Expert AI, Web Application and Shopify Development | ⋈ Bowtie

Team Augmentation Benefits for Denver Businesses

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 15:36:37 +0000

In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, Denver businesses face increasing pressure to deliver innovative software solutions while maintaining competitive advantages. Team augmentation has emerged as a strategic solution for companies looking to scale their development capabilities without the overhead of full-time hiring. Let’s explore why this approach is particularly beneficial for Denver’s growing business ecosystem.

Understanding Team Augmentation in the Denver Context

Team augmentation is more than just outsourcing - it’s about strategically integrating experienced developers into your existing workflow. For Denver businesses, this means accessing a pool of skilled professionals who can seamlessly collaborate with your in-house team while bringing fresh perspectives and specialized expertise.

The Denver Advantage

Denver’s unique position as a growing tech hub makes team augmentation particularly valuable. Local businesses can benefit from:

Access to specialized skill sets without the lengthy hiring process
Flexible scaling based on project demands
Cost-effective development solutions without compromising quality
Local timezone alignment for real-time collaboration
Cultural fit with Denver’s business environment

Key Benefits of Team Augmentation

1. Immediate Access to Skilled Talent

When partnering with a Denver software consulting firm, businesses gain immediate access to:

Certified developers with expertise in multiple technologies
Professionals experienced in various industry verticals
Teams well-versed in modern development methodologies

2. Cost-Effective Scaling

Team augmentation offers significant financial benefits:

Elimination of full-time employee overhead costs
Reduced training and onboarding expenses
Flexible engagement models
Pay-for-what-you-need pricing structure

3. Enhanced Project Management and Transparency

Modern team augmentation services in Denver emphasize:

Clear communication channels
Regular progress updates
Transparent project tracking through tools like Pivotal Tracker and Jira
Documented workflows and processes

4. Risk Mitigation

Working with an established team augmentation partner helps minimize risks through:

Proven development methodologies
Established quality assurance processes
Clear intellectual property rights (work-for-hire agreements)
Rapid response times (typically 3-4 hours)

Building Trust Through Transparency

Trust is fundamental in team augmentation partnerships. Quality providers demonstrate this through:

Clear Communication Protocols

Regular status updates
Dedicated project managers
Direct access to development team members
Documented decision-making processes

Defined Deliverables

Detailed project scoping
Clear milestone definitions
Regular code reviews
Comprehensive documentation

Transparent Pricing

Fixed-fee options for defined scope projects
Clear hourly or weekly rates for ongoing support
No hidden costs or surprise fees
Value-based pricing models

Maximizing Value Through Strategic Partnership

Technical Expertise

Quality team augmentation partners bring:

Deep technical knowledge across multiple platforms
Experience with modern development tools and frameworks
Understanding of industry best practices
Continuous learning and skill development

Business Understanding

The best partners offer:

Strategic insight into technology decisions
Industry-specific knowledge
Understanding of local market dynamics
Focus on business outcomes, not just technical deliverables

Choosing the Right Team Augmentation Partner

Essential Criteria

When evaluating team augmentation services in Denver, consider:

Technical Capabilities
- Proven expertise in relevant technologies
- Strong portfolio of similar projects
- Certified development team members
- Demonstrated ability to adapt to new technologies
Business Approach
- Clear communication processes
- Transparent project management
- Flexible engagement models
- Strong focus on client success
Local Presence and Understanding
- Knowledge of Denver business environment
- Ability to meet in person when needed
- Cultural alignment with local business practices
- Understanding of local market dynamics

Implementation Best Practices

1. Clear Onboarding Process

Detailed project kickoff meetings
Technology stack alignment
Communication protocol establishment
Tool and access setup

2. Integration Strategy

Seamless team integration approaches
Knowledge transfer protocols
Collaborative development practices
Continuous feedback loops

3. Quality Assurance

Regular code reviews
Automated testing processes
Performance monitoring
Security best practices

Long-term Success Factors

Continuous Improvement

Regular performance reviews
Process optimization
Skill development
Technology updates

Relationship Building

Regular face-to-face meetings
Team building activities
Open communication channels
Long-term partnership focus

The ROI of Team Augmentation

Measurable Benefits

Reduced time-to-market
Lower development costs
Increased project success rates
Enhanced technical capabilities

Strategic Advantages

Access to specialized skills
Flexible scaling capabilities
Reduced management overhead
Focus on core business objectives

Conclusion

Team augmentation services in Denver offer businesses a powerful way to scale their development capabilities while maintaining control over their projects. By choosing the right partner with a focus on trust, transparency, and value, companies can accelerate their development efforts while reducing risks and costs.

The key to success lies in selecting a partner who understands both the technical requirements and the unique business environment of Denver. With the right team augmentation strategy, businesses can leverage external expertise while maintaining their core identity and development culture.

Looking to augment your development team in Denver? Contact us to learn how we can help scale your technical capabilities while maintaining the quality and culture you’ve built.

How to Outsource Your Software Projects Successfully

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:36:37 +0000

For many small business owners, software development is key to driving efficiency, innovation, and a competitive edge. Yet deciding how to build and maintain custom software isn’t always straightforward. In this post, I’ll explore the real cost of outsourcing your software project by comparing the benefits of working with a trusted agency versus the headaches of managing independent contractors—and explain why partnering with a small, proven team might be your best move.

The Value of Working with an Outside Partner

Outsourcing your software project to a well-established partner offers significant advantages over hiring full‑time developers. One of the most attractive benefits is a lower long‑term cost. Full‑time hires come with expenses like benefits, training, and extended onboarding periods. An outside firm, on the other hand, works on a project‑by‑project basis, allowing you to scale up or down as needed without the long‑term commitment. We are here when you need us, and cut free when you don’t. Your primary investment is in the work - which is an asset - not an ongoing staffing expense.

When you partner with a tested team, you’re not just buying output/time. You’re gaining access to a fully‑formed group that comes with its own project management, design, quality assurance, and testing capabilities. A good team has honed their internal processes over years. Our built‑in time management and reporting tools mean less time spent on oversight from your side, leaving you free to focus on running your business and ensuring that we are building the right application. Plus, external teams are motivated to complete projects quickly, as their reputation and future contracts depend on timely delivery.

Another benefit is reduced onboarding time: Outsourced teams come with years of experience and tested workflows - we can hit the ground running. This streamlined approach saves you from the delays and hidden costs often associated with building an in‑house team.

The Challenges of Working with Independent Contractors

Many small businesses consider hiring independent contractors as a seemingly cost‑effective solution, but this approach can come with hidden challenges that drive up the overall cost—and headache—of your project.

Unless you are used to managing software developers, it can be a challenge to vet independent contractors. Unlike established firms that have a portfolio of work and client testimonials, individual contractors can be hard to evaluate. You may spend valuable time sorting through resumes, conducting interviews, and verifying references—all with no guarantee that the person you select will be the right fit for your project, and no idea if you are receiving quality work, or an AI-generated mess. And if you use recruiters to vet contractors, you are simply outsourcing the responsibility to another person, who actually has a direct financial stake in you taking their recommendation.

Independent contractors typically work alone, which means there’s no guarantee they’ll mesh well as a team. And unfortunately, many independent contractors overstate the roles they played in past team projects, or start from the premise of ‘rebuilding everything’ to fit a narrow scope of technologies that they are personally comfortable with. Not to mention, contractors may have less incentive to work quickly and efficiently, often clock irregular hours, and worst of all, they might disappear or “ghost” you without warning. With no built‑in redundancy or peer-review process, a contractor’s sudden unavailability can stall your project and compromise deliverables.

Small Agency Teams are the Most Efficient

In contrast, a small, dedicated agency team offers a complete package solution. With an agency, you get a ready-made team that includes developers, designers, project managers, and quality assurance experts—all working together seamlessly. This built‑in redundancy ensures that if one team member is unavailable, someone else can quickly step in without missing a beat.

Established workflows and clear communication channels mean you can work with a single point of contact, avoiding the constant hassle of managing multiple independent contractors. We also work normal business hours, and maintain open lines of communication when you need to collaborate and communicate with us. With robust oversight and reporting systems in place—from tracked hours and regular sprint reviews to strict quality controls—you get full transparency and peace of mind.

Experience is another major benefit. A seasoned agency understands how to leverage the latest tools, including AI, without falling prey to costly mistakes (E.G. unexpected $200K AWS bills). Our decades of combined development experience help ensure that every decision is smart, cost‑effective, and focused on long‑term success. We want you to succeed because our goal is long term partnership, and we rely on referrals for future work.

Weighing the True Costs

When you consider the true cost of your software project, it’s important to look beyond the initial price tag. Full‑time hires may seem appealing for their stability, but long‑term expenses like salaries, benefits, and training can quickly add up. Independent contractors might appear flexible and cost‑efficient at first, yet the hidden risks—inconsistent quality, poor team cohesion, and potential delays—can end up costing you more.

Outsourcing to a small agency strikes the right balance between cost and quality. With a complete, motivated team working on your project, you enjoy faster turnaround times, streamlined processes, and lower risk. The flexibility to adjust the team size as needed means you’re only paying for what you require, reducing wasted resources. Plus, the comprehensive services that agencies offer—from project management to rigorous quality control—ensure your project is handled with expertise and care.

Why Today’s Business Landscape is Ideal for Outsourcing

Today’s business environment is unpredictable. Many small businesses are facing layoffs, right sizing, unplanned budget cuts, or the need to boost overall cost efficiency. In these times, making smart decisions about your software development strategy is more important than ever.

Outsourcing to a proven small team offers the agility to adapt quickly without the fixed costs associated with full‑time hires. By letting a reliable agency handle your software needs, you free up resources to focus on other critical areas of your business, ensuring you stay competitive even in lean times. The cost efficiencies realized through faster delivery, reduced overheads, and minimized risks can help protect your bottom line when every dollar counts.

As a small business owner, you face tough decisions about where to invest your limited resources. Partnering with an established external firm like Bowtie.co is a value-driven choice. Now is an excellent time to consider outsourcing to a proven small team. In today’s climate of layoffs, right sizing, and budget pressures, aligning with a capable and efficient partner can help ensure your business remains agile and competitive. Invest in a software solution that prepares your business for future challenges and opportunities—allowing you to focus on growth, innovation, and delivering outstanding value to your customers.

If you want to work with a seasoned small team, consider Bowtie. We’re frequently told by our clients that we do great work, and they enjoy the way we do business. Don’t take our word for it, ask them portfolio. Then when you are ready, give us a call or email us to talk about your project.

When to Fire your Developers

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

As we near our 10-year anniversary in business, having delivered hundreds of successful products, I find myself reflecting on the life span of the client - developer relationship. Today, a business has more options than ever when selecting a development partner. If you are fortunate enough to maintain a website or application long enough, inevitably the key contributors will change. Here are a few thoughts on when to part ways.

Building software is hard. Even simple products can require months of work and tens of thousands of dollars. It’s a process filled with ambiguity, discovery, trial, and error. Every software product begins with a problem worth solving—but turning that problem into working code takes more than an understanding of a programming language. It requires alignment.

When the process goes well, it can feel effortless. The right solution seems obvious in hindsight. But getting to that solution means clearly communicating the problem, rigorously defining requirements, and iterating on possible solutions until you find the one that works. A great development partner will be just as focused on the problem as you are. They will help you refine your thinking, ask the right questions, and guide you toward solutions that are as simple as they are powerful. And when a solution proves to be a technical challenge, they should be able to explain it plainly, justify their approach, and show you why it works. If they can’t, or won’t — fire them.

Next, let’s talk about process. Software development is a collaborative effort. A competent and reliable development partner will have a well-defined process that’s inclusive, transparent, and informative. You should expect a clear project roadmap: a timeline of regular check-ins, updates, milestones, and deliverables. These aren’t just boxes to check; they’re the foundation of trust. They show that your partner is organized, professional, and accountable. If your developer’s process is vague, constantly shifting, or hidden behind jargon or a gaggle of non-technical project managers — fire them. You deserve visibility into what’s being built, how it’s being built, and what you will ultimately own once it’s done.

Speaking of deliverables; they should be clearly defined on day one. While it’s unrealistic to expect perfection (delays happen, bugs appear, priorities shift) the schedule should be maintained. And when the unexpected occurs, there should be proactive conversations and negotiated compromises. You’re not just buying time or effort, you’re paying for outcomes. Developers are doing work for hire, and that work should be owned by you from day one. You should have access to the code, documentation, and designs as they’re created, not just at the end of the project. If a developer can’t or won’t provide consistent, tangible results on schedule — fire them.

Soft skills, team fit, and culture fit can be equally valuable to the success of your project, as does the length of your working relationship. Time spent together builds context, trust, and tribal knowledge that’s hard to replace. A developer who knows your business and your product well is a valuable asset. Be weary of competitors who offer a fast, cheap, shiny new partnership at the cost of continuity. As they say, if it ain’t broke… But even great relationships have a shelf life. If your developer stops communicating, seems bored or checked out, begins missing deadlines, or can no longer articulate their contributions—it may be time to move on. Burnout is real, and even the best partners can lose steam. Don’t ignore the signs. A fresh perspective might be exactly what your project needs.

Finally, let’s talk about long-term support. All software changes. With new features, updates to dependencies, and platform changes, maintenance is inevitable. A responsible developer will talk about this from the beginning. More importantly, they’ll architect solutions that are stable and require as little maintenance as possible. But if you find yourself constantly paying for fixes, refactors, or rewrites months after launch, that’s a red flag. Your development costs should go down over time, not up. After the initial build, maintenance should be lighter, not a second full-time job. If you’ve staffed up internally to build something, remember: you don’t need to carry those costs forever. Maintenance can (and often should) be outsourced. If your team can’t transition gracefully into a lean support mode — fire them.

In summary, great developer partners bring clarity, structure, and results. They’re laser-focused on your problem, they communicate openly, they meet deadlines, and they help you own your product. Most importantly, they make smart decisions that reduce your long-term costs, not increase them. If your current partner can’t do those things, don’t be afraid to move on. Software is too expensive to get wrong, and too valuable not to get right. If these ideas resonate with you and you want to chat, Contact Us

Tips for Choosing the Right Software Development Partner

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

If this is the first and only page you've visited on our site, this post will seem novel. If not, then you know we stress the value of our partner relationships above all else. When building a new app, site, or redesigning an existing one, choosing the right web development partner may be the most crucial decision you make.

The right partner will help you to achieve your goals and bring your vision to life. The wrong one can result in delays, budget overruns, and subpar results.

Here are a few tips on choosing the best partner (even if it's not us):

Determine your needs: Before you start searching for a web development partner, it’s important to have a clear understanding of your needs. What is the purpose of your website? Who is your target audience? What features do you want to include? Answering these questions will help you to narrow down your search and find a partner that is a good fit for your project.
Look for a partner with relevant experience: Experience is an important consideration when choosing a web development partner. Look for a partner that has experience working on projects similar to yours, as they will be better equipped to understand your needs and deliver the results you want.
Consider the partner’s skill set: In addition to experience, you should also consider the skills and capabilities of the web development partner you are considering. Do they have the technical expertise to handle your project? Do they have a strong track record of delivering high-quality websites?
Evaluate the partner’s communication and collaboration style: Web development projects often involve close collaboration between the client and the development team. It’s important to find a partner with a communication and collaboration style that is a good fit for your needs. Look for a partner that is responsive, transparent, and proactive in their approach to communication.
Consider the partner’s pricing and contract terms: Price is an important consideration when choosing a web development partner, but it shouldn’t be the only factor. Be sure to carefully review the pricing and contract terms offered by different partners to ensure that you are getting the best value for your money.

As you can see, the right partner will be able to help you bring your vision to life with a high degree of accuracy and value. They will have the technical expertise and experience to deliver a great website that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations. Above all, communication and transparency will make the process a pleasure (as opposed to a slog).

Choosing the right development partner can help to ensure that your project is completed on time and within budget. A partner with strong project management skills and a proven track record of delivering results on schedule will be better equipped to keep your project on track.

Experience matters. The right partner reduces risks of issues arising during the project. A partner with a diverse team and strong track record is less likely to encounter problems that could impact the timeline or budget of your project. This alone may be the value of choosing an experienced agency over a freelancer or small ‘collective’ of freelancers.

TLDR

In conclusion, choosing the right web development partner is crucial for the success of your project. Carefully consider factors such as experience, skills, communication style, team make up and size, pricing, and contract terms and you will find a partner that is a good fit for your immediate needs and the long term. When in doubt, seek out transparency and communication style above all else. It doesn't matter how great your idea is if the person building it cannot clearly understand it. Want to chat? Contact Us

How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App in 2025?

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Are you considering developing an app this year? If so, you're likely wondering about the cost. Fortunately for app buyers, the overall cost to develop web and app technology is declining. Or, more aptly, the time and cost to develop an app of a given complexity has been reduced as some of that time can now be saved using improved tooling, such as AI. Therefore, this might be an ideal time to start a project.

And while the cost of app development can vary widely depending on a number of factors, there are some general guidelines that can help you to get a sense of what to expect.

The cost of app development can be broken down into several buckets:

Design: This includes the cost of designing the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). Depending on the complexity of the app, design costs can range from as little as $1,000 to $50,000 or more. Much of this will depend on your choice of partner and your ability to clearly communicate your needs to the designers.
Development: This includes the cost of coding and testing the app. Development costs can vary widely depending on the platform (iOS, Android, Web, VR/AR, etc.), the complexity of the data, and the number of interactive features. Development costs can range from $10,000 to $250,000 or more. Similar to design, a critical aspect of keeping cost down is the business and design teams' ability to translate and transfer knowledge to the development partner. Experience, smart tools, and careful communication can help here. Additionally, the complexity of your data, migration of prior data models, and integration to third party tools are all factors in the time and cost to develop.
Considerate Use of AI: We have found that when guided by experienced developers, the use of AI assisted development can be a tremendous time and cost savings for our clients. We're not talking about messy vibe coding, where inexperienced developers (or would be developers) blindly accept the result of each prompt until they have a rat's nest of non-performative code. Deliberate and thoughtful prompting by an experienced senior developer can lead to time saved, especially in the early or more commonly repeated aspects of a software project. Work smarter, they say.
Maintenance: Ongoing maintenance and updates are an important part of app development. This includes fixing bugs, adding new features, and maintaining compatibility with new devices. For the sake of completeness, we are also including the cost to connect and support third party tools in this bucket. Maintenance costs can range from $1,000 to $10,000 per year or more.

Prior Year Comparison

While it's difficult to predict, it's likely that the cost to build apps will stabilize, given that the demand for and the complexity of app development will continue to increase, while tools will become smarter and better at helping us not repeat mundane work. Simple projects (basic websites) will decline, and developers will be able to shift their talents to solving more valuable problems (such as building systems to automate processes or probe complex data).

But what about inflation?

General inflation has had an undeniable effect on the software market. The costs of almost everything has gone up, leading to higher wages, and inevitably higher hourly rates for development and maintenance.

Yet, while many prices have risen, the industry has also seen a significant (~15%) workforce reduction. Widespread job loss has made it easier to find specialized talent at a more competitive rate than the past few years. The end result of these two factors combined is nearly a wash.

Can chatGPT or AI build my app?

The power of AI and generative technology is undeniable. Leveraging these tools, our internal team has been able to consistently reduce time to deliver and pass along cost savings. However, we're still a ways off from a LLM that can create a complicated application in the absence of a seasoned professional architect. In our history as a company, we have spent countless hours refactoring junk code created by less skilled low cost developers. Now, we're refactoring code generated by machines that was prompted by even lower skilled 'developers'. Garbage in, garbage out is a pertinent phrase. If you can't understand the output, then it's highly unlikely you gave the correct input. It will be awhile before we consider placing fully generative code into a client's production environment.

So is it a good time to build an app?

Yes, given all the factors at play this year it is absolutely a good time to invest. The cost of app development in 2025 will vary widely depending on the complexity of the app and the specific needs of your business. But, given the economic climate, new tools, and growing talent pool, now is a great time to invest. Choosing a development team that can meet your needs and help you to achieve your business goals is as important as ever. If you are looking for a tested and trusted partner, we might just know one ;)

6 Ways AI Can Help Your Ecommerce Business Grow

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past year, you’re likely aware that Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic technology reserved for the movies. The value of AI has been making daily headlines for months, but have you started to leverage it in your business?

Artificial intelligence (AI) will undoubtedly revolutionize the way most businesses operate, and the ecommerce industry is no exception. We’re actively exploring transformative technologies driven by AI in-house and for our clients. Leveraging AI tools, ecommerce brands can increase efficiency, improve customer experiences, and drive growth. If you’re on the forefront of this wave, opportunities abound.

Here are 6 ways AI can help your ecommerce business:

Personalized product recommendations: One of the key benefits of AI for ecommerce is its ability to personalize product recommendations for customers. Using machine learning algorithms, AI can analyze a customer’s browsing and purchasing history, as well as data about their demographics and interests, to make informed recommendations about products they are likely to be interested in. This can help to increase customer satisfaction and sales. And yes, this is something your marketers are likely already doing, but AI can perform an analysis in minutes that your top marketer might spend hours on.
Improved search functionality: By using natural language processing (NLP) and other AI technologies, businesses can create search tools that understand and respond to customers’ queries in a more intuitive way. This can make it easier for customers to find the products they are looking for, leading to increased satisfaction and conversions.
Streamlined inventory management: AI can help businesses optimize their inventory management processes. By analyzing data on sales and customer demand, AI can predict which products are likely to be in high demand and ensure that there is sufficient stock to meet that demand. This can help to prevent out-of-stock situations and improve the overall customer experience.
Automated customer service: AI can also be used to automate some aspects of customer service. You’re likely already familiar with chatbots powered by AI that handle common customer queries, freeing up human customer service representatives to focus on more complex issues. This can help to improve the efficiency of customer service and reduce response times.
Fraud detection: Finally, AI is a useful tool for help businesses detect and prevent fraudulent activity. By analyzing data on past fraudulent transactions, AI algorithms can learn to recognize patterns that may indicate fraudulent behavior. This can help businesses to protect themselves and their customers from fraudulent attacks, and to alleviate additional customer service concerns.
Staff Efficiency: In many job positions, AI/ML tools can greatly improve efficiency if not fully replace the work a human is doing today. Generative AI has the capacity to write effective product copy, marketing language, create ads, social posts, and even present intelligent keyword research. These tools will make your team more efficient or may allow your company to do more work with a smaller staff.

One company that has successfully implemented AI early in order to drive growth in its business is Alibaba, the Chinese ecommerce giant. Alibaba has used AI in a number of ways to improve its operations, including creating personalized product recommendations for customers and streamlining inventory management. As a result of these and other AI-powered initiatives, Alibaba has seen significant increases in sales and customer satisfaction.

What's Next?

It’s not a question of if or when AI has the potential to transform the ecommerce industry. There is no longer an if, and the when is now. Companies adopting AI tools will stay ahead of the curve and gain a competitive edge in an increasingly crowded market. If you would like assistance in leveraging and implementing this technology in your business, contact us.

A Trusted Technical Partner is Critical for a Non-Technical Startup Founder

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

As a startup founder, you have a lot on your plate. From developing your product or service to building a customer base, and raising funds, there are many challenges to navigate. As a non-technical founder running a tech startup it’s critical to have a supportive and trusted partner as you navigate decisions that may not be second nature. You might be fortunate enough to have a technical co-founder. If not, you can rely on angel investors, consultants, or contractors. Here are five reasons why a trusted tech partner is critical for a nontechnical startup founder:

Trust: Building trust is essential for any business relationship, and it’s especially important when it comes to technical matters. By working with a trusted technical partner, you can have confidence that the work being done is of high quality and meets your needs. This can help to build trust with your customers and stakeholders as well.
Fundraising: Whether you’re seeking funding from venture capitalists, angel investors, or other sources, one factor that can impact your ability to raise capital is whether you have a strong technical founder.
Confidence: A dependable technical partner can also give you the confidence you need to make informed decisions about technology-related matters. They can provide guidance and advice that takes into account your business goals and needs, helping you to make informed decisions that will drive your startup’s success. This can be especially valuable for investors, who are looking for startups that are solving real problems and have a strong potential for growth.
Investing in the long term: Choosing a credible technical partner is also an investment in the long-term success of your startup. By working with a partner that understands your needs and has a track record of delivering results, you can set your startup up for success down the line. With a network of contacts and relationships, a technical founder can help to open doors and pave the way for partnerships and other opportunities.
Cost efficiency: In addition to the benefits of trust and confidence, a strong technical partner can also help you to save on costs. By working with a reliable partner, you can avoid the need for costly rework or fixes down the line. A trusted technical partner can also help you to identify opportunities to streamline processes and save on costs over the long term. With the ability to build and iterate on prototypes, a technical founder can help to demonstrate the feasibility of the product and the potential for growth.

A tech partner you can rely on is critical for a nontechnical startup founder. Trust, confidence, and long term success are all important factors, and a trusted partner can help you to achieve these goals. A technical consultancy can also be a cost effective solution, since they don’t dilute your ownership and typically work on milestone driven deliverables. If you’re a nontechnical startup founder, it’s time to seek out a trusted software development firm as a partner.

The Importance of Website and App Maintenance and Updates

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Maintaining and updating your application or website is essential for businesses of all sizes. Neglecting maintenance can have serious consequences in the short and long term, including decreased traffic and sales, security vulnerabilities, and a negative impact on your brand. Here are a few good reasons why you should be regularly updating and maintaining your code:

Security: One of the most important reasons to maintain and update your code is to protect against security vulnerabilities. Hackers are constantly looking for ways to exploit weaknesses in websites, and failing to update your website can leave it vulnerable to attacks. By keeping your website up to date, you can reduce the risk of a security breach and protect your business and your customers.
Performance: Regularly updating your website can also improve its performance. Newer versions of software and technologies are often more efficient and faster than older versions, so updating your website can help it to load faster and provide a better user experience.
Search engine optimization (SEO): Keeping your website up to date can also help to improve your search engine rankings. Search engines like Google use algorithms to index and rank websites, and websites that are regularly updated with fresh content are more likely to rank higher in search results.
Brand reputation: Your website is often the first point of contact between your business and potential customers, and a poorly maintained website can reflect poorly on your brand. Updating your website can help to maintain a professional image and improve customer trust.
Legal and compliance: In some cases, failing to maintain and update your website can have legal consequences. For example, if your website is not compliant with accessibility laws, you could be at risk of a lawsuit. Regular updates can help to ensure that your website is compliant with all relevant laws and regulations.

As a consultancy we maintain and support several client applications and websites. Unfortunately, we often here from companies that learned the importance of maintenance and updates the hard way. A major outage due to a failure to properly maintain and update your site’s infrastructure can lead to immediate (or lasting) concerns that result in significant losses for a company. Neglecting website maintenance can have serious consequences. Don’t let a lack of preparation and planning be your downfall. By keeping your code in good working order, you can protect your business, improve your search engine rankings, maintain your professional standing, and ensure compliance with laws and regulations.

Keep it Static Stupid — Simple Sites Make Happy Clients

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The internet is broken. We arrived here mostly as a matter of habit — a pattern that needs to change.

Your workflow is the problem

A few years back (15?) developers and designers were introduced to an amazing, paradigm-shifting technology called a CMS (content management system). You know many of them by name (WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, etc.), and today they house a significant share of the web’s content.

Why did the CMS take over? Before them most pages were written very simply — with a text editor. Content had to be manually updated on every page, and developers needed to keep track of every change to make sure that repeated elements were updated throughout a site.

A CMS was a convenient new way to build a website. Install it on your server, and you gain access to a number of turnkey features — typically wrapped in an interface to make users, content, and settings easier to maintain. Layouts and frequently replicated elements (like nav bars) are easily repeatable, and simple site changes can often be made by fairly non-technical users. Additionally, many site designers and developers leverage the CMS to hand off a site to a client or content creator who wants to perform simple updates or handle routine maintenance — for better or worse.

In order to provide all these features, most content management systems leverage a database. That database stores content, user information, site configuration, and presentation data. Every time a visitor arrives on the page, the database is queried and content is retrieved/assembled for display. Every time.

Today, using these systems to power even the most basic sites has become common practice. Why? Because building simple sites on top of database-driven architecture feels more convenient than just delivering simple HTML content. As a result, our web has become bloated with lethargic, vulnerable content that costs us time and money.

The case for simple websites

It’s ironic that while mobile devices have ushered in flat design and streamlined content, over-complicated dynamic architecture is powering some of the most basic content online.

Imagine your website as a newspaper. Publishing a site on a database-driven CMS like Wordpress is the equivalent of printing a newspaper on the fly, every time a reader wants to access any part of your paper. This inherently inefficient system results in slower page loads and lost eyeballs.

These same visitors have been bitten by wide spread security breaches that seem to crop up with increasing frequency. Needless complexity and poorly maintained software expose vulnerabilities that can lead to a site going offline, being inundated with malware, or worse — a data breach. By some measures — as many as 70% of WordPress installs are vulnerable to known exploits, such as last May when a bug affected millions of WordPress sites. In the previous year as many as 12 million Drupal site were compromised. Each new complexity in the system and/or time-saving plugin becomes a potential point of failure.

Likewise, developers pay the price when handing off routine updates and regular maintenance to a client. I’ve personally received the unfortunate after hours call from a client who discovered her site was compromised and infected with embarrassing content. It could have been avoided. But, since her site hadn’t been changed/updated in ~18 months the software had fallen behind, making it susceptible to attack.

Houndstooth is a better CMS for static content

As with so many things, simple is ultimately better.

For many use cases (brochure sites, service providers, portfolios, event pages, landing pages), static sites are quite obviously the right tool for the job. In fact, any site where visitor interactions are guided (accessing existing content, submitting content through a fixed form, and not interacting with other visitors in real time) can be deployed as a static site. All of these interactions can be handled without a database.

But, no one wants to lose all the convenience features of a CMS. The good news is, there are better options to provide the same benefits with less hassle.

Today’s browsers can execute many of the same functions that used to require dynamic code running on a server. Comments, social integration, data storage, live chat, payments, and search can be easily added to a static site.

Modern tools like Houndstooth allow you to manage websites that are faster, leaner, and as flexible as a traditional database-driven CMS.

Static sites managed with Houndstooth load faster (because we’ve rendered the site in advance), and eliminate the risk of a database breach (because there is no database).
Site developers use tools they are comfortable with (git, local development, Jekyll).
Content is managed in a customized interface for non-technical users to update/create content.
Edits are made in the browser, and your site is rebuilt automatically on save using tools like RazorSite or Netlify.
Your site files are hosted on Github for safety and infinite redundancy.
Houndstooth is open source, and we are looking for contributors.

Static is a Beautiful Future

Is static the right solution for your next site? For simple sites, landing pages, and many web apps, the answer is a resounding yes. The ecosystem of tools surrounding static sites is rich and growing. Combining these with a client-ready CMS like BowTie match the capabilities that have made dynamic websites convenient in the past.

An increasing number of agencies and freelancers are deploying static sites for small business clients and major brands. Static architecture was the solution that fixed Healthcare.gov following it’s very high profile performance failures at launch. And, an increasing number of design-driven enterprise companies are using static sites to power their primary properties (MailChimp, Nest, Google).

Working with Houndstooth

If you wan to expolore Houndstooth for your next project I recommend you visit the main porject site, and check out the source on Github.

If you would like to work with our agency on your next project, contact Bowtie.co to start the conversation.

*This post was updated from an earlier post I wrote on Medium

Why your business can’t afford a freelance web developer

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

I'm going to lead this post with a disclaimer: I’m a recovering freelancer.

I’ve built hundreds of small sites for clients, friends, and family over the years. Friends of mine are freelancers. And I’ve hired dozens of freelancers over the years while running development teams here at Bowtie.co and other companies. I genuinely appreciate the impact that freelance work has had on our industry. The ability to find talented designers, developers, and consultants for short term or as-needed work has created phenomenal efficiency in our industry over the last several years.

And here is the ‘but’... All that said, as implied by the title of this post I am of the opinion that many - if not most - small businesses should be extremely cautious or reluctant to hire freelancers depending on their specific needs of your company and customers.

If your website or application is the backbone of a significant amount of business revenue, you should not hire a freelance developer, upworker, or your CMO’s nephew to run point. Wondering if you are in that boat? Here is a simple litmus test - would you delegate any other business critical task on the same order to that person?

Having the foresight and wisdom to pick the right sized partner will help you avoid these common narratives (as told by our clients):

“We’ve been working with our freelancer for awhile now and had some good results, but now we can’t get ahold of them/don’t trust their output/aren’t seeing the same results...”
“We had to switch developers and they keep rebuilding what we have before starting the new thing” or even
“We had a new developer look at our code and say it was in bad shape, and now we need to pay 3X as much as we expected to get this new feature out”.

Knowing when to delegate is a critical skill for any entrepreneur, I’d argue it’s equally critical to know who to delegate to. Choosing the right partner for the job can make or break your goals.

Start with a gut check. Does it make sense to go cheap, or hire for speed, redundancy, longevity, and reputation? Would you hire your hobby mechanic neighbor to help change your oil? Probably. Do you want that same person rebuilding your brake system the week before a family road trip?

If you are struggling to get your first website built, you are confident in your ability to evaluate the work first hand, or you have an uncertain business model - perhaps a freelancer is the right sized parter. If you’re concerned about speed, quality, long term stability, technical debt, and 24hr uptime, it’s likely time to consider an Agency.

But wait - aren’t Agencies really expensive?? Not necessarily. Yes, it’s true you often get what you pay for, and it’s worth spending a little extra on your tech budget to have a better partner. But, you don’t need to go broke working with a digital agency, or software development company. You may save hundreds of dollars hiring a random freelancer - but can you ensure the quality of the work? Who can back that person up in a crisis? And what assurance do you have that they won’t slow down mid-project or jump ship completely?

Agencies solve these problems inherently, and are used to evaluating problems and creating new solutions at a rapid clip. But, just like any other team member, not every Agency is created equal. Look for a value-oriented Agency partners who enjoy their work, offer transparency with time and tasks, and are willing to listen to your needs and recommend less expensive solutions to solve them when it makes the most sense. Most importantly, never work with an Agency partner who treats what they build for you as a black box. It’s your site/software/IP; you should own it from day one, and it’s the responsibility of any reputable agency partner to ensure you understand the value of their work as much as they do.

If you like the sound of that Agency experience, you might want to consider working with Bowtie. We’re frequently told we’re not like other web agencies, and our clients enjoy the way we do business. Want to kick the tires a bit more? Check out our portfolio, pricing, and services page then give us a call or email us if you like what you see.

Houndstooth — Under the Hood

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

A Little History

The Bowtie team has been working on Houndstooth over the past year and we are proud to finally introduce our editor to the open source community! To better understand the component structure and architectural decisions, it might be helpful to start off with some background of the development and evolution of the app.

Since the ideation stages of Houndstooth, our team has been experimenting with different approaches of how to best engineer the app. Our primary goal was to structure the frontend in a way that would be scalable while maintaining the app’s integrity through consistent and reliable patterns of component hierarchy and state management. State management was a concern, with features like staging commits and toggling back and forth between the File Editor and Collection Editor. Both the File Editor and Collection Editor are very different environments that interact with the state differently, so we felt it would be useful to have a global state management system to allow all components to interact with a repo, collection items, and staged files directly.

For the first version of Houndstooth, we decided to solve this problem by managing state using Redux, and designing most of our React components as Class based components. As we got further into the development, the complexities grew. Our components were lengthy, complicated, and difficult to understand. This sparked conversations of exploring different and better ways to approach the structural design of the app without Redux.

Enter Recompose and the Atomic Methodology.

The combination of the Recompose library and the Atomic Methodology for component hierarchy solved a lot of problems Houndstooth was facing. This pattern also made the app more performant, lightweight, and organized.

Component Hierarchy

The Atomic Methodology organizes components into 4 categories:

Atoms: Very basic, stateless components that act as building blocks for the app. These could include basic HTML elements like form labels, inputs, buttons, etc.
Molecules: Built on a combination of Atoms, but they are still fairly basic and stateless. Molecules rely only on general props in order to maintain its reusability. The components are expected to be fully functional in any parent component for any application without modifications.
Organisms: More robust components built of Atoms and Molecules. Organisms can have state that is specific to the application, but typically just internal state that the rest of the app does not rely on.
Ecosystems: Ecosystems are grouped by the data they manage. You can think of an Ecosystem as the controller for a specific group of data. They control the flow of shared data to their children and routing to nested components. The views of Ecosystems should not be too complex. Essentially just a rendering of organisms and routes.
Environments: Environments are similar to Ecosystems, but they serve as a wrapper for the entire application. It is what actually gets rendered by React. They manage very high level data that everything in the app needs to know, i.e. authenticated user.

With this methodology, we are able to group our data and organize our components accordingly. This also allows us to fully capitalize on the reusability of our components! The image below shows how Houndstooth ecosystems are organized:

At this point you may be asking ‘where does Recompose come in’? Recompose is a utility library for React components intended to allow a user to build components based on composition, rather than class inheritance. Recompose methods create a chain of higher order components to inject logic, props, state, and handlers into a block of renderable jsx. With the atomic organization of components this becomes a very powerful combination. We are able to create only stateless, presentational components that are more performant, lightweight, testable, and abstracted, then use containers to completely separate out the logic.

Our containers are separated into component specific containers and helper containers. You will find component specific containers in the same directory as the view file and helper containers inside of `/src/helpers`. The helper containers are grouped by what they manage.

For example, we have a withFormatting container that contains all our formatting helper functions. If a component needs to format a currency for example, we can inject the withFormatting into the component’s container. Now, that component has access to all the format helper functions. We don’t need to worry about passing these props and handlers down to their nested components, we just inject it into their containers.

We are very proud of how far Houndstooth has come and we hope the open source community will find this helpful.

If you wish to contribute to the Houndstooth open source project, and we hope you will, please take the time to learn some of the patterns we are using to maintain consistency.

Happy coding!

You can learn more about Houndstooth and start using it at https://houndstooth.work

To contribute, visit the repo on GitHub at https://github.com/bowtie-co/houndstooth

When it’s time to ditch your DIY website

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 15:36:37 +0000

Technology is amazing. Every year we discover new ways to automate mundane tasks and simplify the creation of everything that humans produce.

The web is no exception. We also find new tools to tell our brand story, and connect with an increasingly more connected audience. Nearly every day a new tool comes along to strengthen the voice or promotion of your brand, and to make it easier for customers to show their support.

If you're a business owner there's a good chance you have bootstrapped your way through dozens of DIY tools to serve your back of house and front of house efforts. Surely as I type this, thousands of you are leveraging learning a new online tool to build your own website or ecommerce store.

While there is certainly a time and place to use DIY site builders, as you grow, those tools will begin to fail your customers. If you're reading this post, chances are you might also have reached the inflection point where you are realizing that the ROI of DIY isn't always what it once was. Or perhaps you're stuck trying to provide an experience that speaks to your community, and your tool or skill set is incapable of achieving?

Or you may have grown to a level where the risk of DIY and not knowing how to do what you need to is hurting your business or creating customer service headaches. Don't panic. This happens to nearly every business. Brands grow, needs change, and hopefully your customer base is keeping up with that growth even if your website has not.

If you're tired of feeling out of your element and/or unable to efficiently execute your online presence – congratulations! You've leveled up. You're ready to pass the torch to a team of professionals who can help take your vision to the level that you are taking your business.

As a business owner and homeowner, I'm happy to get my hands dirty in many DIY pursuits. Although I try not to spend my time doing anything I'm uncomfortable with, especially if I could be building new revenue using my core competencies.

At Bowtie.co, we take a unique approach to learning your mission, understanding your needs, and proposing solutions that fit the needs of your community.

We are a web development company. We build websites and e-commerce stores every day. Web design and development are second nature to us because we have spent thousands of hours solving similar problems over and over. And we're remarkably good at picking up other developer's work and fixing short comings.

If you're feeling the pinch of outgrowing DIY, let's work together to get your technology in a more efficient, effective, and profitable place for your business this year.

Did your ecommerce site fail you over the holidays?

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 15:36:37 +0000

The last quarter of the year can be critical to a business’ success for the year, yet a lot of online retailers were not ready for the massive influx of visitors to their site in 2018, with holiday sales estimated to have reached a whopping $1 Trillion!

Our ecommerce clients love the solutions we provide because we’ve created a solid tech stack that is scalable, reliable, fast, and totally responsive - so even during peak holiday traffic, their ecommerce sites are reliably bringing in business and delighting customers.

Over the past several years, we’ve chosen to offer Shopify in our ecommerce tech stack after testing many of the competing options available on the market (including Magento, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce).

Here’s why:

Endless design possibility. Shopify provides beautiful templates, but who needs those when you can have your very own custom site?! We’ve mastered the art of customizing the Shopify templates and can build pretty much anything a client can dream of. When you have outgrown common themes, we can help you implement a customer experience for digital natives that is unique to your brand. From site personalization to video content to Chatbot AI and beyond - we’ve done it all!
Big brands are using Shopify. If it’s good enough for well-known brands like Tesla, Patagonia, Nestle, Bulletproof Coffee, and Red Bull, we feel confident that it can serve the most discerning e-commerce or marketing managers standards.
You don’t have to worry about updating open source software. If you’ve ever built an ecommerce site using WooCommerce, you know what I’m talking about! Forgot to make that last Wordpress or plugin update? You’re at risk for a major security breach, DDoS attack, or an onslaught of bot-driven fake purchases. One thing I know customers hate most is having their credit card info stolen! Not to worry, Shopify has everything under strict security and you never have to worry about updates to the code.
They have a number of Premium functions already built in. The base Shopify plan includes a number of functions that other software charges you for including unlimited products, staff accounts, 24/7 support, manual order creation, discount codes, SSL certificate (added security), abandoned cart recovery, shipping labels, fraud analysis, accounting reports, product variants, and custom emails.You can take those items out of your customization budget and make your brand experience even more unique.
Shopify has a ton of great app integrations. You can add almost any integration to a Shopify site. Selling custom t-shirts? There is an app for the shirt builder. Using third party fulfillment? There’s an app for that. Shipping elephants across the world? They probably have an app for that too. (kidding!) And when you work with a certified partner we can test and ensure any third party tool against your whole site - saving you from costly conflicts and inadvertent downtime.
Security & Reliability. Shopify is a global hosted service, meaning they have people monitoring their network 24/7 for any attacks or outages. Also, their add-on apps and integrations have a set standard that will not pose the risk of giving you trojans or viruses. Other platforms cannot provide you with this level of security at the low price that Shopify does.
They have a POS system. All you need is an ipad or mobile phone to use their POS system. For a small monthly fee, they provide everything you need to run in-store purchases that sync back to the same platform and CRM as your online store. It’s brilliant!
Flexible ERP solutions provided. Grow your business with multi-channel selling tools that integrate with Shopify like Amazon and Ebay. Shopify has an integration app that connects Shopify with the leading ERP and accounting packages such as Microsoft Dynamics AX, GP, NAV & SL, Sage 50, 100, 300 & 500, NetSuite, QuickBooks, SAP Business One, Epicor Enterprise and many others.
You don’t have to worry about server costs. Many business’ are looking for more affordable hosting options, but luckily Shopify has this built into their software packages so you never have to worry about it. And the cost is very reasonable from $29 to $299/month (less the cost of add-on apps and services).

Are you in love with Shopify yet? Pat yourself on the back for doing the research and striving to make 2019 your best year yet!

Interested in learning more about our ecommerce solutions? Hit us up for a free consultation or check out our site audit services. We love solving problems for our clients!

DVLP/DNVR Hosts ⋈ BowTie Panel

Thu, 04 Aug 2016 15:36:37 +0000

Our founder Chad Person is participating on a panel discussion with Matt Vogels from Webflow _(now [Zestful](https://zestful.com/))_, and Jason Waldrip from [Brand Folder](https://www.brandfolder.com/), for a discussion about creativity, originality, and inspiration in the age of ubiquitous frameworks and technology designed to do your job for you.

Join us for a discussion sure to rouse your mind, ignite your senses, and light a fire under your standing desk. _"If you can make anything, why make anything at all..."_ will take place at the *DVLP/DNVR* conference on *August 4th, 2016*. For more information, visit [the Develop/Denver](https://developdenver.org/)

Chad Person talks inspiration and grit with the CO AMA

Wed, 27 Apr 2016 15:36:37 +0000

Have you heard the expression 'Do What You Love'? It's become a bit of a rallying cry for a new generation of entrepreneurs.

Tonight, Chad Person, the CEO and Creative Director of Bowtie.co will discuss this rallying cry in relation to his 10 year career as a designer, artist and creative entrepreneur at RECESS an event produced by the Colorado AMA.

RECESS, an evening of learning and inspiration happening, takes place at the Denver Art Museum, 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204 at 6:00 PM.

Person will be joined by local creative giants, including comedian Debbie Scheer, gardener/poet/ DJ Cavem, and William Espey – Branding Voice Lead for Chipotle.

For tickets, or more information visit the [RECESS website](http://recess.coloradoama.com/).

Celebrate Denver on Digital Agency Day

Mon, 11 Jan 2016 15:36:37 +0000

There are some incredible agencies doing great work in the realm of digital marketing. On January 28th, HubSpot and Unbounce are producing a day of online presentation and community-run events. To celebrate Denver's agencies and their hard work, BowTie is hosting Celebrate Denver (https://digitalagencyday.bowtied.io) - a happy hour and networking event at the end of Digital Agency Day.

What is Digital Agency Day?

The day will be full of both in-person and virtual events that highlight agency growth, strategy, and trends. If you go to Digital Agency Day's website (http://digitalagencyday.com/), you're able to upvote your topic of interest to be covered by industry experts. Then, on Digital Agency Day, you can tune in to watch any of the 8 chosen headline presentations. If you have any questions surrounding they day, the organizers have provided the hashtag #DigitalAgencyDay.

Celebrate Denver

BowTie's community networking event will be held at Galvanize Golden Triangle at 5pm in the Gather cafe. The BowTie team will be there ready to talk digital marketing and take your questions about the future of the static web. It's free to attend, and snacks and beverages provided. Be sure to [RSVP](https://digitalagencyday.bowtied.io/), see you then!

Join us at 5pm, January 28th at Gather in Galvanize GT (map).

Register here

Adobe Creative Jam selects Chad Person as judge

Sun, 10 Jan 2016 15:36:37 +0000

Whether you are a professional designer or an aspiring creative who gets lost in weekend projects, Adobe is calling you to Albuquerque, New Mexico on January 28th for a Creative Jam. What exactly is a Creative Jam? The Adobe Creative Cloud team will host the Creative Jam presentations. This one-hour design showcase highlights the work of local creative leaders. At the same time, in the next room, Designers will be competing in the Creative Jam tournament, a 3-hour design charrette showdown. This event will have two categories: Visual Design and Motion Design. Once the Creative Jam presentations wrap, tournament participants will take the stage to share their creations with you. As part of the audience, you’ll vote on each submission and select the People's Choice winner. There will also be Grand Prize winners decided by a group of Judges!

Our CEO/Creative Director, Chad Person, has been tapped to judge the event. Being an artist and designer, Chad has a keen eye for inspiring and winning creativity. Also in attendance will be Julian Sutter, our ABQ Community Evangelist. He is the newest member of the BowTie team, and already has amazing presence in the Albuquerque tech and creative scene. If you run into one of them, say hello! BowTie is excited to participate in what is surely going to be a night full of talent and ingenuity.

The event takes place 7-10pm at the Harwood Art Center (map).

*This event is 21 and over, I.D. needed for entrance.

Partnering with Name.com to Hack the Dot

Sun, 10 Jan 2016 15:36:37 +0000

Hack the Dot is a two-hour hackathon backed by Name.com. The event is a unique mix of hacking, community building, and ridiculous fun.

Participants are asked to show up and ship a project based on a _secret domain name_ revealed the night of the event. The theme at Hack the Dot Portland, hosted by QuickLeft, was 'hippo.haus' - which not surprisingly, yielded high energy and hilarious projects.

Bowtie has been supporting Hack the Dot with a special 'pitch page' template that's helped lead more than one team to victory.

If you didn't join us in Denver, Seattle, or Portland, you can still meet us at Hack the Dot - San Francisco on December 10th. The event is sold out, but you can register for the wait list here. * I'm also fairly certain that if you show up day of, no one will toss you out ;)