FAQ

Questions

Answers

What is a TeamEXtension?

A TeamEXtension is a team usually composed of two full-time programmers and a project manager. The team size can be customized to fit your needs. We do recommend a small size team to minimize communication overhead. The team works on long-term Java development and maintenance, and not one time projects. The manager acts as a business analyst and project manager.

What kind of projects do you handle?

We focus mainly on Java development and maintenance. Java is platform independent so we build systems that work in Windows, Unix, Linux and the Mac. We build enterprise systems, websites, intranets, e-commerce sites, back-end systems, reporting applications, process automation, interactive voice systems, secure infrastructures and more.

We can handle any size project, from automating a manual report done through Excel, to implementing a geographically load-balanced financial system.

What are your core competencies?

Our core programming language is Java and J2EE with a strong Object Oriented background. We also work with other programming languages if the need arises. For example, we work with PHP if we need to handle WordPress or Drupal. We work with C/C++ if we need to interface closely with the operating system or the hardware.

Can you maintain our existing applications?

Yes! One thing that distinguishes us is that we also maintain applications, not just develop them. Maintaining an existing system is a skill you learn, and is actually harder than building a new application from scratch. We will take your existing application and take responsibility for it.

What industries do you have experience with?

We have experience in the financial, insurance, software, pharmaceutical, retail and telecom industries. However, we do believe that industry experience is not necessary for us to be able to meet your IT requirements. Much like how we can learn technologies quickly, we can also learn your industry rather quickly. What’s important are our skills and experience in communicating and programming, to determine and implement the right business requirements. This makes sure we do exactly what you need and not what we think you need.

We have a lot of experience moving from one industry to the next, even from one programming language to the next. The truth is, the biggest factor for a programmers long-term productivity is not experience but the love of programming.

Do you provide other services besides application development?

Yes! Please review all the services we provide. In a nutshell, we provide strategic planning, comprehensive testing, server monitoring, backup management, data analysis, search engine optimization, and computer support. These services are included with every TeamEXtension.

We lack resources to manage an outsourcing relationship. Will this still work?

Yes! Every TeamEXtension includes a team manager that oversees day to day operations and acts as the business analyst and liaison. You can manage as much as you want, or as less as you want, and the team manager will adjust accordingly to your management style.

How much does your service cost?

Please review our latest pricing information. We post our rates online and don’t play the give-a-quote game. One thing is for sure, due to our creative business model, we can give you top talent at a fraction of current market rates.

We need to cut costs. Can we outsource our IT to you?

It depends. We think of our company as a strategic and transformational outsourcing company. What this basically means, is that we are looking for companies who are looking for growth and not simply looking to cut costs. We would like to help you achieve your strategic goals. We would like to give you a technological edge and give you access to top IT talent.

If you are satisfied with your IT department, we strongly suggest you keep them. It’s hard to build an IT team, and the disruption to your business and hit to morale can easily wipe out any cost advantages. If your IT cannot handle the job, or if you need additional resources, we are here to help.

Why are your hourly rates so competitive? It sounds too good to be true.

It’s good and true. When we started the company, we looked for a way to provide IT services that are cost-effective to small and medium sized businesses. Offshore outsourcing is the way we can get top talent for less cost. Outsourcing opens up another set of concerns so we added an onshore manager to minimize risk and give our clients minimal IT management work. We also added a set of other IT services to offer a comprehensive IT solution.

Why not simply hire an IT employee or contractor?

For small companies who have little or no IT expertise, hiring a good IT employee is a daunting task in itself. For a company who has the resources needed to find a good employee, the total cost of a senior level programmer is higher if you factor in the costs of hiring, HR, legal, hardware, office space, bonuses, increases, taxes and management time. TeamEXtension gives you a senior level programmer without the extra costs and worries.

One good IT contractor will pay for one TeamEXtension that includes 2 senior programmers, a manager, various IT services, and the resources and processes of a Java development company.

Will we lose control of IT?

Yes and no. Yes because we will take over hiring, training and managing team members. No because you will have full control over what gets done and their priorities. We can fully manage IT in case the team reports directly to the CEO. We can also act like a development team reporting to the IT Manager. The team manager will adjust accordingly to your management style.

What kind of return on investment (ROI) should we expect?

The value is tied to how important your strategic plans are to your company, and if you need technology to achieve these plans. You save money and time with a TeamEXtension since you get top technical skills and management for a very competitive rate. Building a similar team using in-house employees will cost you twice as much. The cost increases if you start using contractors or consulting companies.

What if the relationship does not work out? What now?

Just like any technology project, there’s a ramp-up period where we get up to speed with your current systems. It takes about 3 months before your TeamEXtension is working in full steam. You can terminate the relationship anytime after the initial 3 month start-up period and a 30 day prior written notice. We will also help plan for a smooth transition, including the transfer of all your data and documents.

We don’t believe in long-term contracts or any other artificial vendor lock-ins. We want you to stay with us because you see great value in our service and because we get the job done.

Your service sounds great. How can we make sure you follow through?

We are a young company and we greatly value your business and will work hard to earn your referral. We regularly ask for feedback regarding our level of service to make sure we meet and exceed your expectations. We hire seasoned IT managers and programmers, with the programmers being dedicated to your company and not shared with other clients. We have regular code reviews and automated tests to make sure your critical applications are always running properly. We keep things simple, since complicated code is unmaintainable code.

How do I signup for your service?

We’re glad you asked! Rest assured this is a decision you will be more than happy with. Please see how you can get started. You can also contact us if you have any questions about the process.

I need more information. Who can I ask?

Please contact us and we will be glad to help you with any questions or concerns. We are looking forward to hearing from you.