’re good at dividing a large project into smaller, more manageable deliverables.