Choosing your workflow
CertifyApps or spreadsheets for your trade records?
Spreadsheets can be useful for lists and calculations. Compare a certificate app when producing, checking and presenting the finished customer document is taking too much manual work.
Compare the process you use today.
A simple appliance list or job tracker may be easy to maintain in a spreadsheet. The work changes when that file also has to act as your certificate template, signature area, PDF layout and document archive.
The table below is a set of questions for your evaluation, not a claim that every spreadsheet or Certify app behaves identically. Use the actual files, document type and device your business needs.
What to compare
| Question | Your spreadsheet workflow | Your app evaluation |
|---|---|---|
| Document preparation | How much manual copying and formatting is needed? | Does the record workflow cover your document type? |
| PDF readability | Do print areas, page breaks and tables need adjustment? | Can you read the complete sample and your test export? |
| Company identity | How do you keep logos and contact details consistent? | Which branding controls are included in your chosen plan? |
| Record retrieval | How do you find a customer, site or issued document? | Can you retrieve the records needed for follow-up work? |
| Team use | How do you manage versions and ownership? | What user, workspace and access arrangements are available? |
| Cost | What does manual document administration cost you in time? | What is the full plan price for your apps and users? |
Run a small comparison before committing.
Use the same representative job in both workflows. Include a longer note or a full schedule so you can inspect more than a clean first page. Record the time spent entering, checking, exporting and retrieving the result.
Keep your original spreadsheet and PDF archive. If you want to import data, confirm the source format, fields and supported process first. Plan the data move.
Before you choose
Should I stop using spreadsheets entirely?
Not necessarily. You may keep them for lists, calculations or an existing archive while using an app for certificate and report production.
Is every app feature included in the free starter?
No. Limits and features are specific to the app and plan. Review the relevant pricing information and confirm the workflow you need.
Can I compare the finished documents now?
Yes. The sample hub contains watermarked PDFs from all seven Certify apps. No account is needed to inspect them.