Cortavo

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of a virtual bookkeeping practice based in Atlanta, GA.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cortavo?

I needed help migrating my business to the cloud. My team was working in a terminal server where we shared resources, so we all felt the pain if the machine ran slow. When we had to reboot the machine, it would affect all the staff and bring business operations to a halt. I wasn't getting the service I needed from my original service provider, so we were looking to engage a new partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cortavo helped transition us over to the cloud, which allowed our team to access shared files from a local computer rather than the server. 

They leased and shipped company laptops to each of my employees and helped set us up with the necessary applications and software. They helped our on-site and remote employees with the laptop setup. They also helped us move our client files from the server to Microsoft Teams. 

They continue to maintain our machines and host our data. They’ve been helping with security training to make my staff more aware of cyber security risks. They’ve run video trainings on password security and phishing emails. They also have a help desk that my employees take advantage of when they have technical issues. 

What is the team composition?

We work with about five people, including a project manager.

How did you come to work with Cortavo?

I found Cortavo online. 

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about $1,500 per month during the beginning stages and continue to invest roughly $2,000 per month. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Cortavo in January 2018, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The partnership with Cortavo has been successful. I’ve gotten great feedback from my staff, and we’ve been happy with the quality of their work. My team enjoys being able to work on local computers while still having access to our shared documents from the cloud. They’re very responsive, especially regarding help desk support, which has been great.

How did Cortavo perform from a project management standpoint?

We work through the Cortavo ticketing system, which is quite effective. We can email or call the help desk, and they always respond via email, which works well for us. 

We did have some billing and invoice issues with the legacy platform at the beginning of the partnership, which was quite painful. Cortavo ironed it out, and I understand that many businesses struggle with staffing, so I try to be patient with them. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their willingness to offer custom services is their main strength. Cortavo is very solutions-focused. Typically, I can go to the project manager with any issue, and they will present a creative solution. the Cortavo staff is very knowledgeable. 

Their pricing is reasonable, too; they’re not charging me for every question I have. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be beneficial for Cortavo to assign a dedicated project manager for their partners. In an ideal world, this person would focus on keeping track of our project and liaising with the billing team to ensure accuracy. 

They could be more timely in resolving issues and rolling out new services when we want to add or change something. They're great when we have their attention, but it takes some prompting to get the ball rolling. It would be nice if they had a system to document client procedures so that each help desk agent is familiar with our processes and communication is streamlined.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Cortavo is a good service provider, but you have to follow up with them. My advice would be to ask questions, ensure you keep track of the project and be persistent with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner and director of operations for FinTeam Business Consulting. We provide fractional CFO and bookkeeping services to small and mid-sized businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cortavo?

We needed help desk support.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cortavo helps us with ongoing help desk support. They provided us with a form to request the different types of software support we needed. During the onboarding process, we shared a list of our software, along with names and contact information for our teammates. 

Cortavo migrated our employee accounts from GoDaddy to Microsoft. They set up a Microsoft Teams channel that enables my team to securely share files with our clients. They installed an agent on our company computers that allows them to access our screens while on a help desk call. They also installed anti-virus software. They provide us with ongoing help desk support. They handle our access controls, so when employees leave, they’re responsible for terminating access to our Microsoft platforms. They also provide iPhone and iPad help desk support. 

What is the team composition?

I work with about five people at Cortavo: one sales representative and 3–4 other technical staff members.

How did you come to work with Cortavo?

I was at a lunch & learn event for the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and met someone from Cortavo. We exchanged business cards, met one of their salespeople for lunch, and moved forward with the partnership.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested roughly $2,000 in the partnership. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with Cortavo in April 2022, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Cortavo comes up with creative solutions and workarounds, and they're open to helping us with anything we need. They make suggestions and give us advice. We see their services as a significant value add. 

Cortavo created a secure method for my team to transfer files to our clients, which has been very important because we deal with personal information and finances. I knew I’d gotten my money’s worth at the beginning of the engagement when I constantly called the help desk with questions, and they got back to me immediately. 

How did Cortavo perform from a project management standpoint?

We had weekly calls with the salesperson and 1–2 tech team members to review the transition progress, onboarding items, delegate tasks, and communicate general feedback. We collaborated well together. 

We had trouble migrating emails from GoDaddy to Microsoft initially because GoDaddy gave us a timeline outside our project plan. The migration engagement was only supposed to last one month, but when our issues with GoDaddy came about, Cortavo extended our weekly calls for another month, which was really nice. We communicate via Microsoft Teams, phone calls, and emails. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

With some companies, once we’re brought on as a client, it’s hard to get in touch with the salesperson again, and the response time lags. With Cortavo, we get the same response time as we did when we started. I’m going to be near their office in Atlanta soon, and the salesperson wants to take me out to dinner. They emphasize taking care of their current clients, and we value that. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had one hiccup with GoDaddy at the project's beginning, but that wasn’t on Cortavo since it was out of their control. I've had no issues with them; they’ve been great to work with. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would recommend being organized about your needs at the start of the engagement. I left off a few services by accident, which caused some back and forth. I wish I would’ve listed out everything we needed help with at the beginning of the project because they have a lot of software capabilities. Make sure you have a comprehensive list of needs, so you’re not going back and forth with them and constantly asking for edits.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company is part of the Zac Brown Collective. We manage multiple aspects of the Zac Brown Band Tour and affiliated investments. My role is Sr IT Infrastructure Manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Cortavo?

We hired Cortavo to take over our Managed IT Services and help get our business up to date and running efficiently. This includes user support, back-ups, server maintenance, any other aspects needed within IT-related items.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We were looking to move from another vendor and happen to get an email or phone call from Cortavo. We really liked the proposal and how well they understood our situation. They are very knowledgeable and quick to respond.

Describe the project in detail and walk through their service package.

The project that Cortavo is handling for us is our day-to-day IT services and all background aspects of our infrastructure. The service package includes all needed items to help ensure our business will run accordingly and also all of our information is backed up and stored correctly. Their package also includes help for the Zac Brown Band Tour if needed. Their packages are customizable and they cater to our needs very well.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We have worked with multiple people and we have a set contact for all of our needs. We have worked with the Manager down to help desk.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Cortavo was able to get at least 70% of our drives backed up within a matter of weeks and also have been working to get of NASs updated to have more storage space. This project is running smoothly and faster than we expected.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow is great. They are very responsive and do an amazing job.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

There ability to customize packages and their response time and knowledge.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Not at this time. They are doing a great job.