You might think that document management is about as exciting as watching grass grow. That’s what I thought once… But this is the story of how I came to have a passion for showing companies the benefits of solid document management.

I was the IT manager for a mid-sized custom engineering and manufacturing company. We had recently completed ISO 9001 certification and, throughout the company, people were coming to realize the value of "continuous improvement". Continuous improvement is one of the core concepts of ISO 9001, meaning incremental improvements made to a clearly defined and measured process.

My company had some loosely-defined paper-based processes and we had lots of electronic files stored on network drives. The paper processes were inefficient and inconsistent. The network files suffered from periodic mysterious corruptions and deletions. Finally, we decided to install a proper electronic document management system (EDMS).

As the IT Manager, I was tasked with investigating the available EDMS software packages and recommending a solution for purchase. What I found surprised me.

While there were dozens of EDMS packages targeted at our company, each of them seemed to have a ‘fatal’ flaw. Many were web-based, which was too cumbersome. Some looked good, but were built on file storage systems that could leave our files stranded if the software went down. Most had limited remote user support. And in general, the systems just weren’t as flexible as we wanted.

After an exhaustive search, we decided to develop our own document management software…and CenterFile was born.

Since that time, Salford Software Inc. was formed to refine and sell CenterFile.

As we continue to develop CenterFile, we clearly remember what it is like to be in your shoes…because that’s where we came from. In the software design and in the customer service that follows the sale, we want to “do it right”.

CenterFile is designed around two “in-your-shoes-inspired” principles:

• For users: A simple-to-use application with intuitive help resources
• For administrators: Easy configuration and reliable operation

In our service and support, we will commit to doing all we can to make your experience a success. From installation and configuration to training and everyday use, we will be there to assist you.

I look forward to talking with you to see if there is any way we can assist with your document management needs.

Sincerely,

Nate Paine
President
Salford Software Inc.