It's September, and Fall is (or soon will be) upon us! That means cooler weather, falling leaves, and the smell of warm apple pie on the breeze (or more likely out of a scented candle for those of us too lazy to bake). And boy, does Centercode have some delicious new features crisping up in the oven! But all good things require patience, and they're not quite ready to be served yet. Given how big of a deal GoEarly is this month, we’ve included a candid note from Centercode CEO, Luke Freiler down below! 

Not participating in our GoEarly program? Click here to sign up now, and get your hands on these features as soon as possible!

announcements 

💡 Centercode GoEarly Features 💡 

Hi all,

Our new preview release is being handled a bit differently than usual, as we're focusing on not only new features and enhancements, but also a brand new Centercode product, which we're not quite ready to announce publicly just yet.

If you're a member of our GoEarly community you will have received an email with further details, inviting you to participate as usual. If you're not, but are curious - feel free to sign up here, and we'd be happy to add you to the test team!

Thanks,

Luke Freiler
CEO @ Centercode

new features 

✨ New Production Features ✨  

A new option to tune your engagement bot

The engagement bot (Ted by default) leverages multiple means of engagement to ensure you and your testers are well aware of what's happening in your tests. This month, we've added the ability to turn off SMS messaging from the bot. It's uncommon for the bot to resort to texting — typically only in "emergencies" — but this option will make sure that Ted sticks to email correspondence.

🐞  Bug Fixes 🐞 

Localization & Strings

• A number of project-level strings that are shown on sign-in pages were updated to ensure they appear correctly during the recruitment process

Spring has officially sprung! In the spirit of the season, Centercode is also springing forward, with this month’s focus being on a redesign and refresh of our GoEarly program, making it easier than ever to provide feedback and shape the future of upcoming Centercode releases!

announcements

March on into your own private beta site!

This month the focus is on our newly revamped GoEarly Program, freshly redesigned to streamline your access to upcoming releases while amplifying the value of your feedback. With this revamped structure, you'll now have access to up to three distinct Centercode sites at all times: your unchanged Live Site, a Stage Site (if included in your license) for testing new processes and configurations against production code, and an opt-in GoEarly Beta Site exclusively for exploring forthcoming features. The Beta Site, private to your team and pre-loaded with demo data, provides an opportunity to test monthly releases ahead of schedule, enabling you to provide feedback and shape the development process before these features reach your Live Site in a zero-risk environment!

In the new GoEarly program, we'll be implementing Centercode's structured Delta methodology in a continuous project format. Regular weekly patches will ensure that all three site types are kept up-to-date with bug fixes. 

Your participation in the GoEarly Program is crucial in shaping Centercode's evolution, so please join us for the next testing phase that starts on April 1, 2024! Click here to check it out!

💡 Centercode GoEarly features 💡 

Embed like never before!

The first set of features we’ll be introducing into the 2024 GoEarly program is a more feature rich, streamlined, and intuitive new way to embed a wide range of custom and preset embed options for many popular external video, social media, and scheduling tools (with many more to come!) into your Centercode resources (content, releases, and activities). 

We’re excited to get this new tool into your hands and hear what you’ve got to say about it, so get in there and get testing!

Season's greetings from Centercode, the Centercode Support team, and me! After a long and productive year (how about that DevJam release?!), we hope you’re headed to a restful holiday and a fantastic end to 2023.

I'd like to take this opportunity to inform customers that the Centercode office will be closed on December 25th and 26th as well as January 1st and 2nd. During this time, the Support team will be unavailable for standard email and in-site chat support. Rest assured that the team will respond to any inquiries or requests that we receive while closed as soon as we’re back in the office. 

We genuinely appreciate your engagement with beta testing in all of its forms, your collaborative and honest feedback, and of course for being a Centercode customer. As always, if there’s anything we can do to support you, please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Thank you,

Tony Fisher
VP of Customer Success
Centercode

Can you smell that? That’s right—a piping hot plate of new features for Ted! After cooking with our GoEarly testers, we're ready to serve up Ted customization features. But that's not the only thing we're whipping up at Centercode: an absolute smorgasbord of enhancements are headed your way next month.  Here's a taste of what is in store! 🦃

 new features

✨ New Features ✨ 

Getting dressed up for the holidays!

This month’s main course is one you’ve all been craving: enhanced customization options for everyone’s favorite tester engagement bot, Ted! We’ve added the ability to give Ted a new look, as well as customize his name, email address, and email signature.

And the new options for Ted don’t stop there! We’ve also added some useful new customization options for the frequency of Ted’s smart engagement emails, giving you more freedom to decide when and how Ted reaches out to your testers. Read here for more detail on what each of these settings mean.

Now get Ted looking just the way you like, and get testing!

💡 Centercode GoEarly features 💡 

Next up in GoEarly: Media in Content and Feedback

We’ve got another exciting GoEarly project on the horizon, this one involving some awesome new media features and functionality! These features will let you record different types of media, including video (camera), audio, and screen. We're starting with a research phase to learn more about how you'd use features like this, and we’d love to hear your opinions. Sign up and see firsthand as your feedback shapes the future of Centercode!

announcements 

We've got something very special coming soon…

Finally, if November is all about thanks, December is all about giving! We're excited to announce we have something very special planned for next month. No spoilers yet - just know this huge batch of updates is designed to let our customers know just how much we appreciate them. You're going to love what we've got in store, so stay tuned.

fixes  

🐞  Bug Fixes 🐞 

User Authentication & SSO

• Single Sign-on was adjusted to allow use of its associated Recruitment even under closed community local login configurations

Miscellaneous

• Resolved a timing issue involving scheduled user and feedback macros, which could lead to disorganized emails and included dynamic tags

announcements  

It’s time for our August release, and your ears don’t deceive you—that’s the Centercode Ice Cream (and Release) Truck rolling up the street with a cool new opportunity we can’t wait for you to try! We’re doing things a little differently this month in preparation for a whole new method of delivering Centercode content to you. 

We’ve heard from you many times that you’d like to be able to get your hands on some of our upcoming features and improvements while they’re still in development, and this month we’re bringing you the opportunity to do just that!

A hands-on sneak peek

As you might imagine, beta testing the beta testing platform has a very unique set of challenges. As such, we're always working to learn and improve, and with this month's Centercode release, we're taking a big step in evolving our own process by shifting to a feature-flag based testing model.

Moving forward, rather than features being introduced publicly solely through monthly updates, primarily to those with dedicated staging infrastructure, we'll be making key features available via a simple opt-in basis. This gives many more of our customers the opportunity to experience them and provide feedback than our prior early access program have done.

Note that we'll still be rolling out bug fixes and minor improvements both weekly and monthly, as well as new features that don't fit the feature-flag based approach - but whenever possible, we'll lean on this new model to ensure that we get the most feedback, resulting in the best release possible.

Given the transition to this new model, we won't be introducing major new production features in our August release. Rather, we're inviting customers to join our beta for our next major feature release. We intend to release this feature to production in September, resuming our monthly feature releases from that point.

Now entering beta: Centercode Test Infographic

For our first beta feature release, we're excited to present our upcoming Test Infographic dashboard! This infographic comes in two primary variants.

The first offers a beautiful overview of your test results, including your team, feedback collated and acted on, and much much more. This is intended to be shared with internal audiences within your company, spreading awareness for your program and test results.

The second infographic offers a similar but more limited view, intended explicitly for a public audience of testers, recognizing and celebrating their efforts (excluding PII, of course) throughout your test. 

Each infographic deeply showcases your branding and can cover an entire project or any fixed period you define. Given their motivational intent, our infographics focus exclusively on positive insights and outcomes, deliberately prioritizing inspiration over actionability, while also giving the ability to exclude any panel you wish.

All paying customers interested in testing this new feature can sign up at any time, which will also offer the experience of being a tester in a Centercode-managed test, providing a first-hand view of our own best practices.

Sign up HERE if you’d like to participate!

fixes  

🐞  Bug Fixes 🐞 

Data Engine & Custom Reports

• Some tuning was done on the display of geographic style reports

Performance & Tuning

• Performance was tuned on pages with extensive quick access lists

Miscellaneous

• The "&" character in Feedback Type names will no longer break certain watch functionality

This month, we’ve got a veritable banquet of new features and improvements prepared for you! From new in-line image list view CDE items, to a quality-of-life improvement for project archiving, there’s something tasty for everyone. And as usual, we've continually deployed several bug fixes throughout the month that we've listed below.

announcements  

There's still time to enter October's Visual Theme Costume Contest. We're accepting screenshots until November 11th! Whether your site's theme is colorful or monochromatic, edgy or classy, this is a great opportunity to get your name out there in the world and score a little prize on the side! Check out the Announcement below for information on how to participate.

 new features  

✨ New Features ✨  

By Popular Demand: Feedback and User List Inline Images!

First on the menu is a dish many of you have asked for:  inline images and image thumbnails in your user management and feedback management list views. These new data points for the Centercode Data Engine have been a popular request, and we're excited to finally share it with you!

When creating a user or feedback view, you’ll notice three different view items related to file attachment form elements. These new items make it much simpler to get an in-platform view of images and files uploaded by users for specific forms.

“File Attachment Has Attachment” gives you a binary yes/no response if the user attached any files at all.

“File Attachment” shows a scaled version of the image inline:

“File Attachment Thumbnail” shows thumbnail versions of attached images:

improvements  

📈  Improvements 📈 

Simplified Project Archiving!

For our second course we’ve added the ability to archive a project from within the project itself. You’ll no longer need to navigate to Programs and Projects and find the specific project on the list (though that method is still available!). This option is located in the Project Configuration section of the Management menu when you're in a project.

Saving Time and Processor Power!

And last, but not least, is a feature designed to help you when your plate's piled a bit too high with automatically refreshing and distributed reports. We’ve implemented a new system that will automatically disable any reports that no one has viewed or interacted with in an extended period of time. This keeps your data fresh and your inbox uncluttered by old report emails you haven’t gotten around to turning off yet! (Note: This only applies to reports set to daily or weekly refreshes/distribution. Monthly reports will never automatically disable themselves.)

You’ll be notified of this two different ways: 

A new set of icons on the Report Management screen will show the status of reports that are set to auto-refresh. Green circle arrows indicate that a report is set to auto-refresh and has been viewed recently. Red circle arrows indicate that a report has not been viewed recently and will automatically deactivate soon. A red warning sign indicates that a report was set to auto-refresh, but it reached the time limit without being viewed, so it's been disabled.

When a report goes unviewed for an extended period of time, the people on its distribution list see an expiration warning at the top of their email with a link to refresh the report. To refresh it, they don't have to login—it just takes one user to follow the link and confirm that they'd like to keep receiving updates. This resets the report's expiration date and keeps it auto-refreshing and sending updates. No muss, no fuss!

fixes  

🐞  Bug Fixes 🐞 

Data Engine & Custom Reports

• User and Feedback Filter/View splash pages have been reworked to store prior selections as you are working within the page
• Corrected an issue causing "# of Activities" data counts to be inaccurate when factoring in regression features
• Corrected issue causing incorrect conversion to UTC date/time in exported Excel reports

This month we’re bringing you our spoookiest update yet! October’s release is primarily focused on under-the-hood updates, lurking in the shadows just out of sight (See, spooky!). Our recent releases have introduced quite a few new UI elements which take cues from your visual theme. We thought this would be a seasonally appropriate time to help you dress up your testing community by bringing you some new and improved Visual Theme-focused content!

announcements  

📢 Announcements 📢   

Centercode Site Costume Contest

We’re holding a Visual Theme contest to spotlight your hard work and celebrate those who take the extra step! If you’ve got a good looking site, this is a great opportunity to get your name out there in the world and maybe get a little something on the side! Alternatively, if you’re not happy with your theme, we can help (but you’ll be DQd from the contest)! Check out the Announcement below for information on how to participate.

✨ Featured Content ✨  

All About Visual Themes!

Our first piece of content focuses on explaining the value of a good Visual Theme, and the influence it can have on tester enthusiasm and participation. To help get those creative juices flowing we also provide a number of example templates, a few helpful tips and tricks, and a curated collection of background images.

Read it Here!

Getting Your Hands Dirty

Next up we have a brief (but informative!) article with step-by-step instructions on how to access the Visual Theme tools, and how to apply your themes throughout your site once they’ve been created.

Read it Here!

The Nitty Gritty

And last, but not least, we’ve created a detailed guide explaining how each of the Custom Images and Custom Color will affect your site, each with accompanying images of some of the more prominent places you’ll see those changes.

Read it Here!

 
📈  Improvements 📈 

OAuth for Your POP!

We've added the ability for customers to utilize OAuth to authenticate their email accounts used in email reply integrations (a.k.a. “POP Integrations”). Once it’s enabled on the back-end, you can access this function via a button on the community level Email Template and Logs page. If you have an existing email reply integration that either uses or needs to be updated to use OAuth, let us know so we can make the necessary adjustments.

fixes  

🐞  Bug Fixes 🐞 

Data Engine & Custom Reports

• Data engine and reporting on All Reply Text no longer includes user email address

User Interface & Experience

• Site color picker widget no longer requires a click-plus-drag to modify the color (a simple click will do)

Centercode Site Costume Contest!

Like a haunted house covered in sheet-ghosts and fake cobwebs (or toilet paper), the appearance of your testing site significantly impacts your testers’ perception of your program.

A well-presented site can elevate tester enthusiasm, brand confidence, and even professionalism. To help maximize your candy (feedback) haul this season, we’re holding a customer contest for the best-dressed site and giving out prizes for the best-in-show! You may or may not see some of our favorites showcased in the future… 🧙🔮

The Rules:

We can only accept one submission per customer site, and only one prize per company. If we get more than one submission for a site, we'll use the first one—and that submitter will receive any contest results or prizes. 

Submissions must be received throughout October through November 11, 2022. Winners will be announced in the November Newsletter.

Themes will be evaluated based on specific criteria including accessibility, use of brand colors, cohesiveness, creativity, and some spooky mystery categories.

This contest is only open to customers who have implemented their own themes. While we're always willing to help you design your site's look, themes created by Centercode employees (via Services or otherwise) don’t qualify for this contest.

Full-sized candy bars only; no apples. 

To Participate:

Submit two screenshots of your site on or before November 11th: one of the login page, and one of the User Management page, as shown in the examples below. Send your submissions via email to contests@centercode.com with the subject line: “Visual Theme Contest”. Include your screenshots and any details you’d like to call attention to such as the name of your theme, special notes about it, etc.

https://<YOUR IMPLEMENTATION URL>/welcome/
https://<YOUR IMPLEMENTATION URL>/community/users/default.html 

First, take a screenshot of your site (Windows: [Windows]+[Shift]+S, Mac: [Shift]+[Command]+3). Then simply paste (Windows: [Control]+V, Mac: [Command]+V) in your email to add the screenshot. Repeat for each screenshot you want to take. Finally, just send it our way and you're all set!

announcements 

🎉 Centercode's 20th Anniversary 🎉 

As of May 2021, Centercode has existed for 20 years. This continues to be a journey we’re incredibly proud of, highlighted by the hundreds of amazing companies and thousands of incredible people and products that we’ve had the opportunity to work with, and driven by the fierce passion we maintain to this day.

Along with this release we've produced the new ebook, The Definitive Guide to Delta Testing which you can download here. This is a comprehensive resource intended to not only explain delta testing to the uninitiated, but also to serve as a ”buy-in guide” to be shared within your organization.

delta  improvements new features fixes mobile 

Delta Testing: The Answer to Alpha, Beta, Field, and Everything

By literally any measure, this is our largest release to date. It spans the entire platform, and operates as a cohesive means to deliver on our vision.

New User Interface

For the first time since the inception of our platform, we’ve refreshed our entire user interface. For admins, this means easier access to virtually all functionality. For testers, it means a more focused and accessible experience that's aligned with our new mobile app. For everyone, it means a fresh look and feel (which will likely take platform veterans a bit of time to get used to!).

Delta Planning and Dynamic Surveys

The heart of the new release is a centralized suite of tools to plan and manage a delta test, including first-class incorporation of features, phases, and activities. Delta tests may be planned within the platform or imported, and easily adjusted at any time.

Introducing: Ted Adams

An intelligent virtual agent of Centercode who manages tester engagement on your behalf. Ted continuously learns from your project, testers, and feedback. Ted takes a huge load off your back by communicating the most important information at the right moment, through the most ideal channels.

Furthermore, Ted continuously provides test managers with insightful updates in classic Scrum format: What just happened? What's happening next? What are the blockers?

Dynamic Dashboards

Centercode now automatically generates beautiful data-rich dashboards that summarize your project, phases, features, and much more. The dashboards are highly interactive, may be filtered in real-time, and allow for both direct presentation and sharing. No more decks.

Centercode Mobile App

A native Centercode app allows your testers to engage with all aspects of your test, including providing and collaborating on feedback directly from their iOS or Android devices.

The Everything

Beyond these key features, literally hundreds of other small enhancements cover virtually every corner of the platform. This truly is a monumental release, and one we couldn't be more excited to share with you.