At OpenBOM we are always super inspired by the customers’ stories and how they use OpenBOM to solve their specific problems. Today, I want to share with you the story of Cytotronics located in Boston, Massachusetts.
At Cytotronics, innovation is part of the DNA. Specializing in cutting-edge sensor platforms and intelligent hardware, they’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in biomedical and environmental monitoring. But when it came to managing their growing product complexity and manufacturing processes, they hit a wall — or rather, a spreadsheet.
Video Story
Watch the video of their story to hear firsthand from Cytotronics team Tatyana Chernenko, Director of Technical Operations, and Akim Lennhoff, Principal Mechanical Engineer.
Pushing Excel to the Limit
Like many fast-moving hardware startups, Cytotronics began its journey with the familiar comfort of Excel. Bills of materials, inventory, revisions — everything lived in a maze of spreadsheets. But as the team scaled, so did the chaos.
“We were spending a lot of time maintaining spreadsheets,” said the Cytotronics team. “Excel got us started, but it wasn’t going to take us to the next level.”
That’s when the search began for a better, more scalable solution — one that could grow with the company, not hold it back.
Flexible Data Modeling with OpenBOM
Enter OpenBOM.
What drew Cytotronics in was OpenBOM’s flexible data modeling system. Instead of trying to force their product and process into rigid legacy PLM templates, they could shape the data to reflect their workflow.
“OpenBOM gave us the ability to structure our information the way we think about the product — not the way someone else thinks we should manage it,” the team shared.
From multi-level BOMs to complex product hierarchies and dynamic part categories, Cytotronics found a system that could adapt as fast as they innovate.
Visualizing the Product: Seeing Is Understanding
One of the game-changers for Cytotronics was OpenBOM’s graphic visualization capabilities. With intricate systems made up of electronics, enclosures, and fluidic components, seeing the product structure in a visual, connected form was critical.
“It’s not just about what parts go where — it’s how they all relate. The visual view lets us communicate clearly across engineering, manufacturing, and even marketing.”
Whether it was debugging a new prototype or planning a design change, having an intuitive graphic BOM view helped everyone stay on the same page — and move faster.
Serial Numbers: Tracking the Physical World
As Cytotronics ramped into production, managing the serial numbers of physical devices became a priority. OpenBOM’s built-in serial number management provided the traceability they needed without introducing complexity.
“We’re shipping real products into the field. We needed to know exactly what went into each unit — and OpenBOM gave us that confidence.”
From build records to warranty and service, the traceability offered by OpenBOM’s serial number support became a pillar of quality and operational control.
Support That Feels Like a Partnership
Behind every feature is a team — and Cytotronics had nothing but praise for OpenBOM’s support.
“Working with the OpenBOM team is like having an extended part of our company. They’re fast, they listen, and they genuinely care about our success.”
Whether it was onboarding, customization, or just bouncing ideas, the Cytotronics team felt they had a true partner in OpenBOM.
Conclusion: Building the Future, Together
From the limitations of Excel to the flexibility of OpenBOM’s modern cloud platform, Cytotronics made the leap to a scalable digital foundation. With dynamic data modeling, powerful visualization, real-world traceability, and a support team that truly partners, OpenBOM is helping Cytotronics focus on what they do best: building the future.
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Best, Oleg
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