Our development relationship is a process that involves: the customer, the local project manager, and the offshore team of programmers and QA/QC. Once the project is started, we create and sign off on the Requirements Document. The creation of this document is done directly between the project manager and the customer. After that process, the programming is started. Typically, there are 2-week iterations as the project moves from start to finish. After each iteration, our customer is given the chance to work with, test, and comment on the functionality and design of their application as it is being developed. Then, we continue developing the application with our programmers, test their work with the QA/QC team, and release another iteration to the customer for review. By the time the application is completed, the customer has seen and approved every stage of development from start to finish.

Proposals are typically completed in less than a week. We need enough time to estimate the cost of creating the custom application, and that cost is then included in our individualized proposal. We present the proposal in a number of ways. We can do it in our conference room, visit your office and present it there, or have a “GoTo Meeting” session, and use the internet to accomplish the presentation remotely.

This question has a different answer for every customer. Our quickest turnaround is about 4 weeks. We need to take time to identify all the requirements before beginning creating the application. Most of our work is completed in the 6 to 8, and 8 to 12 week range.

We warrant our applications to be free of bugs or errors in the coding for 30 days following the final release. If a problem is found, we will acknowledge it the same day, and begin working on a resolution within 24-48 hours. Clearly, we will fix it as soon as possible after a problem is found. Yes, all of our work is guaranteed for both customer satisfaction, and for accuracy. We include all design and process aspects of the project in the “Requirements Document.” Part of our design process includes customer input and acceptance. It is rare that a customer is not satisfied with the design and functionality of an application, and even if they are we address those concerns before the project is finished. As to the accuracy, we have an entire QA/QC team that tests the results of every iteration during the application design process. By the time the application is finished and released, we are confident that there are no bugs or errors.

You are always working with both the sales team, and the local project manager. You are interfacing with the programmers through our project manager. For large-scale projects that are long-term, we sometimes allow our programmers to work directly with the customer for the sake of expediency when they need to get questions answered.

We develop and test all of our software applications on the same equipment and environment that it will eventually run on. For the Microsoft environment, we are using Windows Server 2003 and MS SQL 2005.

Yes, we provide an SLA with all hosted applications. This agreement provides assurances to the customer that certain levels of service, security, backup, and management will be provided and performed on a regular basis.

Typically, the customer owns the code, and we will also sign an NDA (Non-disclosure Agreement). This NDA protects your concept and means that we can’t duplicate your software for another client and sell it. Sometimes, our customers will rebrand their custom solution and resell it to other members of their industry. We can help with this effort as well.

Your application can be hosted either internally on your own network servers, or externally as a web-based application. Most of our customers prefer web-hosting their application so they can access it both inside and outside of the office.

If the application becomes critical to business operations, then it will be hosted on a dedicated server to increase performance and guarantee a higher percentage of up time. If cost is a consideration, and availability is not as critical to the company then a shared server can be used.

Yes, regardless of where or how it is hosted, the application and database are always backed up. EXAMPLES (Archive to DVD, tape backup, off site)

Once the proposal is accepted, and we receive a deposit for the project we begin working on the project plan and scheduled release dates for milestones. For large-scale applications, some of this work is done up front as part of the proposal process. A requirements document is created in every case, and it’s cost is built in to the project. Still larger applications require that this information is gathered as a chargeable service in an effort to define all aspects of the application. Only then, the proposal can be prepared showing all aspects of the project.

We acknowledge all errors and issues the same day they are reported, and begin working on the solution within 24-48 hours.