Sentree

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and creative director of TokyoDex, an art agency based in Tokyo. We’re curators and art directors, matching artists with projects in the city and around the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sentree?

In our team of five, we didn’t have any internal IT people or knowledge in that arena. When we started getting bigger and landing bigger clients, we worried about compliance, security issues, and efficiency. Once we landed a new office, it became evident we needed outside help.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Jason (CEO and Founder) was able to set something up that streamlined what we already had. Sentree retabled our old office, optimized our networks, and put security software on everyone’s machines as well as our office machines. They also set up the new office’s network.

Now Sentree maintains all of that. They’re hooked up to our systems via remote software. If we ever have any issues, they’re notified right away and can call in to make sure everything’s okay. There’s also a security checklist that, every once in a while, we get together to check things off.

What is the team composition?

Someone on my team is the main point person on our side and works with Sentree’s Japanese counterpart.

How did you come to work with Sentree?

I’d worked with Jason before on outside projects. I knew we needed help, but we couldn’t afford massive install and overhead for our security and network needs. That was one of the factors in our decision.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about one million yen (about $9,300 USD). The initial set-up cost more, and now we pay monthly fees for maintenance.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together at the end of last year, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s difficult to measure what they’ve done. First, security is like insurance: you don’t know you need it until there’s a problem. Second, in the last three months, we’ve been upended by COVID-19 and aren’t working as much, so we haven’t fully tested their work and seen the results of what they’ve done.

However, I can’t undervalue the peace of mind that Sentree gives me. Whenever we have issues, we don’t waste time anymore. We can email and call them, and they’ll guide us through the right steps to identify and solve the problem. It’s super helpful to have somebody on hand who has the experience and understanding to fix our issues right away.  

How did Sentree perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re super responsive. They have a small team like us, but it’s never difficult to get in touch with anyone. Often when there’s a problem, they call us before we know what’s going on.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s their expertise and ability to explain things so that non-technical people can understand. Sentree understands common pitfalls and what people worry about security-wise. For example, some team members have machines that they use for personal stuff as well. Sentree explained what remote monitoring was set up on their machines and what Sentree can and can’t see.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Jason has been super hands-on and quite reasonable in fees and working with our needs. If I had to point to one thing, we haven’t been as proactive in moving things forward. They could come after us more often to make sure we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing.

Any advice for potential customers?

Understand what your ask is. Do your homework on your own to understand what you really need, but they were also super helpful in guiding that. These things take time, and the more we put into the relationship, the more we get out.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Access All Areas Japan. We’re an events-based company serving mostly international clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Sentree?

One of my clients required a very high level of security for a particular high-profile event.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The event was a high-end jewelry exhibition that many high-profile guests would attend. Sentree’s role in the security of the event was to link the IT system through the security camera system. The team was then responsible for monitoring the system, so they could immediately patch up any issues that occurred within the system throughout the duration of the event.

Beforehand, we mapped out a plan using copies of the layouts of the venue to determine the easiest routes to run the cables. We were very particular about making sure they were as hidden as possible.

The execution had to be flawless and absolutely secure, as no glass was used around the jewelry in the exhibition. 

What is the team composition?

My primary contacts were Jason (Founder) and another supporting member.

How did you come to work with Sentree?

Going into the engagement, I knew I wanted someone who offered proficiency in both English and Japanese as well as expertise in security. I was confident in the success of Sentree’s past engagements, so partnering with them was a no-brainer.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $3,000,000 on the event.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project took place from May – June 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our primary concern was the security of the event, which passed by without incident. The team was available to monitor security and quickly patch up any issues that came up.

Beyond that, Sentree did a fantastic job of planning and mapping out details beforehand. Their level of expertise and forward-thinking is one of the reasons why we partnered with them for this exhibition in the first place. 

The team knew exactly what to expect before the event took place; their foresight was invaluable. They were able to provide a concise, comprehensive rundown of what needed to be accomplished and when in order to be successful.

How did Sentree perform from a project management standpoint?

Our communication and project management were both perfect. We discussed plans ahead of time so we were all aligned, and the scheduling was excellent.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their flexibility really stood out, as did their foresight and commitment to reducing the total cost of the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we never had an issue. Sentree came in prepared and ready to get the job done well. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate as much as possible. Think about what your end goal is five, ten, or twenty years down the line, and Sentree will help you come up with a plan.