# Department of Web
> Department of Web is an AI-first software house building custom web applications.
> Our primary stack is Laravel (PHP) for backend and full-stack apps, React for interactive
> frontends, and WordPress for content-driven sites and e-commerce. We also work with Flutter
> for mobile. We specialize in the automotive industry — parts stores, vehicle marketplaces,
> rental platforms, motorsport, and dealerships — and have delivered 100+ projects for US,
> European, and Polish clients across entertainment, government, SaaS, and B2B sectors.
> AI tooling is woven into our discovery, design, code review, QA, and delivery processes.
> Featured in Smashing Magazine and WP Tavern.
## About
**Department of Web** is an AI-first software house building custom web applications for businesses that need more than a template. Our primary stack is **Laravel** (PHP) for backend and full-stack applications, **React** for interactive frontends and web apps, and **WordPress** for content-driven sites and e-commerce. We also work with Flutter for mobile.
We specialize in the **automotive industry** — parts stores, vehicle marketplaces, rental platforms, motorsport sites, and dealerships — because our CEO is both a developer and a motorsport driver, and we understand the domain from the inside out. That said, we've delivered 100+ projects across entertainment, government, SaaS, and B2B sectors for US, European, and Polish clients.
We're **AI-first in how we work**: AI tooling is woven into our discovery, design, code review, QA, and delivery processes. That lets us move faster without sacrificing the rigor — thorough testing, clean architecture, automated deployments — that makes our work easy to maintain over time.
Featured in Smashing Magazine and WP Tavern. White-label partner to agencies. Long-term technical partner to product companies.
---
## Case studies
# Enterprise Hosting Costs Cut by 50%
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/case-studies/enterprise-hosting
Date: 2025-08-25T00:00:00.000Z
Tagline: Automotive / E-commerce
Contract: Fixed-price
Country: USA
Timeline: December 2024 - Ongoing
Technology: NGINX, Dedicated Server
Tags: development
Our long-time client, Vanlife Trader, was relying on Flywheel at premium hosting rates — only to face frequent monthly outages, performance bottlenecks, and consistently maxed-out resource quotas. Support was responsive but couldn’t resolve the core issues. We took the control over the infrastructure and migrated their WordPress site serving over 1.5 million page views monthly, to a dedicated server.
## Solution
We migrated Vanlife Trader to a **fast, dedicated WordPress hosting** environment in December 2024 — with a server tailored for high-traffic, image-heavy sites. We carefully assesed the required resoures, including CPU cores, RAM and storage to have plenty of room in case the traffic spikes.
We spun up the new server, migrated the website, created staging environment, optimized the network and website for speed and stability, and paired it with our WordPress maintenance service: daily off-site backups, prompt core and plugin updates, and 24/7 uptime monitoring, for true white-glove service.
Since the migration we never encountered any performance issues, the website stays fast, even when traffic spikes, which happens from time to time.
## Metrics & Outcomes
- **50% hosting cost savings** compared to WP Engine (former Flywheel).
- **25% faster page loading times**, keeping the site smooth even under heavy load.
- **Rock-solid uptime** — just **two brief outages in nine months** (vs. at least one performance incident every month previously).
- The new setup uses only **~20% of server resources**, giving plenty of headroom for growth.
## Testimonials
> Department of Web hosting has been more affordable, more flexible, and way more responsive than our experience with Flywheel. It’s been great having a real point of contact and personal support when we need it — timely, clear, and human.
— Jon, Vanlife Trader Owner
## Talk Hosting With Us
If you’d like to explore WordPress hosting cost savings, reliable dedicated server performance, or a maintenance plan that gives you true infrastructure control, drop us a line — we'll tailor the right setup for your site.
---
# Automate the ticket reservation system
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/case-studies/ticket-reservation-system
Date: 2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z
Tagline: Public Administration
Contract: Fixed-price
Country: Poland
Timeline: February 2025 - March 2025
Technology: Laravel, Laravel Livewire, FilamentPHP
Tags: development
The Marshal’s Office of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship faced a challenge—manual, time-consuming ticket reservations handled by a single employee via email. This led to inefficiencies, errors, and an unnecessary workload. We knew that introducing the right system could make a real difference.
At the [Department of Web](https://departmentofweb.com/), we work globally but never forget our roots—Poland and our hometown, Toruń. Supporting local initiatives and government institutions and promoting culture is as important to us as delivering top-quality digital solutions. That’s why we were particularly excited about this project.
After understanding the problem, we designed a dedicated technology solution to make cultural events in our city more accessible and to streamline processes that benefit the community.
## Objectives
Our primary goal was to automate the ticket reservation process, making it easier to manage and reducing the workload for staff. Instead of handling everything manually, employees could rely on a system that worked efficiently and without errors.
A better-organized reservation system meant not only less stress for the organizers but also a smoother experience for attendees. Tickets were distributed fairly, and the risk of human error was minimized. The Marshal’s Office could focus on planning engaging events instead of getting caught up in administrative work.
Most importantly, the solution opened up access to free cultural events not only for the residents of Toruń but also for the entire Kuyavian-Pomeranian region, allowing everyone to reserve a ticket easily and without hassle, making cultural life more inclusive and accessible.
## Solution
We built a custom ticketing system designed from the ground up to meet the specific needs of the Marshal’s Office. The goal was to create a fast, scalable, and accessible solution that would streamline ticket distribution while ensuring a smooth experience for administrators and attendees.
To achieve this, we used Laravel, which allowed us to design the entire data architecture from scratch and develop a high-performance system tailored precisely to ticket reservations. The front-end is fully reactive thanks to Laravel Livewire, ensuring instant updates and a seamless user experience without page reloads. As a result, system responses are under 150ms, and the [PageSpeed](https://pagespeed.web.dev/) score on mobile reaches 95, guaranteeing top-tier performance.
The system includes:
- Automated ticket reservations with separate pools for employees and the public.
- Event and ticket pool management, providing full administrative control.
- Exportable reservation lists for easy reporting.
- Automated email confirmations, reducing manual workload.
- Attendance tracking and a blacklist feature, ensuring fair distribution and preventing misuse.
Because public institutions must provide equal access to digital services, the system was built in compliance with WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards. This ensures support for keyboard navigation, screen readers, and high-contrast modes, making the platform accessible to people with visual impairments and motor disabilities.
## Workflow
We collaborated closely with the client’s teams throughout the project, starting from initial consultations and wireframe designs to full implementation and deployment. Every stage was carefully planned to ensure the system met all functional and accessibility requirements.
We tested real-life reservation, accessibility compliance, and system load handling to ensure a smooth and error-free user experience.
## Project Challenges
### Handling high traffic
Each time a new event was published, the system faced a surge in visitors, putting pressure on the servers. To maintain smooth performance, we implemented advanced caching and deployed a high-performance single-node instance, ensuring fast and reliable ticket reservations even during peak demand.
### Government compliance and accessibility
As a government project, the system had to meet strict accessibility and regulatory standards. We ensured full WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance, making the platform accessible to people with disabilities, including support for screen readers, keyboard navigation, and high-contrast modes.
### Efficient ticket distribution
The ticketing process needed to be simple for residents while allowing staff to verify reservations quickly. We designed an intuitive workflow that minimized booking time and streamlined on-site ticket validation, making the system easy to use for both attendees and event organizers.
## Results
The ticketing system has met all the client’s expectations and has proven its value in practice. Since its implementation, it has streamlined event management and significantly reduced the workload of staff responsible for handling reservations.
During a recently held event, the system operated flawlessly, managing high traffic during ticket releases without any disruptions. Employees reported that automating ticket distribution saved them hours of manual work, allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks instead of processing reservations manually.
## Future Plans
Over the next year, we plan to continue working with the Marshal's Office to improve the system further, considering feedback and adding features to improve user experience and operational efficiency.
---
# Vanlife Trader Filtering System Redesign
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/case-studies/vanlife-trader-filtering-system-redesign
Date: 2024-10-03T00:00:00.000Z
Tagline: Automotive / E-commerce
Contract: Fixed-price
Country: USA
Timeline: June 2024 - August 2024
Technology: WordPress, React, SCSS, GraphQL
Tags: development
In today’s world of online shopping, where consumers often make purchasing decisions within seconds, providing advanced yet simple tools for searching and purchasing has become a fundamental element of an effective e-commerce strategy. This process serves as a bridge between the users' needs and the final purchase, making its optimization a priority for every online retailer.
Customer expectations are higher than ever – they want to find the products or services they are looking for as quickly as possible, without frustration caused by unintuitive search tools. Therefore, optimizing the search process has become an indispensable part of any online seller's strategy. Vanlife Trader, a popular classifieds platform specializing in the sale and purchase of vans, campers, and vehicles for life on the road, was well aware of this challenge.
Over time, the number of listings on Vanlife Trader grew significantly, leading users to report problems with the platform's search and filtering functionality. As a result, Vanlife Trader approached Department of Web for support in improving these functions. The project primarily focused on redesigning the filtering system, with the goal of making it easier and more precise for users to search for vehicles.
## Objectives
The client realized that the existing filtering system was not meeting user needs, especially as the number of listings increased. The primary objective was to create a system that would be more user-friendly and intuitive, while allowing for better management of the growing inventory. The existing filtering system was limited in functionality, leading to frustration among users who struggled to quickly find listings that matched their preferences. The main priorities were improving the filtering logic and optimizing the platform's performance.
### The old filtering system - problems to solve
Users encountered significant limitations that made it difficult to find the right listings. One of the major issues was with single-choice filters – users could only select one option at a time, which severely restricted the search capabilities. For example, if a user wanted to filter vans by color, they could only choose one color at a time. This meant they had to repeat the search for each color of interest, which not only lengthened the process but also caused frustration as they had to sift through the same results multiple times.
A similar problem existed with other filters, such as the number of seats. A user could only select one specific value, like 3 seats, which meant they wouldn’t see vehicles with 4 or more seats that might also meet their needs. This lack of flexibility in the old system forced users into strict, one-dimensional searches, significantly lowering the effectiveness of sifting through the growing number of listings on the platform.
Additionally, the design of the previous filters could have been clearer and more coherent, which significantly contributed to a poor user experience (UX). The layout was not user-friendly, with filters being too tightly packed, creating a sense of overwhelming complexity for users.
These issues with limited filtering options became a major hindrance for users who wanted to quickly and precisely find vehicles that matched their requirements.
Vanlife Trader expected Department of Web to deliver a modern solution that would:
- **Be intuitive and fast**, so users could quickly find what they were looking for.
- **Be scalable**, ensuring that the platform could handle even more listings in the future.
- **Be easily modifiable**, allowing for the quick introduction of new filtering options without the need for a complete overhaul.
## Project Challenges
### Key technical and design challenges
During the project, the team at Department of Web faced several critical challenges. One of the primary tasks was adapting the existing filtering infrastructure to meet the new requirements. This was particularly difficult because expanding the filtering functionality without sacrificing performance posed a significant challenge.
Additionally, the client did not want to overload the user interface with too many options, so the user experience had to remain simple and user-friendly, even with the addition of more advanced filtering options. Implementing these changes required close collaboration with the Vanlife Trader team to ensure that the new functionality met all user requires while maintaining an intuitive and transparent interface.
**Technical challenges included:**
- Optimizing the existing filtering code to allow the platform to handle more queries without losing performance.
- Ensuring high platform performance even during peak traffic, with users searching through thousands of listings.
- Adapting the system to meet growing customer demands by adding advanced filters without sacrificing the simplicity of the interface.
## Solutions
### Changes to taxonomies and terms
One of the main tasks in the redesign of Vanlife Trader's filtering system was adjusting the existing taxonomies and terms that appeared on the site as filters and their options. It was crucial to carry out data migrations to align the filters with the new model while ensuring the system's overall consistency.
#### Taxonomy migrations
During the project, we made changes to the taxonomy and adjusted certain options to be more user-friendly. This renaming and reorganization of categories were essential to improve clarity and enhance the overall user experience. Additionally, we developed a data migration tool that ensured data integrity throughout the transition, allowing the new filtering system to function smoothly without any loss or misalignment of data. These adjustments were a crucial part of optimizing the platform to better meet user needs.
### Coding the new filtering system
The goal was to create a more advanced filtering system that would work intuitively and meet the technical requirements. Although no new technologies were introduced, it was necessary to adapt existing tools and components.
#### New filtering architecture
The changes included:
- **Filtering components**: Each filter, such as "Chassis," "Price," or "Location," was defined as a separate system element, making it easy to modify in the future.
- **Widgets**: The system required the use of widgets to manage filter display and interactions between them, allowing for dynamic changes in available options based on user selections.
- **Displaying and functioning on the front end**: The user interface was designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind, enabling users to quickly find vehicles based on their preferences. Additional filtering fields were also added to the home page to improve usability.
## Innovations in the project
While the project didn’t involve the introduction of entirely new technologies, the innovative approach focused on smart management of the site's functionality without creating redundant solutions. The redesign of the home page and filters led to a more advanced approach to UX/UI, significantly improving the overall user experience.
### Collaboration and communication with the client
The team emphasized that the collaboration with Vanlife Trader went very smoothly. Regular feedback from the client was crucial in making continuous improvements. The client appreciated the transparency in communication and the speed with which changes were implemented, which contributed to the project's success. Although the client had specific requirements, these did not pose difficulties in the implementation. Regular meetings and constructive suggestions helped keep the project on track.
### Benefits of long-term collaboration
From the perspective of Department of Web, [working on a long-term project like Vanlife Trader brought many benefits](https://departmentofweb.com/case-studies/vanlife-trader). Continuous communication with a single client allows for a deeper understanding of their needs and the ability to make ongoing improvements based on feedback. This kind of collaboration also enables long-term project development, which ultimately leads to better results over time.
The redesign of the filtering system for Vanlife Trader was a prime example of effective collaboration on multiple levels. The team at Department of Web overcame both technical and project challenges, delivering solutions that enhanced the platform’s functionality and improved user satisfaction. The optimization of existing resources with minimal investment in new technologies showed that an innovative approach doesn’t always require revolutionary tools – the key lies in understanding user needs and implementing solutions effectively.
---
# Good People Digital Outsourcing
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/case-studies/gpd
Date: 2024-06-12T00:00:00.000Z
Tagline: Outsourcing
Contract: NDA
Country: USA
Timeline: 2017 - 2023
Technology: PHP / WordPress, React, GraphQL / REST, Testing: Pest / Jest
Tags: development, consulting, nda
Here at the Department of Web, we teamed up with Good People Digital, a digital agency from the United States, for a long-term partnership. Our job? To turn their designs into real, working websites. Over several years, we've worked on almost 50 websites, picking the best tech for each project and making sure everything worked perfectly. This case study shares the story of our collaboration, the challenges we faced, and how we created a winning formula for success.
## Objectives
In our partnership with Good People Digital, we faced a clear but multifaceted mission. We were entrusted with the responsibility of bringing to life a variety of websites, each uniquely designed for different individuals and brands. This wasn't just a simple matter of coding; it was about transforming creative designs into vibrant, fully functional websites that truly encapsulated the essence of each brand.
Our role extended beyond just the nuts and bolts of development. We were also the technology strategists in this equation. It was our task to consider each project individually, to think critically about its specific needs and objectives, and to select the most effective and suitable technology for its realization. And because we are committed to delivering only the highest quality, we didn't consider our job done at the end of development. We implemented thorough testing protocols to ensure that every piece of software we produced met the top-tier standards we hold ourselves to. This commitment to excellence is at the core of what we do at the Department of Web.
## Solution
Our partnership with Good People Digital was an adventure that spanned several years. During this period, we didn't just build websites; we built trust and efficient processes that allowed us to develop close to 50 unique websites. Each of these represented a different brand or individual, each with its unique objectives, challenges, and requirements.
To enable seamless collaboration and efficient results, we painstakingly crafted a series of internal processes. These processes covered every aspect of the development journey from the initial concept to final delivery, review, and quality assurance. Our aim was to ensure that our work integrated smoothly with the team at Good People Digital, and the result was a series of high-quality websites. We did this all as a white-label software house. This approach allowed Good People Digital to focus on its strengths, delivering exceptional results to its clients without the stress of managing an in-house development team.
## Technology
In terms of technology, we chose WordPress as our primary platform for a majority of the websites. WordPress is renowned for its extensibility and user-friendly interface, which is a great choice for both website administrators and developers. According to W3Techs, as of 2023, WordPress powers nearly 42% of all websites on the internet1, making it the most popular content management system (CMS) available.
With each website, we started from scratch, creating a unique, custom theme based on the provided designs. This approach ensured that every website was not only of the highest quality but also unique in its presentation and functionality. To speed up the development, we came up with our own starter theme and a couple of patterns we could reuse from project to project.
For the more dynamic parts of the websites, we employed ESNext JavaScript, a testament to our commitment to using cutting-edge technology where it made the most sense. Additionally, to maintain a uniform, high-quality codebase, we adhered to coding standards and implemented automated tests and deployments. This automated approach reduced manual errors, improved efficiency, and ensured that we consistently delivered optimal results.
## Challenges
Managing multiple projects simultaneously, each with its ever-changing requirements, proved to be a complex task. The communication flow from us to Good People Digital and then to the end client added another layer of complexity. However, we embraced these challenges, actively engaging with Good People Digital to refine our workflow and improve project timelines. Through open dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, we managed to find solutions that worked best for everyone.
Results
The results of our partnership were akin to a magic black box. Good People Digital would input design and requirements at one end, and out from the other end would emerge a perfectly developed application. This efficient and reliable output process became a testament to our seamless collaboration and commitment to excellence.
Conclusion
In conclusion, at the Department of Web, we strive for quality in all that we do. We relish the opportunity to work with agencies that share our passion for top-notch code and meticulous implementation. Our partnership with Good People Digital perfectly exemplifies how we consistently deliver exceptional results, proving that we are not just developers, but reliable partners in success.
---
1. W3Techs. (2023). [Usage Statistics and Market Share of Content Management Systems for Websites](https://w3techs.com/technologies/overview/content_management).
---
# Data Processing Solutions
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/case-studies/data-processing
Date: 2024-03-28T00:00:00.000Z
Tagline: Data Science
Contract: NDA
Country: USA
Timeline: July 2023 - Ongoing
Technology: PHP / WordPress / Elementor, React, GraphQL / REST, Cloud Functions, Firebase, OpenAPI, Testing: Pest / Jest
Tags: development, consulting, nda
In the dynamic field of data processing, companies are increasingly looking for sophisticated solutions to handle and analyze large volumes of data. We embarked on an ambitious project with our first client in this sector, under a strict Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). This case study outlines our journey, highlighting our approach to overcoming industry-specific challenges and delivering a bespoke front-end system.
## Objectives
Our goal was to develop an interactive, user-friendly front-end for the client's data processing system. The project focused on creating a plugin - a core of multiple WordPress instances, integrating with a large API to exchange data. Our challenge was not just technical development but also integrating new technologies with the client's existing backend systems, ensuring a seamless and cohesive user experience.
## Solution - Technology Stack
We chose a combination of WordPress, React, REST API, and TypeScript for their flexibility and scalability. This technological mix enabled us to create a dynamic and responsive front-end capable of handling complex data interactions while maintaining user accessibility and engagement.
Because flexibility was one of the main requirements, we went with Elementor and multiple custom widgets, to create the UI. Anything on the website can be adjusted and customized.
## Workflow
Our project flow was agile and adaptive, allowing us to meet the evolving needs of the project without a fixed deadline. Collaboration with another development team was key, requiring clear communication and coordination to ensure seamless integration of our front-end solutions.
## Challenges
### Technological Challenges
The project introduced new technologies and a significant scale of work. Our team rapidly adapted to these technologies, demonstrating our capacity to learn and implement complex solutions effectively.
### Organizational Challenges
We navigated organizational challenges, including coordinating with another development team and managing a large project scope. Our approach involved establishing effective communication channels and robust project management practices.
### Overcoming Difficulties
Our team successfully avoided major setbacks, balancing tight schedules and integrating new technologies and tools into our workflow, such as Elementor.
## Results
Under the NDA terms, specific results and client feedback are confidential. However, we can share that the beta release was well-received, with positive initial responses from users. Our work met the client's expectations in both functionality and design.
The project has greatly expanded our technological knowledge, especially in terms of new tools and platforms, preparing us for future challenges in the data processing industry and beyond.
Our commitment extends to ongoing maintenance and enhancement of the platform, with plans to introduce new features and improvements based on evolving industry trends and user feedback.
This project showcases our ability to navigate the complexities of the data processing sector. Our successful collaboration, adherence to NDA requirements, and integration of new technologies demonstrate our dedication to delivering high-quality, bespoke solutions. We are enthusiastic about exploring new opportunities and challenges across various industries, bringing innovative solutions to our clients.
---
# Fusebox
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/case-studies/fusebox
Date: 2023-12-05T00:00:00.000Z
Tagline: SaaS / Entertainment
Contract: Fixed-price
Country: USA
Timeline: 2021 - Ongoing
Technology: PHP / Laravel, VueJS, REST, Testing: Pest / Jest, Cloudflare, TimescaleDB
Tags: programming, design
By 2024, it's forecasted that the podcast listener count will [surpass a staggering 100 million](https://www.statista.com/forecasts/1123105/statista-amo-podcast-reach-us). This isn't merely a fleeting cultural trend; it represents a profound shift in how we consume information, entertainment, and even marketing content.
Podcasts are rapidly evolving into a formidable marketing tool, adept at boosting website conversions and deeply engaging audiences. As a result, the demand for more sophisticated, user-friendly podcast platforms is on the rise.
This blend of technological innovation and cultural shift presents an exciting challenge, one that the Department of Web, in partnership with Fusebox, has enthusiastically embraced. Their collaborative efforts mark the beginning of a new era in podcasting – a journey worth exploring further
## Introduction to Fusebox
In 2022, the Department of Web embarked on an innovative venture with Fusebox, a platform known for its diverse array of podcast players designed to enhance audience reach and engagement.
Fusebox stands out in the podcasting industry for its commitment to providing creators and listeners with an unparalleled podcasting experience. This collaboration aimed to leverage the platform's existing strengths and introduce new features to further elevate its capabilities.
## Managing the Project Flow
The project with Fusebox was managed under a fixed price model, which posed unique challenges and opportunities for the Department of Web. This model required meticulous planning and strict adherence to timelines, pushing the team to optimize their workflow and resources efficiently.
A key aspect of the project's success was the collaborative workflow. The design elements were provided externally, which allowed our team to concentrate intensely on the implementation aspect. This division of labor was strategic, enabling the team to leverage their strengths in technology implementation while benefiting from the expertise of external professionals like Rafał Tomal - designer, and Chris Hufnagel - technical lead.
This synergy between different skill sets ensured a harmonious blend of aesthetics and functionality, contributing significantly to the project's success.
## The Mission
The primary objective for the Department of Web was clear: to develop and enhance the [app.fusebox.fm](https://app.fusebox.fm) and its associated embedded players.
This mission was driven by the need to create an intuitive and efficient application that would significantly improve the podcasting experience for both creators and listeners. The project was not just about technical development; it was about reshaping the way podcasts are consumed and enjoyed.
### Implementation of Advanced Players
A key aspect of the project was the implementation and refinement of various podcast players, each designed with specific functionalities to cater to diverse user needs.
**Single Track Player**: This player was developed to highlight individual podcast episodes, making it a standout feature for content creators who wish to showcase specific episodes. Its popularity was cemented by becoming the player of choice for SPI Media.
**Archive Player**: Designed as a comprehensive solution, this player showcases an entire podcast catalog on a single webpage. It serves as a powerful tool for podcasters who wish to display their full range of content in one accessible location.
**Sticky Player**: The Sticky Player's unique feature is its ability to feature a podcast on any webpage. It effectively transforms a website into a podcast hub, ensuring that listeners can access content seamlessly as they navigate.
The project's success is evident from the implementation of each player type, each tailored to specific needs within the podcasting community.
## Overcoming Technological Hurdles
One of the main challenges faced by the team was adapting to Laravel. As a new technology for the team, Laravel required a learning curve.
However, this challenge was viewed not as a setback but as a significant opportunity for growth. The team's ability to quickly learn and adapt to this new framework showcased their flexibility and dedication to continuous improvement.
The experience gained from working with Laravel not only contributed to the success of the Fusebox project but also enhanced the team's overall technical expertise, positioning them well for future projects.
## Problem Solving and User Experience
The primary goal of the Department of Web in the Fusebox project was to create a user-friendly tool that would simplify the process of embedding podcast episodes onto websites.
Recognizing the growing trend of podcast consumption and the importance of ease of access, the team focused on developing a solution that would not only meet but exceed user expectations.
The overall podcast listening experience was significantly improved, with the implementation of features such as improved audio quality, responsive design for mobile listeners, and seamless integration with various website platforms.
These improvements made the platform not just a tool for podcast creators, but a delightful experience for listeners as well. What can you consider the success of the whole project and the people working on the project.
## Positive Reception and Validation
The project's success was evidenced by the positive feedback received from Fusebox The client’s satisfaction with the delivered product was a testament to the project's achievement in meeting its objectives.
While direct feedback from end-users was not extensively documented, the client's response serves as a proxy for the users' satisfaction, suggesting that the improvements were well-received by the broader audience.
The ongoing collaboration between the Department of Web and Fusebox for maintenance and introduction of new features further underscores the project's success. This continued partnership is not just a business engagement; it's a reflection of trust and satisfaction with the work delivered.
## Evolving with the Project
Since the project's inception in 2021, the Department of Web has remained actively involved, signifying a long-term commitment to Fusebox. The focus has been on not just maintaining the current system, but also on expanding the platform's capabilities.
A significant development in this phase has been the implementation of a statistics module, providing valuable insights into podcast performance and listener demographics.
This ongoing engagement has been a fertile ground for learning, particularly in the realm of scalability in cloud environments. The team has continuously adapted and changed their skills, staying abreast of the latest technological advancements.
The Fusebox player project exemplifies the flexibility and professionalism of our team. Through effective collaboration, embracing new technologies, and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement, the team has delivered a successful project and fostered a lasting and fruitful relationship with Fusebox.
---
_Design copyright: Rafal Tomal._
---
# Vanlife Trader
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/case-studies/vanlife-trader
Date: 2023-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
Tagline: Automotive / E-commerce
Contract: Fixed-price
Country: USA
Timeline: June 2022 - October 2022
Technology: PHP / WordPress, React, GraphQL / REST
Tags: development
Vanlife Trader serves the vibrant community of van life enthusiasts, offering a platform for buying, selling, and trading customized vans. With a user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing design, the website caters to those passionate about the adventurous van life lifestyle. This case study explores our comprehensive project with Vanlife Trader, highlighting our collaborative success and innovative solutions.
## Objectives
Our primary goal was to revamp the Vanlife Trader website, enhancing user experience, integrating a blog, and modernizing the design. The project demanded a balance between aesthetic appeal and functional robustness, aiming to resonate with the website's target audience.
On top of the design overhaul, we had to come up with a better data architecture and migrate all the data from the old site.
## Solution
We leveraged WordPress and React, creating a dynamic and responsive site that is both manageable and interactive. This combination was key to accommodating the site's extensive content, complexity, and user interactions.
The primary focus was on the offer listing speed. With hundreds of offers and multiple dynamic filters that traverse through many post-meta and taxonomies, we had to use something more robust than a classic REST API. For that reason, we implemented GraphQL API which provided us both flexibility and required speed.
## Workflow
In 2022, at the outset of our collaborative project with [long-time partner Good People Digital](/case-studies/gpd), we faced significant challenges due to the project's scale and the involvement of multiple teams. Despite these complexities, our team successfully managed the workflow and delivered high-quality results, albeit with a slight delay.
## Project Challenges
### Data migration
The particular challenge was the data migration. We had to carefully analyze the content on the old website. It has been built on top of a general-purpose WordPress listing theme, with a poor data architecture, leveraging a lot of post meta entries. With such a big website, this created a serious bottleneck in the site’s performance.
We came up with a better architecture, that leveraged more taxonomies than post meta. Taxonomies have overall better performance as they have a better relational structure within the default WordPress database schema.
Translating the data to the new schema was crucial and allowed us to create almost instantaneous listing search results on the front end.
### Fast and dynamic listings
Having clean and organized data in the database is only half of the battle. We needed to ensure a smooth experience on the front end. This is why we implemented a React UI that loads all the data as quickly as possible, without refreshing the page when using filters.
### Organizational Challenges
Coordinating with multiple teams and managing this large-scale project tested our organizational skills, which we navigated through effective communication and adaptability.
## Results
The project's success led to significant satisfaction from the client, with improvements in functionality and design being particularly praised. User feedback echoed this positivity, highlighting the enhanced user experience.
## Team Learning and Development
This project was a growth opportunity for our team, deepening our expertise in WordPress, GraphQL, React, and large-scale project management.
## Future Plans
The project's success culminated in a significant milestone this year: we took ownership of the Vanlife Trader project. Now, we can openly discuss our collaboration and continue to develop and refine the website. Plans include implementing new features, and monitoring and updating the website, with a continued focus on enhancing the van life community experience.
The Vanlife Trader project is a testament to our team's ability to handle complex web development challenges and collaborate effectively with external teams, including a talented graphic designer responsible for the site's design. Our successful handling of this project has broadened our skill set and positioned us as a reliable partner in digital transformation journeys
---
_Design copyright: Charles Miller._
---
# Learning Management System
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/case-studies/lms
Date: 2023-05-11T00:00:00.000Z
Tagline: Education
Contract: NDA
Country: USA
Timeline: April 2022 - May 2023
Technology: PHP / Laravel, React, GraphQL / REST, Cloudflare Streams, Backblaze, Testing: Pest / Jest
Tags: development, consulting, nda
As online education gains momentum, it becomes increasingly important to ensure that learning platforms are tailored to the specific needs of individual clients, industries, and user groups. This requires the development of adaptable, component-based solutions that can be easily customized and scaled to meet the requirements of a wide range of online learning initiatives.
The global online education market has experienced substantial growth in recent years. According to a report by Research and Markets1, the online education market was valued at $101.37 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach $374.26 billion by 2026, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 19.6% from 2021 to 2026.
That growth opened a significant opportunity for online creators and created a high demand for online platforms to serve educational content.
## Objectives
We at the Department of Web were approached by a client who needed a custom, scalable Learning Management System (LMS) that could be sold as a productized service to their end clients.
Productized services are a unique business model in which a company offers a standardized, pre-packaged solution to a specific problem or need. Instead of customizing their services for each individual client, the company develops a set of clearly defined deliverables that can be easily replicated and scaled. This approach allows clients to know exactly what they're getting upfront, streamlining the sales process and reducing the time spent on negotiation and project scoping.
We’ve been responsible for all the technical parts of the project, delivering a complete package, extensive documentation, and load testing the final application to assess infrastructure costs and application bottlenecks.
## Solution
To deliver the product, our Department of Web team collaborated closely with the client in 1-week sprints. The initial focus was on meticulously planning the implementation of each feature, as a well-prepared roadmap helps avoid costly revisions and ensures a smoother development process. Once the plan was established, the team designed the database structure and determined the best approach to backend and frontend componentization.
Implementation of Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) played a crucial role in streamlining the development process. CI/CD enabled automatic testing of code semantics and formatting, unit testing, and seamless deployment of the app across dev, staging, and production environments. This led to faster, more reliable, and error-free releases, benefiting both the development team and the client.
The frontend was deployed on Vercel, providing the client with key benefits such as faster deployments, simplified scaling, and improved performance. Hosting the website on the Edge, through edge computing, allows for reduced latency and quicker content delivery to users while keeping the cost very affordable.
Tu ensure the app meets the various client requirements, we had to implement integration with Stripe and PayPal as out-of-the-box payment gateways with the potential for further expansion.
## Technology
We selected Laravel as the backend framework due to its robust and clean codebase, excellent performance, and vibrant community support. Laravel Nova was utilized for the admin panel, ensuring a seamless and secure administrative experience with advanced permission management.
The frontend was built on NextJS, an ideal choice for server-rendered React applications, and enhanced performance.
Frontend and backend communication were done with GraphQL. It was chosen for the internal API, offering greater flexibility and efficiency over REST API.
Frontend components were developed in isolation using Storybook, enabling unit testing and modular composition of the app.
Cloudflare Streams was employed for video streaming, providing a high-quality experience for the end-users.
## Challenges
Providing scalable video streaming was a significant challenge, which the team addressed using Cloudflare Streams. This solution allowed for a YouTube-like experience, including adaptive video quality, automatic bandwidth detection, and closed captions.
Organizing the codebase to allow easy configuration of features in subsequent applications was another challenge. Through careful planning and code architecture, the team achieved an exceptional developer experience and ease of configuration.
## Results
The LMS App has been already successfully deployed across various industries, including homesteading, music, and education.
One of the applications generated $1M in revenue within the first month, which was a great success for both the marketing team and development team due to the scale of the App.
The ability to quickly spin up new app instances was a crucial requirement that the team met. One of the apps experienced a massive traffic spike on the launch date, with over 1000 concurrent users, and was able to run smoothly on a single 16 GB RAM and 8 vCPUs backend server instance.
## Conclusion
The Department of Web successfully developed a custom, scalable Learning Management System, meeting and exceeding the client's objectives.
The carefully planned implementation, cutting-edge technology choices, and effective solutions to challenges resulted in a high-performing and adaptable product.
The LMS has already generated substantial revenue and demonstrated its ability to handle significant traffic spikes, making it a successful endeavor for both the client and our team.
---
1. Research and Markets. (2021). [Online Education Market by Component, Deployment Type, and End User: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2026](https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5236722/online-education-market-by-component-deployment).
---
# WP Appointments
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/case-studies/wp-appointments
Date: 2023-05-11T00:00:00.000Z
Tagline: WordPress Plugin
Contract: Retainer
Country: Poland
Timeline: April 2023 - June 2024
Tags: mentoring, consulting
This project illustrates the value of informal conversations at WordPress events. The idea for the plugin and subsequent collaboration with our client, Dawid Urbański, originated at such a meeting.
Dawid is a speaker, developer, and the creator of WP Appointments. WP Appointments is a plugin for scheduling appointments on WordPress sites. Currently, a demo version of the plugin is available, and its final functionalities are being polished and released.
The idea for the plugin was born with Dawid, leading to the purchase of the domain www.wpappointments.com. The growing interest in the domain and the mysterious project spurred action.
Dawid knew he wanted to create a plugin, and we had a plan to do it differently by combining our development and marketing experience.
## Objectives
At the outset, we heard, "There are plenty of identical plugins." Indeed, the WordPress repository is full of appointment scheduling plugins, including leading products. But are they good? Do they truly cover user scenarios? Could they be improved?
These questions multiplied, leading us to start our collaboration with WP Appointments by analyzing the market and proposing features that would differentiate the product.
## Solution
This expansive project required thorough planning. We received several guidelines about the final functionalities of the plugin and its monetization strategy. We resolved not to create just another plugin that nobody asked for. Instead, we approached it with an open mind to the real needs of WordPress users.
Our work was based on consumer needs research, modularity in functionalities, well-crafted marketing strategy, and social media communication strategy. We also anticipated paid campaigns to support filling the waitlist.
## Workflow
### Consumer Research
We conducted over 50 one-on-one interviews and analyzed approximately 1000 surveys. We are grateful for the openness of all respondents and the valuable data we were able to gather.
At this stage, we divided our work into analyzing current market solutions, studying the needs of potential plugin clients, and examining the experiences of end-users. We also kept developers in mind, as the plugin was intended to present not only functionality but also beautifully clean and accessible code.
The greatest value came from individual conversations, which highlighted numerous pain points of modern business owners not only in scheduling appointments but also in online presence.
Interestingly, our research revealed the unreliability of existing solutions, or the difficulty in adapting them to specific needs. This gave us the space to create proposals for features that address these specific problems. Through collaboration between the marketing and development teams, we introduced truly useful and implementable features for the WP Appointments plugin.
### Marketing Strategy
The next step was to design a marketing strategy and a communication plan. The prepared document included a competition analysis, feature proposals, and a detailed target group developed based on the surveys and interviews. The strategy also included an action plan for the upcoming quarters, both prior to and following the plugin’s release. This document remains active and guides the actions of the WP Appointments team.
### Hiring a Team
Having a strategy on paper is one thing, but its execution is crucial. Therefore, our next step in the project’s development was to hire a marketing team. We chose two individuals who complement each other in terms of skills and who would independently implement the documented strategy. The team was given complete freedom to manage the brand’s channels, reporting only their work to the client.
### Outsourcing
From the beginning, the plugin’s promotion included paid campaigns. Although initially managed by our employed team to maximize results, we partnered with advertising agency 4822, which continues to successfully manage the marketing activities.
Our task is to oversee the agency's work and monitor the results to ensure they align with our stated goals. Employing an external agency has provided us with more assured campaign outcomes and professional collaboration.
### Mentoring and Ongoing Support
This is the broadest non-developmental service we offer. Within this framework, Karolina, our specialist, is fully available for activities related to WP Appointments. She supervises the marketing team, agency work, ensures timely delivery of features, and execution of communication strategies. She also actively works on the content plan with the team, plugin development, advertising texts, and keeps Dawid motivated.
### Development
Our development team participated in the Proof of Concept process for the WP Appointments plugin. However, since the client is a developer, all programming work is his responsibility. He can rely on our experience and advice regarding any issues he encounters or the business process of releasing a WordPress plugin, which he readily utilizes.
## Project Challenges
### Waitlist
Our initial numerical goal was to gather 700 people on the waitlist, eager to try WP Appointments for a three-month period. The efforts included an email campaign, paid ads on LinkedIn, Meta, and Google, as well as organic activities on accounts.
### Sales
During the campaign, a lifetime deal purchase option for the plugin was introduced. Although this move was intended to encourage joining the list, it far exceeded expectations. Since the purchase option was introduced on the site, 40 people have already bought the plugin.
### Plugin Release
Time is not an ally in digital projects. The plugin is highly comprehensive, and its core is a free version, which is already available. However, the plugin gains significance when additional modules are added. Currently, work is ongoing on the payment and services modules.
### Quality Assurance of the Plugin
Before releasing the demo, the plugin underwent a series of usability tests conducted by our specialist Anna Szałkiewicz. The tests identified about 30 issues that needed fixing before release. Allocating space for testing only confirms the seriousness with which the creator approaches users. Everything is aimed to be top-notch.
### Crisis Communication
The continually shifting release date presents an ongoing communication challenge. The growing uncertainty within the community due to the prolonged development demands decisive and transparent actions. Therefore, in addition to communication on social media, the project is also open on GitHub, where the progress can be monitored. This approach has helped to reassure and inform the community about the extent of the work being done.
## Final Results
We exceeded the set KPIs, with 1,500 users now on the waitlist for the release of the first version of the plugin. Additionally, the LTD offer introduced during the promotion generated $30,000 in sales.
**October 2024 Update**
The plugin is still in development. In June, after several weeks of no communication, Dawid Urbański likely decided to pause the project and end our collaboration. We have not been able to reach him since then. We posted our statement regarding the allegations against WP Appointments in a [separate post](https://departmentofweb.com/blog/wp-appointments-official-statement).
---
## Blog
# Why we choose automotive websites?
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/why-automotive-websites
Date: 2025-06-12T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Web Development
Author: karolina_c
Summary: Why we focus on automotive websites? From parts stores to motorsport platforms, we know what makes this industry tick — and how to turn that into high-performance sites that drive results.
## Why do we choose Automotive Websites?
The automotive industry doesn’t sit still. It’s in constant motion, driven by technology, evolving customer expectations, and fierce competition. Whether you run a repair shop, sell vehicles, rent them out, or build your brand around motorsport — your website can’t be just “good enough.” It can’t be random. And it sure as hell can’t be generic.
At the Department of Web, we don't settle for generic. We chose to specialize in automotive websites because we know how much impact a great site can have in this industry. And how much is lost when it's treated like an afterthought.
We build sites that turn heads, load fast, and keep working even while you're on the track, under the hood, or out chasing sunlight.
## Why automotive?
This wasn’t a coincidence. Jakub, our CEO, is not only a developer and entrepreneur, he’s also a motorsport driver.
He lives and breathes cars and code. That rare combination gives us a unique edge: We know how this industry works from the inside and can translate it into solid digital solutions.
Over the years, we've worked across different industries, building platforms, web apps, and integrations for US and European clients. But long-term collaboration with Vanlife Trader, a leading US campervan marketplace, confirmed it: automotive is where we belong. It’s where our skills meet our passion.
## This is not a theory. It’s a real-world experience
With [Vanlife Trader](https://vanlifetrader.com/), we supported the platform across multiple fronts — from front-end development to performance optimization and custom filtering systems. We helped them build a user experience that works and sells, day in and day out. Our deep integration with their product team taught us exactly what it takes to scale an automotive platform in a competitive market.
On the other end of the spectrum is [wlepkownia](http://www.wlepkownia.pl), a niche e-commerce shop for motorsport-inspired car decals. We designed the store, custom pricing calculator, and project generator from scratch, giving users the freedom to personalize their stickers without even talking to the sales team.
We also consulted with [OZ Parts EU](https://ozparts.eu/), a parts distributor based in Australia, helping it refine its communications and prepare social media platforms for online campaigns.
## What makes Automotive Websites different from other niches?
Automotive websites have their own rules. You’re not selling socks. You’re selling safety, horsepower, reliability, or in some cases, lifestyle. What sets them apart?
- Visual experience matters more: users want to feel the product, even online.
- Mobile-first is a must: users browse listings or book appointments from garages, driveways, and racetracks.
- Trust-building content is essential: service quality, reviews, certifications, case galleries.
- Local SEO drives conversions: nobody searches “mechanic USA,” they search “BMW repair shop Miami.”
And yet, many automotive websites still look like they were built in 2008. We’re here to change that.
## What kind of websites do we build?
We build custom stores for auto parts sellers, with advanced filtering, SKU management, and scalable WooCommerce integrations.
We can launch laser-focused landing pages for rental services, car dealerships, and motorsport events, tailored to your goals and optimized for conversions.
We’re ready to support content creators, vloggers, drifters, and YouTubers, by helping them showcase their projects and grow engaged communities.
And yes, we’ve built large marketplaces like Vanlife Trader, with powerful search engines, listing tools, and mobile-first performance in mind.
### Our Process
Clients often ask: “How do we start?” Here’s how we approach every automotive project:
1. **Discovery**: we analyze your business, users, competition, and goals.
2. **Strategy**: together, we define the structure, messaging, and core features.
3. **Design & Development**: fast, responsive, and scalable.
4. **Testing & Optimization**: for mobile, SEO, speed, and conversions.
5. **Launch & Support**: including training and long-term maintenance if needed.
Whether you need a full e-commerce store or just a landing page for your next campaign, we tailor every step to your business needs.
## What makes us different?
You won’t have to explain what a camber, VIN, MPG, or others are. Or why your site needs to work on an iPhone 11 that broke after a close encounter with the garage floor. We get it.
**You’ll save time** — because we already understand your language.
**You’ll gain an edge** — because we know what drives conversions in your world.
**You’ll have flexibility** — because we can design a marketplace today and a product configurator tomorrow.
**And you’ll have peace of mind** — because automotive isn’t just another vertical for us. It’s a community we belong to.
## Ready for a website that performs like your best machine?
If anything here resonates, if you feel like we might “click” — [reach out](/contact).
Your project won’t be one of many. It’ll be a chapter in a story where clean code meets horsepower and user journeys feel like a well-tuned machine.
---
# Why SaaS Marketing should start in the Discovery Phase?
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/why-saas-marketing-should-start-in-the-discovery-phase
Date: 2025-01-28T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Management
Author: karolina_c
Summary: Discover why SaaS marketing during the discovery phase is essential for success. Validate your idea, identify your audience, and lay a solid foundation for growth.
Let’s start with a simple yet critical question: Can you afford to invest in an application that might not generate profits? Sure, every business venture carries some level of risk. But successful entrepreneurship is about making calculated decisions based on a thorough analysis of your environment, market, and target audience.
Now, if you’re thinking, “Of course, every serious entrepreneur does their homework before launching,” I’m here to surprise you. Many don’t. Often, products are created on a whim—based on what the creator thinks the customer wants or simply because it seemed like a fun idea. Sure, you can do that, but I’ll ask again: Can you afford to launch a product that might fail to generate profits?
If the answer is no, stick with me. Let’s talk about why investing in marketing during the discovery phase is crucial when building your SaaS application.
## What can early SaaS Marketing efforts achieve?
Starting your marketing efforts during the discovery phase does more than just build buzz. It gives you clarity—about your potential customers, their needs, and how your solution can address those needs. It’s about ensuring that your brilliant idea resonates with real people.
Here’s how we at [Department of Web](https://departmentofweb.com/our-work) support our clients during this critical phase:
- **Market analysis**: We study the market and available tools, helping you identify competitors and learn from their strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes, someone else has already tested an idea similar to yours. Knowing this upfront is invaluable.
- **Identifying niches**: We pinpoint gaps in the market that your SaaS solution can fill, giving you a competitive edge.
- **Validating your idea**: We assess whether your concept is feasible from both technological and financial perspectives and outline what resources you’ll need to bring it to life.
And then…
- **Creating buyer personas**: We help you understand your ideal customers—who they are, what they need, and how to reach them.
- **Defining key features**: Through customer research (like surveys, in-depth interviews, and focus groups), we uncover what your target audience truly wants, turning their needs into actionable features for your app.
- **Building early marketing assets**: We create foundational materials such as landing pages to showcase your offer and collect leads for a waiting list.
## How consumer research works at Department of Web?
Consumer research is the backbone of a solid discovery phase. But the scope and depth of research depend on your project’s size and budget.
For example, our team can design studies for sample groups of up to 200 participants. If you need larger datasets, we collaborate with external respondent bases to get the job done. For [WordPress users to](https://bracketspace.com/about/).
Here are some of the methods we use:
- **Desk Research**: Analyzing existing data and industry reports to identify trends and opportunities.
- **In-Depth Interviews (IDI)**: Speaking directly with potential customers to understand their motivations and pain points.
- **Focus Group Interviews (FGI)**: Facilitating discussions among groups to explore opinions and reactions.
- **Surveys**: Gathering quantitative data to support strategic decisions.
We can also help you design research scenarios for internal use, giving your team tools to understand your audience’s needs better.
## Is the Discovery Phase the right time for marketing strategy?
Absolutely. Discovery lays the groundwork for a robust strategy by equipping you with all the necessary insights. From a marketing perspective, it’s a natural endpoint of the discovery process and a launchpad for what’s next.
At Department of Web, we define a comprehensive strategy as including not only the roadmap for marketing but also your brand’s identity—its key visual elements, tone, and messaging. While branding can be developed separately and priced independently, it’s a critical component of long-term success.
The discovery phase isn’t just about finding answers; it’s about asking the right questions and ensuring your SaaS product has a strong, informed foundation to build on.
Investing in marketing during the discovery phase isn’t just a “nice to have”—it’s a strategic necessity. It helps you validate your idea, identify your audience, and position your product for success. Skipping this step can leave you blind to potential pitfalls and opportunities, making the path to profitability much harder.
So, before you dive into development or launch grand campaigns, pause and invest in discovery. Your future self—and your customers—will thank you.
This is not the end of SaaS marketing! In fact, it's just getting started, but we'll talk about that another time.
---
# WP Appointments - official statement
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/wp-appointments-official-statement
Date: 2024-10-15T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Company Life
Author: karolina_c
Summary: Due to the recent influx of messages regarding the lack of contact with the creator of the WP Appointments plugin, Dawid Urbański, and the assumption that we are responsible for the plugin and its current state, we would like to clarify a few things.
Due to the recent influx of messages regarding the lack of contact with the creator of the WP Appointments plugin, Dawid Urbański, and the assumption that we are responsible for the plugin and its current state, we would like to clarify a few things.
Our collaboration with Dawid Urbański ended in June of this year, after he, without prior communication regarding his unavailability and the continuation of the project, revoked our access to accounts and deleted our shared communication channel. As a result, we stopped creating and planning content for the WP Appointments channels.
As Department of Web, we acted as an external marketing team. We conducted consumer research, developed a product strategy and feature set for the WP Appointments plugin, and created a communication strategy. Additionally, we managed the performance agency during the Waitlist campaign and oversaw the work of the social media manager and copywriter we had recruited.
Due to a large volume of technical projects, our development team never participated in the actual development of the plugin, which is essential for the product to be launched.
While it's true that contact with Dawid Urbański has been challenging and the plugin has yet to be released, we would not go as far as to call the project a scam. Additionally, we strongly oppose the practice of exposing private accounts of employees involved in the project to public backlash by people who feel misled by WP Appointments.
In reference to the statement released by WP Appointments, the project has faced several challenges due to Dawid’s limited availability as the primary (and essentially sole) developer. We appreciate Dawid's expertise and passion for creating innovative solutions, but we also understand that time is a finite resource.
At the same time, we understand the frustration of WP Appointments customers and believe that each of them deserves the appropriate refunds. However, we have no influence over how this situation will unfold.
We view our involvement with WP Appointments as a valuable experience and are proud of the work we completed. The research we conducted helped shape a plugin that garnered significant interest from the WordPress community, as evidenced by the number of pre-sales. We hope that the plugin will be released some day.
---
# Your guide to custom web development: 8 things to consider [2024]
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/guide-to-custom-web-development
Date: 2024-04-10T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Web Development
Author: karolina_c
Summary: If you want to develop a new digital product – whether it’s a website or a web application – you need to find a web development company that will help you with the whole process – from ideation to launch of the final product.
However, before you sign a dotted line, there are several questions to consider. You also need to gather some information and make some decisions on your end. And that’s what you’ll learn in this comprehensive guide to web design and development.
Of course, we understand that developing a simple website and an extensive SaaS platform differs. The first can be relatively easy, especially if you want just a simple online “business card” for your company. On the other hand, developing a SaaS platform or extensive web or mobile app takes months and requires a far more experienced team of developers.
Regardless, both projects have a lot in common, and things you need to consider are similar, in spite of appearances. Let's have a look at them.
## Web development 101: 4 things to consider about your future digital product
### Pick a good CMS
This is especially important when developing a website. There are many CMS systems out there, from very popular WordPress to super-advanced Hubspot. Take a look at the most popular CMS platforms companies use for their projects:
[_Source: https://meetanshi.com/blog/cms-statistics/_](https://meetanshi.com/blog/cms-statistics/)
And your choice is even broader if you want to develop an e-commerce website! A trusted software house will help you understand the differences as well as technical limitations of each system and guide you toward the solution that’s optimal in your niche and circumstances. Once your product is ready, your web development company should train your team so that they know how to use the selected CMS effectively. This is something worth discussing during the initial consultation with a selected agency.
For many web projects we develop, we use WordPress, primarily because of its elasticity and a huge number of [plugins and themes](https://bracketspace.com/) allowing us to develop almost any website, including an online store.
If you want to develop a web application, you need to consider whether it should be a native app or a cross-platform app. Both solutions have their pros and cons, so again – ask your web development company to explain the differences so that you can make an informed decision.
## The overall cost of your product
Let’s clarify something first – we’re not saying that you should pick a custom web development company solely based on the offered price. No, your primary concern should be whether a selected company will be able to deliver what you expect within the agreed conditions. However, it’s no mystery that a software house from Poland will likely be less expensive compared to a similar company from the US.
We encourage you to compare different options. It may turn out that there is a [reliable web development company from Poland](https://departmentofweb.com) that’s fully capable of communicating with you in English and delivering the exact project you require. And if you pick them over some American competition, you can save some money, too.
Take a look at this chart:
Picking a development company from Europe instead of the USA can save you up to $15,000 on your project! And if the quality is the same, why not use this money for marketing purposes instead?
### Is there a niche for your digital product?
This point refers mostly to web and mobile apps and SaaS platforms. A trusted web development company will help you verify whether there is potential for your business. This is what we did for one of products we helped developing – [WP Appointments](https://wpappointments.com/). Our research proved there is a need for such a product, and now, we’re in the late development stage!
However, you should do this initial research on your own. If there’s no demand for your idea, don’t waste too much time on dozens of confirmations. Take a look if there are similar products on the market. Are they successful? How can you make your product different or better? What's your ICP (ideal customer profile) and UVP (unique value proposition)? What problems does your product solve (keep in mind that with no problem, there's no sales)?
There are all vital questions that you need to answer before starting to write the code for your product. Remember that at the end of the day, you're the one who's responsible for your product's success. A web development company is, above all, a contractor. They will design and develop what you want them to. However, they cannot guarantee that your product will be successful as there are dozens of factors at play, and the quality and UX of your product are just two of them.
If you don’t know how to conduct a thorough research, reach out to a proven [web design and development agency](https://departmentofweb.com/our-work) and ask whether they can help you with researching your product idea.
#### Validation and testing
You can validate your product or website concept through methods such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, or prototype testing. Gather feedback from potential users to assess interest, usability, and perceived value. Iterate on your concept based on this feedback to better align with market needs.
**This stage is critical as without a thorough research and tested need for your product, you’ll end up with a very expensive tool that gives you no profit.**
Estimations are 75% of startups fail within 15 years (25% fail within the first two years), and a poor product-market fit is a number-one reason for startup failures, responsible for a whopping 34% of such cases:
[_Source: https://explodingtopics.com/blog/startup-failure-stats_](https://explodingtopics.com/blog/startup-failure-stats)
### Marketing and monetization
It is vital to think about marketing and monetization of your future product even before you start developing it. Marketing takes time, money, and a well-though-out strategy. In the ideal scenario, you should have a tailor-made strategy designed for your product.
Things to consider comprise:
- Who’s going to use your product
- Where they can be found
- Which marketing channels will be most effective in your sector
- How you will make money on your app/product
Monetization is a whole other thing, and it needs to be embedded into the product itself. For instance, in you’re planning on making money on a loyalty program, you need to put it in the app itself. The same with ads, micropayments, subscriptions, and other solutions allowing you to make money off your app.
While a web development company doesn’t have to have marketing services in their offer, sharing your marketing plans might be helpful for them to include all the elements that will allow you to market your app effectively.
The chart above also confirms the importance of having the right marketing strategy – **wrong marketing initiatives cause almost 25% startups to fail, so [make sure you’re good on this front](/blog/how-to-make-sure-you-have-a-perfect-website-for-your-startup)**.
Up to this point, we discussed four crucial elements to take into account when designing a new digital product or even a website. However, you also need to play close attention to the web development company or software house you’re about to work with.
## 4 things to consider about your web design and development company
### Portfolio and experience
It is very important to [ensure you work with a custom web development company that has all the required skills and experience](/blog/five-red-flags-in-software-house-cooperation) to finish and launch your product. There are a few ways to verify if this is true concerning the company you’ve selected:
- Have a look at their about us subpage and see what makes this team special. Take a look at the projects they’ve done and the clients they’ve served.
- Check their client testimonials and ask whether you can reach out to those companies.
- Show them what kind of product you want to develop and ask your future web dev team whether they’ve already developed a similar project.
You can also inquire about the company's project management approach. Do they use Agile, Waterfall, or another methodology? Understand how they plan, track, and prioritize tasks, as well as how they handle changes or revisions during the development process.
### Post-launch support
Web development projects don’t end with the launch. Most of the time, these are ongoing projects that require appropriate maintenance and updates (the digital world is very dynamic, and you need to keep your app attractive and relevant to your target audience). Will this company support your company also post-launch? Specifically, will they provide ongoing updates, troubleshooting assistance, and security updates?
Look for a web development agency that stays with you even after the product is released. Changing web development partner once the product is done can be time-consuming and expensive, and it’s better to avoid this scenario.
### Contract
Make sure you read the contract thoroughly. [Web design and development is a complex field and there are many scenarios and situations that need to be considered](https://bracketspace.com/blog/why-do-prices-for-wordpress-website/). This doesn’t change the fact, though, that the contract should be clear and transparent. Have your legal team go through it to ensure it fits your project and clearly outlines responsibilities and duties of both parties.
On the other hand, if the contract is too complicated, it’s full of exclusions, and stretches forever, perhaps it’s a good idea to look for a different custom web development company.
### Talk to them
Lastly, just devote some time to talk to your future software house. Web development project usually take months; you should work on your project with people who understand your vision and your industry. Also, you want to spend this time with people who are simply nice to talk to and helpful. This way, your project will go smoothly and you will be able to quickly solve potential roadblocks and bumps in the road.
It’s vital to conduct at least one meeting with the team before you sign the dotted line.
### Wrapping up: Pick the best web development company!
The key to success in web development is two-fold. For starters, you need to make sure you know what to design and for whom. Do your research and confirm there is an actual market need for your digital product. Analyze competitive solutions and check whether you can make them better.
Once you figure everything out concerning the product itself, look for a trusted web design and development agency. The one that has the necessary experience, will support you once your product is ready, and is simply easy to get along with.
Put these two aspects of developing a digital product together, and you’re on a clear path to success!
And if you’re currently looking for a [trusted software house in Poland](https://departmentofweb.com/) for your company – Department of Web is at your service! Reach out and [schedule a free meeting with our team](https://departmentofweb.com/contact), and let’s develop your next digital product!
---
# How to make sure you have a perfect website for your startup?
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/how-to-make-sure-you-have-a-perfect-website-for-your-startup
Date: 2024-01-03T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Web Development
Author: karolina_c
Summary: The folks knocking on the doors of the Department of Web the most? Startups! In my time working at our web design agency, I’ve met brands that were diamonds in the rough but never took off. I’ve also seen some that flopped right out the gate, even with boatloads of cash backing ’em. And you know the kicker? They all had one thing in common…
The folks knocking on the doors of the Department of Web the most? Startups! In my time working at our web design agency, I’ve met brands that were diamonds in the rough but never took off. I’ve also seen some that flopped right out the gate, even with boatloads of cash backing ’em. And you know the kicker? They all had one thing in common…
Whenever we team up with a new client, we really emphasize the early stages of our chat. Getting everything out in the open from the get-go is our mantra.
After a decade in this biz, we know that laying out the game plan right at the start paves the way for a slam-dunk finish. Identifying the project’s main goals, understanding the target audience’s needs, their online habits, and a bunch of other jargon that flies over our startup pals’ heads.
So, when my marketing heart starts to ache, I sit ’em down and say, “Alright, thanks for sharing the big idea, but let’s rewind and start with your brand strategy.”
Today, I’m gonna spill the beans and share some tips and blueprints tailored for small startup bosses and business owners. These will help yall take a more critical look at your online presence. And give you a roadmap of what to zero in on and what to have ready before you hit up a software house for that killer website.
## Does Every Startup Really Need a Website?
Bet you didn’t see that one coming, especially from a gal whose bread and butter is making websites! But real talk: have you ever stopped and wondered if you really need a full-blown website? What’s your reasoning, besides “everyone’s doing it” or “it’s just what you do”?
You know what clients say the darnedest things? But here’s a head-scratcher for you: data shows that 90% of startups tank in the first three months. Now, that’s a real noggin scratcher.
[_https://www.demandsage.com/startup-statistics_](https://www.demandsage.com/startup-statistics)
Makes me wonder: why? Sure, cash troubles, rookie mistakes, and messy processes might play a role. But having been in the game for so long, I can’t help but think a half-baked plan or no plan at all is the culprit.
[_https://www.demandsage.com/startup-statistics_](https://www.demandsage.com/startup-statistics)
Time to get back to the basics. Jot down these questions: who, what, why, and how.
For this article, let’s conjure up a buddy named Jon.
Does Jon need a website? I mean, he’s a tech guy, right? Websites are a given! Well, not so fast. Jon might just need a landing page with maybe a page or two more. Easy there, cowboy.
Hold onto your wallet and don’t get ahead of yourself. Be open, and like Seth Godin once said,
> “You won’t get noticed until you learn to see.”
## Where to Splash the Cash in Your Startup First?
Consumer research. Period. End of story.
Before you roll out a product, service, or brand, see if it jives with what the people want. If they don’t need it, why bother? Or maybe a little tweak here and there?
Consumer research might sound like big bucks, months of data collection, and analysis. If you got the green and the means, hand it off to the pros. But if you’re DIYing it, just get cozy with these three terms:
1. Quantitative Research: All about number crunching. Great for spotting trends in a large crowd. Jon? Buddy could whip up a survey, share it with friends, and ask for a reshare. Dive into demographics, initial interest, and especially pain points. Questions like “Ever had a hard time borrowing a book?” or “How do you read books?”Watch out! Make sure your circle of friends isn’t your only pool. Results gotta be unbiased. Think of a filter question like “Do you read books?”
2. Qualitative Research: This digs deeper into people’s motives and feelings. Here, Jon can refine questions, like “How far would you travel to grab a coveted book?” This phase is golden for honing in on target messaging, spotting what makes you unique, and rethinking promotion. Ask about what competitors are doing too.
3. Focus Groups: A qualitative method where a bunch of peeps gather to dish about a specific topic, guided by a moderator. You’ll get a load of insights from the interactions.
Jon could handpick 10 from his survey respondents, ones that fit his user profile to a T, and delve into app design, functions, or even get feedback on a prototype.
Armed with notes, surveys, and feedback, dump all of it into a Value Proposition Canvas. Sketch out your brand, product, or service in line with your potential client’s needs. It focuses on what really matters to them. It’s a killer exercise for creativity, so good luck and knock ’em dead!
## Why You Need a Landing Page and What to Pack In
Ever heard of a “landing page”? Think of it as the appetizer to your main course, or a sneak peek into your big idea. Before diving headfirst into your project, a landing page will let you test the waters to see if folks are biting. This is where a waiting list comes in handy.
Nothing beats the feeling of knowing someone’s eager to buy your product. With a pool of ready-to-go folks, it’s easier to kick off, gather insights, and build a tribe.
Landing pages? They’re your golden ticket to direct people who engage with your ads. These pages are tailored for action, cutting out all the noise that might distract from your message. And hey, make sure visitors instantly get where they’re at and what they can expect from you. Brace yourself for…
## The Pitch Deck Lowdown
If you’re in the startup game, “pitch deck” should ring a bell. It’s a snappy presentation that offers potential investors or customers a flyover of your business plan, products, services, and growth trajectory.
Now, you’ve got to nail that pitch deck on your site. Make it crystal clear so clients or investors catch your vision and see what’s in it for them. Feeling green and unsure about showcasing your idea? Everyone’s been there. Mastering this art takes time. Lucky for you, I’ve got a roadmap:
Props to Jonathan Stark for this blueprint. My early templates weren’t too shabby, but this one? Game-changer. Now, I often find myself plotting content based on Stark’s key.
[_https://jonathanstark.com/building-the-perfect-sales-page_](https://jonathanstark.com/building-the-perfect-sales-page)
There might be times you can’t fill every box. Been there, done that. But remember, the closer you stick to this guide when jotting down ideas, the smoother your site journey will be. Plus, you’ll have the lowdown on user behavior analytics. Ready to blend the pitch deck with Stark’s formula? You’re on track for some red-hot conversion rates.
## The Universal vs. The Unique
Alright, quick tip when drafting content for your landing page: Make sure there’s real value behind those words. Separate the general from the gems. Stumped on how?
Revisit your value proposition matrix. Recognize your audience’s pain points? Your content should reassure them that you’ve got the perfect remedy.
Enter USP (Unique Selling Proposition) and UVP (Unique Value Proposition) — your cheat sheets to resonate with your target crowd.
Try crafting a sentence, jot it down, then dissect it to emphasize its core. Like, for an app called BookEstate, it could be:
“Discover a world of books right next door! Connect with neighbors, swap reads, and share thoughts, all within your community. BookEstate — your go-to local book club.”
For Jon’s communication, doubling down on the message is key. Break the sentence, wrap it around posts or website sections:
“Discover books nearby” — Jon can roll out video posts showing how to find books in the app, share stories of friendships made, or spotlight new book reviews or chats with authors. That’ll keep your peeps hooked and engaged.
## If You Attract, You Don’t Need to Chase: The Power of UX
The digital realm is buzzin’ about two acronyms: UX & UI. And guess what? You should be, too. Why? Because your top goal is to reel visitors in and keep ’em glued to your site. But tread carefully!
There’s a fine line between a rockstar site and a user’s worst nightmare. Many startups trip up by only jazzing up their site’s look, sidelining functionality and user-friendliness. Here’s the golden mantra:
> “If you attract, you won’t need to chase.”
Make your site a breeze, and users will keep coming back. Nail it with these three tips:
### 1. Navigation
Keep it intuitive. Navigation should be a no-brainer. Clear menus, logical content groupings, and making sure users know where they’re at are the hallmarks of killer navigation. Ditch the maze of menu layers; ideally, everything’s just a click or two away. Stick to tried-and-true navigation blueprints. Don’t reinvent the wheel.
### 2. Clarity
Less is more, folks. Keep information neat and tidy. Users should instantly get where they are and what’s next on the agenda. Spotlight key elements and info but avoid overstuffing. Consistent typography, colors, and icons will help users get the gist of your content and layout.
### 3. Ditch the Glitz
In the design world, there’s a saying: “form follows function.” A snazzy design is rad, but not at the cost of usability. Ponder if that flashy animation or fancy design feature truly enriches the user experience or just throws them off. Overdoing the “glitz” can distract and slow down page loads — a double whammy bad for UX and SEO. Keep it simple and clear.
In a nutshell, when crafting a site for your startup, tune into your users’ needs and wants. Don’t bombard them with endless pop-ups or pushy ads. Woo them with functionality, clarity, and simplicity. Remember, ace UX doesn’t just make users happy — it’ll boost your bottom line.
## Do Your Thing! And Don’t Be Scared to Delegate
Loads of startup founders daydream about big teams and Silicon Valley offices, seeing their business soar in a few years. But hey, assembling a team that fizzles out in a year because your idea wasn’t viable? Bummer, right? Every business is a gamble, but here’s the kicker…
You can build your empire in stages through outsourcing. By farming out stuff like branding, web design, ad materials, social media management, dev support, and more, you save time and often cash. Let the pros handle it, cut down risks, and leverage their expertise to pump up your biz.
## How Can We Help?
Here at the Department of Web, we serve clients worldwide, crafting tailor-made websites and tech solutions. As I mentioned earlier, we’re all about diving deep into every phase of your product’s creation. From the discovery stage, where we familiarize ourselves with your product and refine the concept, to documentation and final delivery.
Rest easy; we won’t pull the wool over your eyes. If your vision’s shaky, we’ll either bolster it with our knowledge and experience or tell it to you straight. Transparency’s our middle name.
We’re a cozy team, but that means we give every project our all. Our client’s happiness and understanding of their needs? That’s front and center.
If you’re aiming to shake up the digital world with your solution in 2024, let’s make some magic together. Drop us a line!
---
# How Custom Solutions can save you money — the hidden costs of using Off-the-Shelf Software
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/how-custom-solutions-can-save-you-money
Date: 2023-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Management
Author: jakub_m
Summary: There are different approaches to creating a digital product. Nowadays, with no-code, low-code, or even SaaS, creating an online business is easier than ever. There’s still the “classic way” — building from scratch.
There are different approaches to creating a digital product. Nowadays, with no-code, low-code, or even SaaS, creating an online business is easier than ever. There’s still the “classic way” — building from scratch.
While using off-the-shelf software might be suitable for quickly crafting an MVP (minimum viable product) or idea validation, it’s not risk-free. Get to know why sometimes a buck saved today might turn into a thousand bucks debt in the future.
## Universality
We all know that all products should be built to solve a problem, thus generating value and earning money. That’s great, but often it’s very hard to find a product that solves your problem exactly and your problem alone. It has to solve also other people’s problems which means you might be getting features you don’t need. It’s all about customer satisfaction. And the more customers, the better for the business.
That wouldn’t be a big deal in general if that’s just a feature you don’t use, but it sometimes means you’re shipping too much code, which bloats your product, or you’re paying for the features you don’t want.
There are also some integration challenges. Off-the-shelf software may not integrate seamlessly with your existing systems or each other. A typical example would be a WordPress website glued together with many plugins. It might require some extra work, with the same poor final effect.
These added costs can be avoided by developing a custom solution that is designed to work with your current infrastructure, has features you specifically need, and is optimized for your use and your team’s efficiency.
## Customizations
Your business will change; that’s a fact. Something you build today, or tomorrow might be obsolete and require adaptation to the ever-changing market.
> To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often
>
>
— Winston Churchill
What if every minor product change requires switching providers? That’s not ideal and certainly not cost-effective. That’s the problem with premade software, especially with a closed codebase. A closed codebase means you cannot see nor modify the source code. It’s not such a problem with open-source software like WordPress or its plugins, but those are sometimes written in a way that cannot be altered.
You need to consider the flexibility and ability to accommodate your business growth. A good software house will pay extra attention to scalability while building your product, so it doesn’t have to be refactored in the future.
## Quantity over Quality
Another danger with closed code is that you cannot validate its quality. Nowadays, everyone wants to be a web developer, and with the low-level entry, it often means that the software is created by not experienced developers.
Even with some most popular products, ie. WordPress plugins, this is noticeable. The plugin can have more than a million active installs and beautiful marketing, but it’s a disaster from the developer’s perspective. That happens when business people don’t align with production people. Creating a good product needs good technical expertise.
[Good software needs time to be properly planned ](/blog/what-is-project-documentation-and-what-should-it-contain)and built, and needs QA (Quality Assessment). This is why [custom software can be so expensive.](https://bracketspace.com/why-do-prices-for-wordpress-website) We at the [Department of Web](/), don’t cut corners, even with our free products.
We can often see projects built with some popular software, and, unfortunately, we often recommend refactoring it from scratch as it’s the most cost-effective solution.
## Subscriptions, subscriptions everywhere
Off-the-shelf software, SaaS especially, comes with recurring licensing or subscription fees, which can add up over time. It’s a pure business approach. Sometimes, even with canned software, you need to keep the subscription alive to keep using the product or have access to the support.
With a custom solution, you pay for the development cost upfront, and there are no ongoing fees, saving you money in the long run. This is easier to plan
## Long-term investment
As you can see, assessing the risk of using off-the-shelf software is a matter. While it’s for idea validation or the aforementioned MVP, it might be a good way of optimizing software development costs. But does it work in the long run?
If you plan for success, it might be worth spending a bit more upfront to save yourself a hassle in the future. Technical debt often backfires at the most inconvenient time, causing fires you don’t need.
If you’re interested in creating your software, we at the Department of Web are at your disposal. [Get in touch](/collaborate) to get a free quote.
---
# Overcoming Common Challenges in Quality Assurance
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/overcoming-common-challenges-in-quality-assurance
Date: 2023-06-05T00:00:00.000Z
Category: QA
Author: anna_s
Summary: As businesses grow, quality assurance becomes an increasingly important aspect of their operations. However, ensuring that products or services meet a high standard can be challenging, and businesses face several common obstacles.
As businesses grow, quality assurance becomes an increasingly important aspect of their operations. However, ensuring that products or services meet a high standard can be challenging, and businesses face several common obstacles.
Corporations must conquer various hurdles to achieve their QA goals by defining quality, selecting effective communication channels, providing adequate training and development, effectively managing data, and embracing continuous improvement.
Understanding these can help you improve your QA processes and deliver better products or services to your customers, whether you own a small business or a large corporation.
In this article, we’ll analyze some of the most common challenges companies encounter and provide practical tips on overcoming them.
## How to define value in a world of subjective concepts?
Defining quality is a vital first step in any successful QA process. Quality can be subjective, and what one person believes a high quality may not even be what another person considers acceptable.
Therefore, it’s essential to establish a clear and straightforward definition of quality that everyone in the organization can agree on.
To do so, businesses must evaluate their customers’ needs and expectations and specify their own goals and objectives.
> Quality means delivering products or services that meet or exceed customers’ anticipations and provide value for money.
Once you have identified all the requirements, it’s good to establish quality metrics that will help to determine whether you met your goals and pinpoint areas for improvement. It’s essential to involve all stakeholders, including employees and customers, in the quality definition process to ensure everyone is working towards the same goal.
## Does good communication mean effective communication?
Effective communication is another critical factor to success in assuring quality, but it is often an area where organizations need help. Communication breakdowns can lead to misunderstandings and delays, which can impact quality.
Especially for you, I have collected issues, which, once implemented, make your communication effective and streamlined, get to know my golden rules:
1. Be sure that everyone in the organization understands their roles and responsibilities and can work together to achieve quality goals.
2. Establishing open and honest communication channels between all team members, including software developers, project managers, and quality assurance specialists, is essential.
3. Contact must be ongoing, with regular feedback and updates to ensure that everyone is aware of any changes or issues that may arise.
4. You should create efficient channels for information exchange and ensure all stakeholders can access the data they need to conduct their jobs successfully.
This way, you can overcome common communication challenges and improve your quality assurance processes by prioritizing communication and creating a culture of transparency and openness.
## Your project grows as the team skills up.
Another common challenge in quality assurance is confirming employees receive the necessary training and courses to perform their roles effectively. The subject includes training on QA tools and methodologies and providing opportunities for continuous personal growth, learning, and development.
All these play a critical role in ensuring employees have the skills and knowledge to carry out quality assurance virtually. Employees must understand the organization’s quality goals and metrics and how their work contributes to these objectives.
You can deliver training through various methods, including e-learning, classroom-based, on-the-job, and coaching. Investing in ongoing training and development programs that can help your team members stay up to date with the latest trends and best practices in software development is essential.
> Investing in your workers’ skills improves the quality assurance process, helps retain talented employees and attracts new ones who value ongoing education and growth opportunities.
## Drift, not sink in data!
Data management is a critical quality assurance component and a significant challenge.
QA processes generate vast amounts of data that must be managed, analyzed, and used to make informed decisions. To manage data efficiently, you should develop clear data management policies, including data collecting, storage, analysis, and reporting.
This also includes ensuring that data is accurate, timely, complete, and accessible to everyone who needs it.
> Remember data analysis tools to identify trends and patterns, allowing your business to come to informed conclusions about areas for improvement.
However, it’s also essential to ensure data management policies comply with applicable regulations and standards, such as GDPR and ISO 9001.
By investing in robust data management systems and processes, you can overcome common data management challenges and make data-driven decisions that improve your quality assurance processes.
## Check — improve — be ahead — repeat
Another fundamental aspect of quality assurance is continuous improvement, which, as well as previous factors, can take time to implement.
Many organizations need help identifying improvement areas or creating effective plans for them. Businesses must continuously review and improve their QA processes to ensure they’re adequate and efficient. This means setting goals for improvement and regularly reviewing progress toward these goals. By embracing a continuous progress mindset, you can develop a culture of innovation and improvement that drives long-term success.
Suppose you’re willing to welcome change and experiment with new approaches to quality assurance, including investing in new technologies and tools. In that case, you can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your company. By prioritizing permanent improvement, you can overcome common challenges in quality assurance and deliver better products or services to your customers.
## Conclusion
In conclusion, quality assurance is essential to any business aiming to provide customers with high-quality products or services. While it may seem daunting to tackle the common challenges in quality assurance, it’s critical to approach them systematically and proactively.
Businesses must define quality, prioritize effective communication, invest in training and development, implement robust data management practices, and prioritize continuous improvement. Doing so can improve your business quality assurance processes, build customer trust, reduce costs, and improve your overall performance, which will help you gain a competitive edge in the industry.
The benefits of overcoming common challenges in quality assurance are numerous, from improved product or service quality to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
**As a QA specialist in the Department of Web, I have the opportunity to work with agencies on various digital projects; what do they have in common?**
**Focus on quality assurance can lead to improved profitability, growth, and long-term success, directing to staying ahead of the competition and delivering exceptional products or services that meet customers’ needs and exceed their expectations.**
---
# What is project documentation, and what should it contain?
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/what-is-project-documentation-and-what-should-it-contain
Date: 2023-05-18T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Web Development
Author: karolina_c
Summary: During the initial planning of your software, programmers often use the phrase project documentation. From these discussions, documentation is the backbone of your project, but what is it?
During the initial planning of your software, programmers often use the phrase project documentation. From these discussions, documentation is the backbone of your project, but what is it?
In this article, we’ll introduce you to this legendary documentation and whether you, as the client, should have access to it. Like a boss, it’s innately. You want to keep your hand on the pulse and have a complete and detailed picture of the formation of your request. So before you ask your external team to provide project documentation, decide how the adventure with this voluminous document should go and whether you need it.
## What is Project Documentation?
Let’s start this journey with a few words about the documentation, so you know why there is a fuss about a few pages of text.
Project documentation is a critical component of software and website development projects, providing a roadmap for the development team and a way to communicate progress and requirements to the client.
In a nutshell, project documentation refers to a collection of documents that record the planning, execution, and closing of a software or website development project. It serves as a guidebook for the development team, outlining the project’s objectives, scope, timelines, budget, and deliverables. Project documentation can take many forms, including project plans, technical specifications, user manuals, and test plans.
## What Should Project Documentation Contain?
Wait a minute! Are you anxious that you won’t understand these convoluted terms and abbreviations, and the vision of what documentation is scares you? No worries! As the only one in the Department of Web team, I am a 100% non-tech person, and I aim to explain everything as I would like to have it laid out to myself.
Project documentation can vary depending on the scope, size, and complexity. However, there are some essential elements that all project documentation should contain.
Before we enter this path, let’s divide the documentation into two parts: before and after the project begins. I’ve wrapped each element with a specific example of activities in a given step.
### #1 Scope
In project development, the scope stage is the initial phase where the project’s objectives and requirements are defined, and the project’s boundaries are established. The scope stage sets the foundation for the project and determines its direction and success. Here are the typical steps involved in the scope stage:
**1. Project Plan:
**The project plan would outline:
- the website’s objectives (e.g., attract customers, provide information),
- scope (e.g., number of pages, features),
- timelines (e.g., launch date, milestones),
- budget (e.g., cost of development), and
- deliverables (e.g., completed website).
It would also identify:
- stakeholders (e.g., the business owner, web development team),
- risks (e.g., technology failures, unexpected delays),
- and assumptions (e.g., customer preferences).
This would help everyone involved in the project understand what needs to be done and when, and it would help the client to stay informed about the project’s timeline.
**2. Requirements: **
Requirements specify what the software or website must do to satisfy the client’s needs. They should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
For example, it might need to be able to display products, provide a contact form, and allow customers to create accounts.
### #2 Documentation
The main documentation — technical documentation. This is precisely something that people outside the industry are afraid of, although entirely wrong (or not 😱). Technical documentation in software development refers to written materials that describe the technical aspects of a software system. It may consist of different parts depending on the project’s issues, but it usually includes the following elements:
**1. Technical Specifications:**
Technical specifications describe how the software or website will be developed, including its architecture, design, and functionality.
_The technical specifications help the development team to understand what needs to be built and how it should work._
**2. User Manuals:**
User manuals provide instructions for how to use the software or website. They should be clear, concise, and easy to understand.
_These are incidental things for administrators, like changing content or managing users or orders._
**3. Test Plans:**
Test plans outline the testing strategy for the software or website, including the different types of tests that will be performed and the criteria for success.
_For example, the development team might perform functional testing to ensure the website’s features work correctly and usability testing to ensure the website is easy to use. Performance testing to ensure that the website loads quickly._
**4. Change Management Plan:
**A change management plan outlines how project scope, timelines, or budget changes will be managed.
_For example, it might specify that the client and the development team must approve changes before implementation or that changes will be assessed for their impact on the project’s overall timeline and budget._
## Does the Client Have Access to Project Documentation?
This is one of the main reasons you are reading this article. So let’s answer this question once, and right Does the Client Have Access to Project Documentation? — Well, it depends. You would have had to see the team’s eyesight when I shot with this question during the daily meeting. First, there was an eloquent silence and then a few smiles under my breath — I understood this question was not clear-cut. But let’s get back to the substance. Ultimately, can you or do not demand access to this documentation? The answer in the style of having a cake and eating a cake would be:
> The client should have access to project documentation to ensure they are informed about the project’s progress and understand the work done.
> However, the level of access will depend on the contract between the client and the developer”
> — CEO, Jakub Mikita
## Pros and cons of giving the client access to documentation
When, like me, you still don’t feel satiated by the answer above, read on.
I dug deeper into the pros and cons of sharing documentation and compiled a summary.
### ✅ Pros :
1. Transparency: Allowing the client to access project documentation increases transparency, enabling them to understand the project’s progress and work. This can help build trust and foster better communication between the client and the development team.
2. Collaboration: By giving the client access to the project documentation, they can provide feedback and input throughout the project’s lifecycle, making it more likely that the final product will meet their needs.
3. Accountability: When clients can access project documentation, they can hold the development team accountable for delivering on the project’s objectives and timelines.
4. Quality Assurance: The client can review the work and ensure it meets their expectations and standards by accessing the project documentation.
### ❌Cons:
1. Intellectual Property Protection: Depending on the nature of the project, there may be concerns about protecting the developer’s intellectual property. Allowing the client access to certain documents or information could compromise the developer’s competitive advantage.
2. Time and Effort: Maintaining project documentation and providing access to the client requires additional time and effort from the development team, which can impact the project’s timelines and budgets.
3. Misinterpretation: Clients may need more technical expertise to understand the documentation, leading to misconceptions or misunderstandings. This can lead to additional revisions or changes, delaying the project’s completion.
4. Confidentiality: Depending on the nature of the project, there may be concerns about maintaining confidentiality. Allowing the client access to sensitive information could compromise the project’s security and privacy.
Project documentation is an essential component of software and website development projects. It provides a roadmap for the development team, a way to communicate progress and requirements to the client, and a record of the project’s progress. When hiring a software or website developer, ensuring they have a robust project documentation process and that the client can access the necessary information is essential. By doing so, the developer and the client can work together to ensure the project’s success.
However, it’s worth approaching it head-on. Because do you, as a customer, really want to waste your time delving into all the technical aspects? Hell, no! That’s why a split of the documentation into development and administration/utility parts will be a solution that will satisfy each party — [that’s what we do in the Department of Web!](/collaborate)
If I had to advise you on this issue — the key is good communication with the development team and its representative. And with this and my other posts, you will feel substantively prepared for any conversation with a software house.
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# Let’s green IT!
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/lets-green-it
Date: 2023-04-22T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Web Development
Author: karolina_c
Summary: Software teams for Climate Change Reduction
How did I even get the idea to write this article? Before joining the [Department of Web](/), I was actively involved in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Marketing and educating consumers on climate change and food waste.
For the past year, I have been implementing and learning about a technology industry that was entirely new for me. I had to be updated about apps (yes, I’ve learned that you can have an app for everything — thanks, teammates!), technological possibilities, projects, and solutions I had no idea about.
However, deep down, I’m still drawn to old “eco-times,” It especially awakens in me in the spring. I decided to fuse my old and current job and write an article on how the IT industry influences climate change reduction by focusing on three groundbreaking solutions: smart grids, remote sensing, and carbon footprint tracking tools.
This article is meant to be light-hearted, so I will spare you the devastating data on how it affects our planet. Those with solid nerves will find it [here](https://www.greenpeace.org/global/).
## Smart Grids
Smart grids represent a transformative approach to managing energy systems, combining advanced digital technologies with traditional power infrastructure.
These grids enable better communication, coordination, and control over energy consumption, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable energy use.
Software teams play designing algorithms and applications that facilitate real-time monitoring, demand response, and the integration of renewable energy sources. They integrate various components, such as renewable energy sources, energy storage systems, and smart meters, to create a more responsive and adaptive network. See what this looks like in practice:
Energy storage systems, such as batteries or pumped hydro storage, store excess electricity generated during low-demand or high-renewable energy generation periods. This stored energy can then be released back into the grid when needed, helping to maintain grid stability and meet demand — additionally, smart grids support distributed generation. Small-scale power sources like rooftop solar panels, microgrids, or combined heat and power systems can supply electricity locally, reducing the need for long-distance transmission and improving overall efficiency. This could be irreplaceable in light of the whispering global energy crises.
One example of a groundbreaking intelligent grid solution is [AutoGrid.](https://www.auto-grid.com/) This software platform uses artificial intelligence and big data analytics to optimize energy consumption and reduce emissions. By analyzing vast amounts of data, AutoGrid allows utilities and energy consumers to make smarter decisions, thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint of the energy sector.
## Remote Sensing
Satellite imagery and aerial photography, for example, have been helpful in monitoring and assessing the effects of climate change. Moreover, play a vital role in studying climate change by measuring essential climate variables like temperature, precipitation, sea level, ice cover, and vegetation. These data help scientists understand the Earth’s climate system dynamics, predict future changes, and develop strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change.
With this technology, we can provide essential data for weather prediction and atmospheric modeling, improving the accuracy of short-term and long-term forecasts. This information is vital for aviation, agriculture, disaster preparedness, and other industries that depend on accurate weather data.
[Global Forest Watch](https://www.globalforestwatch.org/) is an example of a remote sensing solution (GFW). This platform uses satellite data and cloud computing to monitor deforestation and forest degradation in real-time. GFW has become a valuable tool in the fight against deforestation and a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions by providing actionable information to governments, NGOs, and private sector actors.
Monitoring and evaluating the effects of climate change has significantly benefited from remote sensing technology such as satellite imaging and aerial photography.
Global Forest Watch is one example of a remote sensing system (GFW).
This technology uses cloud computing and satellite data to track real-time forest deterioration and deforestation.
## Carbon Footprint Tracking Tools
Individuals, solopreneurs, businesses, and organizations must identify their carbon footprint to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The global carbon footprint of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector has been estimated to be nearly [1%](https://www.iea.org/reports/data-centres-and-data-transmission-networks) of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, software teams have been at the forefront of developing tools and applications that aid in tracking and managing carbon emissions, allowing users to make more informed decisions and move toward a lower-carbon lifestyle.
One such tool is the [CarbonCure](https://www.carboncure.com/) technology, which assists concrete producers in lowering their carbon footprint. CarbonCure technology allows concrete to retain CO2 permanently by injecting recycled CO2 into the concrete during manufacture, reducing overall emissions related to concrete production.
With an increasingly volatile climate, every industry must contribute to mitigating global warming and environmental degradation. Software development teams and businesses are no exception. They have the potential to create game-changing solutions to combat climate change thanks to their unique skills and knowledge.
Software teams and companies can demonstrate their commitment to the planet and contribute to developing a more sustainable future by actively participating in environmental efforts.
The contribution of the IT industry to improving climate change action is commendable, accounting for 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. What do you think?
Celebrate International Earth Day with me by leaving applause for this article.
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# What can you do to make web projects less risky? (based on true stories)
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/what-can-you-do-to-make-web-projects-less-risky
Date: 2023-04-11T00:00:00.000Z
Category: QA
Author: karolina_c
Summary: In today’s digital age, having a solid online presence is essential for any business to thrive. Whether a small-scale startup or a large corporation, every organization needs a website to showcase its products and services to potential customers.
In today’s digital age, having a solid online presence is essential for any business to thrive. Whether a small-scale startup or a large corporation, every organization needs a website to showcase its products and services to potential customers.
However, creating a website is not easy, especially if you need an in-house team of IT professionals. In such cases, outsourcing the web project to an external IT team can be a viable option. It’s essential to understand that outsourcing comes with its own set of risks.
In this article, we’ll discuss what you can do to make your web project less risky when working with an external IT team. In addition, I asked our Product Owner, Anna, for comments based on real-life risky situations in our collaborations. Enjoy!
## Define Your Goals Clearly
It is a hackneyed phrase, but as an IT company, we still need a more specific understanding of the goals you want to achieve in your business and how the software and website can help you achieve them.
Before you start your web project, clearly defining your goals is crucial. You need to understand what you want to achieve with your website and what features and functionalities you want it to have. You should also clearly understand your target audience and their expectations from your website. Such issues can be drafted in your marketing strategy, or we can arrange them during the Discovery phase, which is required when working with our team.
By defining your goals clearly, you can communicate them effectively to your external IT team, which will help them to deliver the desired results.
Technology companies that have a Product Owner on their team can make it easier for you to simplify or generally hint at technical solutions tailored to your needs.
By defining your goals clearly, you can communicate them effectively to your external IT team, which will help them to deliver the desired results. It’s easier to collaborate knowing what the project will consist of. The other issue is changes and amendments, which deserve a separate article, but a little teaser here:
> “The worst case? Failure to specify how the function is supposed to work, what it is supposed to serve, what data it is supposed to accept, and all the variants of possible data and modes of operation — a simple recipe for wasted time and costs.
> Because either we implement a simplified solution (because it follows from the client’s information that it is entirely sufficient) or we implement an answer much more complex than the client needs, which is also not good because if it was possible to make it simpler, it is also faster and cheaper.”
> _— Anna Szałkiewicz, Product Owner_
## Choose the Right IT Team
Choosing the right external IT team is vital for the success of your web project. You must research and find a team with the right experience and expertise to handle your project. Both forward-looking and developmentally for your project, because during this selection, it is worth looking more broadly at the future of the digital product. In short, you should look for a team with a proven track record of delivering high-quality web projects within the specified timeline and budget.
You can also ask for references and check their previous clients’ reviews to understand their work ethics. Remember, platforms with reviews can be an invaluable source of knowledge.
If you want to see how to detect all the red flags before working with a development team, look at this article.
## Set Realistic Deadlines and Budget
One of the main reasons why web projects fail is unrealistic deadlines and budgets. Yes, that’s the reason for your stress, too.
You must [set realistic deadlines and budgets](/blog/hidden-costs-of-website-development) when outsourcing your project to an external IT team. You must understand that creating a website involves multiple stages, such as planning, designing, development, testing, and deployment.
> “Release deadline ≠ the deadline for the customer to provide issues for UAT(User Acceptance Testing) — if the customer does not offer comments or materials in an adequately prearranged time, we will not be able to make the last-minute changes they request. The release will have to be postponed or released without these changes.”
> _— Anna Szałkiewicz, Product Owner_
Each step requires time and resources; rushing through any of them can result in a substandard website. Setting realistic deadlines and budgets will help your external IT team to plan their work efficiently and deliver a high-quality website within the specified timeline and budget. A good team will flag this initially so you can plan your agenda accordingly.
Also, [reserve the time for QA](/blog/quality-assurance-in-web-development-invaluable-or-waste-of-money). It’s an essential but overlooked step often just because of the budget, and the only one that will give you confidence that the released project is as intended — but more on that later.
## Communicate Effectively
Communication is crucial to the success of any project, and it’s imperative when working with an external IT team. We perform differently — transparent, well-described processes and tasks are our fodder to streamline work.
> “After all, at various stages of the project, further questions arise. There is a need for the client to clarify specific issues that occurred only after reviewing the design, after getting acquainted with the scoping, after the start of development, or even at its end. So we need constant contact to solve such issues on an ongoing basis. Ask and be open to questions.”
> _— Anna Szałkiewicz, Product Owner_
You must establish clear communication channels with your IT team and ensure they understand your requirements and expectations. You should schedule regular meetings with your IT team to discuss the progress of your project and provide feedback.
Do you know these types of meetings that could have been emailed? Nobody likes them.
It’s also rare that you talk to your entire team during the development stages of your software. More often than not, you are in contact with their representative, who is more attuned to communicating with non-tech people. Maintain a good relationship with the representative, and don’t be afraid to ask questions, even ones that seem trivial to you.
You should also be open to feedback from your IT team and be willing to make changes if required. They are specialists, and their experience developing projects like yours back their solutions.
## Test Your Website Thoroughly
Testing is a crucial stage in web development, and it’s essential to test your website thoroughly before launching it. It would be best if you worked closely with your IT team to create a testing plan that covers all the functionalities of your website.
Due to a lack of time and a looming deadline, are they silent on QA testing? That doesn’t sound good.
You should test your website on multiple devices and browsers to ensure it’s compatible with different platforms. You should also conduct user testing to get feedback from your target audience and make changes accordingly. A technology project cannot be written with a stick in the air. Its value shines when users actually uses the product. What can we say? Forewarned is forearmed!
## Secure Your Website
Website security is a significant concern for businesses today, and it’s vital to secure your website against cyber threats. It would help if you worked with your external IT team to implement security measures such as SSL certificates, firewalls, hardening, and encryption to protect your website and user data. It’s a must if your company’s and customers’ sensitive data are collected and processed through your site. You should also update your website with the latest security patches and conduct regular security audits to identify and fix any vulnerabilities.
And most importantly, on this point, have you established the availability of IT teams for site maintenance or in case of any fires? Your external team should refrain from taking balls and going straight home.
Keep this in mind and establish it at the beginning of the cooperation. Even a perfectly executed project may require corrections, maintenance, or meaningful changes due to market or requirement changes.
In conclusion, outsourcing a web project to an external IT team can effectively create a high-quality website. Still, it’s essential to understand the risks involved and take steps to mitigate them. Defining goals clearly, choosing the right IT team, setting realistic deadlines and budgets, effective communication, thorough testing, and ensuring website security are some of the essential steps that can help to make the web project less risky.
And last but not least, trust the expertise of the external team you work with. They have experience and know their job, so you, as the client, don’t have to worry about many things anymore.
By following these guidelines, businesses can ensure a successful web project that meets their expectations and delivers the desired results.
---
# 5 RED FLAGS in Software House cooperation
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/five-red-flags-in-software-house-cooperation
Date: 2023-03-15T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Good Habits
Author: karolina_c
Summary: Are you considering developing a website or software for your business? Hold your horses, and read this, because you might end up digging a hole in your wallet with a multi-thousand-dollar budget.
Are you considering developing a website or software for your business? Hold your horses, and read this, because you might end up digging a hole in your wallet with a multi-thousand-dollar budget. It’s essential to be careful when cooperating with an IT company because some are sharks in sheep’s clothing. So, here are some red flags you need to watch out for to avoid being their next prey.
### 🚩Big words, small deeds
Beware of companies that promise you the world. They may say things like, “We’ll have your website up and running in just two weeks!” or “Our software will increase your revenue by 500%!” Don’t believe everything you hear, my friend. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. No magic wand can instantly create your business’s perfect website or software. It takes time and effort to build something tailored to your needs. If a company promises you quick results, they’re probably cutting corners somewhere, and you’ll pay for it later.
### 🚩 Portfolio? \*sound of crickets\*
Another red flag is when a company needs to have previous work. They should have a portfolio of prior projects they can share with you if they’re a reputable IT company. Well, here is one exception — projects under the NDA. Which they should also inform you about. If they don’t have anything to show, it’s a sign that they’re either new to the game or have yet to succeed in their previous ventures. And if they have not succeeded, what makes you think they’ll be successful with your project?
### 🚩To each is to none
Also, be wary of companies that have a one-size-fits-all approach. If they’re not asking you specific questions about your business, customers, and goals, they won’t be able to create something tailored to your needs. It’s like going to a tailor and asking for a suit, but they don’t measure or ask you what style you want. You’ll end up with something that doesn’t fit and won’t be happy with the result.
### 🚩Missed calls, missing hope
Is the company good at communicating with you? If they take days to respond to your emails or phone calls or are unwilling to answer your questions, it’s a sign that they’re not interested in your project or are too busy with other clients. And if they’re too busy, they’ll need more time to give your project the attention it deserves.
### 🚩 Up in the air findings
And last but not least, watch out for companies that don’t have a contract or have a vague one. A contract is important because it outlines the scope of work, the timeline, the cost, and the responsibilities of both parties. If a company doesn’t have a contract, they can change the terms of the project halfway through, and you’ll be left with no legal recourse. And if they have a vague warranty, it’s a sign that they’re not willing to commit to anything specific, and you’ll end up with something different from what you wanted.
---
In conclusion, when cooperating with an IT company, it’s essential to be cautious and watch out for red flags. Refrain from falling for promises that sound too good to be true. Ensure they have a portfolio of previous work and a tailored approach to your project. Communication is vital, and always ensure a contract is in place. By doing so, you’ll avoid digging into a multi-thousand dollar hole and instead end up with something tailored to your business’s needs and within your budget. Remember these red flags and be aware if your company choice is good.
**And have you had any unpleasant stories? What are your red flags when outsourcing services?**
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# What are some good reasons to choose a custom-built site over SaaS platforms?
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/what-are-some-good-reasons-to-choose-a-custom-built-site-over-saas-platforms
Date: 2023-01-17T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Web Development
Author: karolina_c
Summary: Whenever you want to develop a digital product, be it a website or an application, you have two options — go for custom software development services and build your product from scratch or opt for a ready-made product, sometimes referred to as SaaS or PaaS. What should you take into consideration when making this decision?
Whenever you want to develop a digital product, be it a website or an application, you have two options — go for custom software development services and build your product from scratch or opt for a ready-made product, sometimes referred to as SaaS or PaaS. What should you take into consideration when making this decision?
At first, opting for a ready-made solution seems reasonable — they are cheaper, almost ready to go, and come with the majority of the functions and features you probably need. However, there is more to that than it seems. **We’ve made a list of five crucial elements to analyze when deciding between custom web design and development and ready-made solutions.**
## Customization
Sure, if you’ve just started, you may think that all you need to run your business can be found in the ready-made product. And for some time, that may be 100% true!
However, you have to realize that the market evolves quickly, and your company has to keep up. Today, you’re good, but what about a year or two from now? What if you decide that you need something more, and your current solution hinders your growth?
With a custom web development service, you are never limited by the platform, app, or website that you’re using. All you have to do is reach out to your web development company and ask them to implement the necessary changes. Be aware that with SaaS platforms, that’s not always possible or can be extremely complicated to do.
## Scalability
This question is somewhat similar to the previous one. Suppose you want to open an online store. You decide to go with a ready-made e-commerce platform that comes with some limitations concerning the number of accounts, the amount of daily traffic, and even the number of products you have in your inventory. At some point, you just hit a wall and can’t continue to scale your business.
And keep in mind that in the online world, scalability is relatively easy. With good marketing and customer service, you can freely grow your company up to the international level. And believe us, you will have a fair number of obstacles and challenges along the way. You don’t need your software to be one of them.
## Security
Of course, every SaaS platform comes with some built-in security measures. Are they always sufficient, though? In 2022, Adaptive Shield published a study concerning SaaS security. According to their findings, as much as 43% of surveyed organizations dealt with one or more security incidents because of a SaaS misconfiguration:
_Source: Adaptive Shield; 2022 SaaS Security Survey Report_
When we dig a bit deeper, we see that there are several concerns related to SaaS security. According to the mentioned report: _“When organizations adopt SaaS applications, their top concerns regard a lack of visibility. Specifically, they are concerned with the lack of visibility into 3rd party application access to the core SaaS stack (56%) and SaaS security settings (54%).”_
_Adaptive Shield; 2022 SaaS Security Survey Report_
And the fact is, with SaaS, you always give access to your assets and data to some third-party entities. The more apps and platforms you use, the more companies have access to your company’s data. With custom-built management systems, such a risk almost doesn’t exist, and you can add as many security measures as you want. The digital product you develop is in your hands and in your hands only.
## Integrations
That’s another vital question to consider. Today, no digital product is a lone island. To achieve full functionality, you need to integrate your digital products with other tools that you use. For instance, your e-commerce platform should be integrated with the CRM system, and your ERP system should be combined with accounting software. Only this way can you benefit from the full potential of your digital products.
Today, the vast majority of apps and platforms use the API protocol to communicate with each other. While this solution is effective and quite flexible, it doesn’t mean it’s always sufficient. Professional custom software development companies understand that, and they will always ask you about the desired integrations before they write the first line of code. With custom software development, you can ensure that your new product or website will work perfectly with other tools and that you will be able to incorporate more of them in the future.
## Personal data protection
That’s yet another vital issue. If you operate in the European Union, you have to stick to GDPR, although the majority of countries have their personal data protection regulations. If you need a product that will store and process the personal data of your customers/users, you have to:
1. Inform them about that (usually, companies use privacy policies and additional checkboxes to do so)
2. Make sure it fulfills all the requirements imposed by the relevant regulatory body
With custom-made products, that’s relatively easy. All you have to do is implement the necessary security measures. No matter what you choose, you must ensure that personal details about your customers (especially if we’re talking about sensitive data) are properly protected.
In all these five areas, custom web development service is usually better and more flexible than SaaS and ready-made products. However, you still need to consider other questions before you make the final decision.
## Other things to consider
Undoubtedly, custom web design and development is more expensive compared to SaaS and PaaS solutions. That’s because you need to have a team of web developers who will code your product, tailor it to your requirements, and publish it online. All of that takes some time, which is another important factor to consider. When you opt for SaaS, you typically can start using a given platform/application within less than a week.
In contrast, building bespoke websites or custom content management systems takes weeks, if not months. It all depends on your expectations and requirements. In any case, custom software or web development takes more time.
## Which option is best for you?
We hope this article helped you understand what custom software development services are and how they differ from SaaS products. There is no one-fits-all answer to which option is better, there is a whole list of factors to analyze, and the things we mentioned in this article constitute a good starting point for your research.
In general, we can say that **if you are at the very beginning of your business journey**, your budget is tight, and you simply want to start small, a SaaS or other ready-made solution is probably better. It will enable you to test your idea, gather your first customers, get your first reviews, and plan for the future. After some time, you can switch to a custom-built platform.
If you run a **mature company** and you want to get it right from day one, we definitely recommend custom web design and development. With this option, you can get precisely the product you want, and nothing hinders your growth, which is important for companies with a clearly specified vision for the future.
> At Department of Web, we work with clients having different requirements concerning their presence online. It’s not like we’re going to force you to buy an expensive solution when you don’t really need it. Our goal is to provide you with a product that checks your boxes and enables your company to make the most of it.
That’s why we pay extra attention to the **Discovery stage**. During this part of the work, we try to understand your needs and analyze them through the lens of available tech solutions. When it’s justified, we use ready-made products like WordPress or Shopify.
[**Get in touch with our team**](/contact), and let’s see what we can do together!
---
# Why should you consider outsourcing IT services?
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/why-should-you-consider-outsourcing-it-services
Date: 2022-12-05T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Web Development
Author: karolina_c
Summary: Have you ever thought of outsourcing IT services to an external software development company? Such a strategy offers many significant benefits, including money and time savings.
**Have you ever thought of outsourcing IT services to an external software development company? Such a strategy offers many significant benefits, including money and time savings. In this article, we want to dig deeper and show you all the crucial benefits of working with a software development company. Let’s get right to it!**
Nowadays, people and companies worldwide can quickly work together on digital projects, regardless of their physical location. This potential allows companies to take advantage of a much more comprehensive range of benefits and services compared to the limited — and often costly — resources available in their own country.
According to Statista, **the revenue in the Segment IT Outsourcing is projected to reach US$395.00bn in 2022. In 2027, it can be even more than US$587bn.**
_Source: [https://www.statista.com/outlook/tmo/it-services/it-outsourcing/worldwide#revenue](https://www.statista.com/outlook/tmo/it-services/it-outsourcing/worldwide#revenue)_
There must be something there, as even large organizations like Facebook, IBM, and Google are delegating some of their IT and software-related activities to external teams.
Outsourcing software development gives companies a competitive advantage by minimizing costs, improving customer service, and maintaining high product quality. **So, let’s see the pros and cons of outsourcing** **software development. **We will also give you tips on outsourcing software development effectively.
## Outsourcing IT and software development services — why is it worth your attention?
Today, even small or medium-sized organizations can benefit from outsourcing IT-related services. Thousands of experienced teams, agencies, and even freelancers can help you with everything from graphic design to developing a fully-functional app.
These teams are usually experienced and knowledgeable, as they often have an impressive record comprising tens if not hundreds of successful digital projects. But let’s be more specific, and see why you should consider this business model.
### Access to more talent and the latest technology
One of the main reasons why companies outsource software development is seamless access to a global talent pool. In the outsourcing world, this pool is worldwide, so you can look for software development companies wherever you see fit.
It’s the same story with the technology — do you require a tech stack that’s not popular in your country? That’s no problem at all; look elsewhere!
### Focus on core business
Nowadays, companies have to find ways to innovate their offer and grow to remain competitive. Outsourcing software development enables focusing on building core business processes. It also doesn’t overwhelm internal employees with work that doesn’t match their skill sets, allowing them to focus more on strategic goals in line with the business. In other words — you do what you’re the best at while IT experts deal with software and web development on your behalf.
### Savings
> **According to our experience, based on hundreds of conversations and long-term relations with our clients, we estimate that companies can save around 30% of their operating costs by outsourcing software development**.
When running a thriving business, the merry-go-round (especially expenses) keeps spinning. When you use outsourcing, you save a significant amount of money on employee salaries, taxes, and benefits.
What’s more, you’ve surely noticed a vast difference in rates and salaries between providers and employees in different parts of the world. If you decide to work with a company from, let’s say, Eastern Europe, your software development will be much more affordable compared to keeping an entire in-house IT team or working with a company from the United States.
### Delegating instead of recruiting
With the growing demand for skilled workers, recruitment is becoming increasingly difficult (mind you, **64% of IT executives** cite talent shortages as the most significant barrier to adopting emerging technology). IT outsourced services almost eliminate this problem while ensuring access to the best professionals.
### Scaling up your IT team
Your company’s IT needs can change over time regarding IT infrastructure and human resources. Thanks to outsourcing, you may quickly downsize or upsize your team to fit the current workload. In addition, if your company often needs to increase or decrease the number of employees, it can be a reason for uncertainty and inconsistency in internal teams. Outsourcing ensures the continuity of the company’s operations while keeping its human resources at the right level.
### Quality and competitiveness
When you outsource IT services, you establish cooperation with professionals whose main occupation is software development. That assures you that you get a quality product easily and quickly. As a result, it’s easier to outrun your competition.
### Growth opportunity for start-ups and small businesses
Outsourcing allows small companies and start-ups to access the best talent and tools at affordable prices. If you are running a start-up, you surely don’t want to spend money on services and areas you don’t need. Outsourcing enables just that. Here, you pay for the outcome, and that’s the most cost-effective solution.
## Why is IT outsourcing so popular?
The main reason for the growing popularity of outsourcing software development services is the financial viability of this solution. **By outsourcing, you can eliminate or reduce expenses such as job maintenance, rent, insurance, taxes, and employee training.**
And what about the costs? The cooperation with an external company can be settled based on a lump sum or per-hour rate. When deciding to [outsource software development](/our-work), you can expect the following rates:
- Asia and Africa: $30–45/hour
- Central and South America: $35–60/hour
- North America: $95–170/hour
- Central Europe: $40–90/hour
_(Data based on analysis of numerous online sources)_
Currently, most organizations are choosing to delegate IT services to countries such as China and India. Still, there is growing interest in outsourced IT services to Eastern European countries like Poland, mostly due to favorable rates, reliable work, and highly qualified staff.
## Does outsourcing have any disadvantages?
There is no doubt that outsourcing software development services provides many advantages. However, this does not mean that this solution is free of any risks. \***\*The disadvantages of software outsourcing are the same as in any other form of outsourcing, namely **loss of autonomy and possible technical dependence on another company\*\*. These can be serious challenges, so if you decide to outsource software or web development, you must be sure to work with a trusted partner.
## Who to entrust with outsourcing software development services
Delegating all or part of your development to an external service provider takes some effort. Finding a company that ticks all of your boxes is worth establishing selection criteria. Here are some basic standards for choosing a reliable IT partner:
- Experience and credentials in your industry
- Used technologies
- Types of offered services
- Pricing models and the overall cost of software outsourcing
- Time invested in the scoping phase of the project
When choosing the location of a third-party IT provider, there are better ideas than going by regional rates alone. **Countries that supply the most significant number of developers to the global market only sometimes offer high-quality services.** According to a HackerRank report, the top five programmers in 2022 include countries such as:
1. China
2. Russia
3. [**Poland**](https://reverbico.com/blog/top-software-development-companies-in-poland/)
4. Switzerland
5. Hungary
_Source: [https://www.hackerrank.com/blog/which-country-would-win-in-the-programming-olympics/](https://www.hackerrank.com/blog/which-country-would-win-in-the-programming-olympics/)_
When you consider the global rates and the quality of the products supplied, it is not surprising that more and more companies are choosing to cooperate with companies from Central Europe. That is also definitely influenced by the European Union legislation, which is unified and business-friendly in many aspects.
## Outsource away!
Outsourcing is not something you should be afraid of. Outsourcing software development services can reduce operating costs, save time for other tasks, and improve customer service.
> **As many as 78% of respondents in a Deloitte survey say they have a favorable view of their outsourcing relationships with other companies**.
If you are currently looking for a reliable software partner, you don’t need to look any further; [**contact our team**](/contact).
With trained, qualified, carefully selected, multilingual experts, we help the companies that choose to work with us to gain a competitive advantage and, above all, satisfy their customers. To learn more about our services, write to us, and we will do our best to ensure you entrust your IT services to true professionals in their field!
---
# Eat, laugh, code. That is DoW’s Summit 2022 💜
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/eat-laugh-code-that-is-dows-summit-2022
Date: 2022-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Company Life
Author: karolina_c
Summary: This article was supposed to have a different title and certainly wasn’t meant to reference a Julia Roberts movie.
This article was supposed to have a different title and certainly wasn’t meant to reference a Julia Roberts movie. It was supposed to be completely different, full of research results, an outline of psychological portraits of IT workers, coverage of wellbeing topics, and the benefits of introducing workation in remote teams, but…
I attended my first ever workation and changed my mind.
Read some of my thoughts on the DoW Summit 2022.
## For starters 😬
Let’s start with the elaborate creature called “Workation” or “Workholiday”.
It is intended to be a combination of work and vacation, experienced alone or with a whole team. This is my first job at a software house, so it was hard to imagine such a situation and my first meeting with a group I knew only from a webcam.
I was not alone in this feeling, although this was the company’s second Summit. 2022 is undoubtedly a year of change for our company, involving the formation of the new Department of Web brand, and a significant team expansion, including my creative department. You could say that I went with strangers to the countryside, away from the city, could it have worked?
It could, and not just because of the beautiful country air or lush green areas around the rented property (although I could safely say that its decor and manner took you back to a techless time) in the Kashubian countryside. The merit of our team and activities helped us get to know each other better and elevate our teamwork.
## Discover each other 🤜🤛
To say that we were thrown in the deep end is an understatement. You would have had to see our faces when, upon arrival, we learned that the first task on our calendar was a culinary workshop. It’s no secret that devs like to eat, but do they want to cook?
The room was filled with confused faces and trepidation, especially since the workshop’s central theme was Georgian cuisine. As it turns out, a lot of wrapping, kneading dough, and cutting is perfect for teamwork. Despite not knowing each other, we were quickly able to divide the tasks. Everyone was responsible for a specific section, mixing the meat and seasoning and kneading the dough for the chinkali. The synergy was magical.
We truly had a great time, and although our dishes would not have impressed the MasterChef judges, we proudly sat down at the communal table, eating our creations and sipping wine.
After strong bonds had formed due to either the cooking or the wine, we were curious to see what Lady Boss had planned for the coming days.
> And guess what? She locked us in some dingy room with cages! We had to look for some people being hunted by a serial killer who wanted to make perfume out of us!
Did that give you goosebumps? Relax! It was just an escape room. If you want to go through the riddles in half the time, I have a tip for you: take a programmer with you. I don’t know if it’s some superpower or a maximally analytical mind, but they overcame all the difficulties at the speed of light. I still don’t understand how they saw all those clues. Chapeau Bas!
Escaping from the hands of a serial killer made us get to know each other well, especially in a stressful situation and under time pressure.
Thanks to Kasia, our master organizer, each evening, we discussed our day and shared difficulties and solutions that we could 1:1 transfer to our organization, the first of which was a sense of reliance on each other.
## Overcooked 🤌
All great conversations start at the table. And eating and preparing together brings you even closer. I took over the chef role with Kuba, who revealed his Pizzaiolo- excellent skills! Who can say no to delicious carbs.
It’s no secret that food was the theme of the whole trip. It’s also a reference to the Department of Web communications. After all, coding has more to do with cooking than you might think. Careful selection of ingredients, temperature control, the right spices, and finally, celebrating at the communal table.
To top it off, we had fun looking for analogies between coding and cooking. Have you wondered what would happen if you make a scope creep of 1000 vegetables while cooking broth, or what the consequences for the dish would be if you let in an amateur who can’t hold a knife? Or do you know what Mexican cuisine and bugs have in common?
We will tell you all about it soon…
## Work hard, play hard 🥳
A group trip is an unusual opportunity to work computer to computer. After having coffee and breakfast together, we sat down to work. Given the number of nearby attractions and the temptation of relaxing by the warm pool, the work schedule was quite busy.
Finally, we conducted live brainstorming, discussed the new design of the BracketSpace website, and planned the customer journey on the website. We also made a lot of headway on the release of our note-taking app. Hopefully, by the time you read this, you will have already downloaded a [demo version](https://use.madnotes.app/).
Sitting next to the guys and watching them work and ask questions was superb. It was also inspiring to observe how the Seniors mentored the Juniors on our team, and no question went unanswered.
After work, it was time for fun! Believe me, even if we had been there for a month, we still would not have had enough time to enjoy all the attractions of the Ledowo House. The indoor swimming pool, game room (where I think we broke all records in table tennis), sauna, jacuzzi, the exhibition of classic Polish cars, and even a golf course! Our wonderful host gave us novices a few golf lessons. Aiming for perfection on the target is in our genes, in every space!
## And that’s the end of it… 🤘
5 days passed by in what felt like a few hours, and we needed to meet more often.
We took a breath and gained strength for the next year, 2023, which will bring even more challenges than the current one.
The original article was going to be titled “Why Workation is essential for remote teams”. And I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t smuggle in some research results at the end. Let’s start by answering the question of why a workation is essential. Hustle culture makes taking care of well-being hard. According to a study by Haystack Analytics, as many as 83% of developers are at risk of job burnout. Some reasons include the inability to implement a work-life balance and inefficient processes in the company. Workation’s version of the Department of Web is a lot of active relaxation and a look at the company’s processes from the inside out and stepping into the shoes of an employee.
I greatly appreciate the importance placed on mental well-being at the Department of Web and the space to recharge creative batteries. Are workations a must-have in remote teams? I believe that nothing replaces face-to-face contact and language resolution, like an atmosphere conducive to open discussion.
**And most importantly, now we are not simply members of the Department of Web team. We are work buddies, which is worth more than gold.💜**
---
# Can programmers become tattoo artists (and vice versa)?
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/can-programmers-become-tattoo-artists-and-vice-versa
Date: 2022-09-19T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Company Life
Author: kacper_b
Summary: To answer the title question — yes, they can. I will be happy to prove my thesis in this article, but first, a few words about me and how I came up with the idea for this post.
To answer the title question — yes, they can. I will be happy to prove my thesis in this article, but first, a few words about me and how I came up with the idea for this post.
I’ve been programming for about 5 years, but learning this profession was sometimes difficult as I’m pretty young. Anyway, it was going forward, and from the beginning, it fell on front-end development (and I do not regret this choice).
While the all-day sessions at the computer started to get monotonous, my hobby focused on the games we all know. Still, fortunately, not long after that, I was able to refocus and go into art (shall we say). With tattoos, it’s usually the case that you either love them or hate them, and I’m fortunately in the first group. At first, the creative process didn’t interest me very much. I just cared about the result until about 2 years later I found that the extended deadlines and high prices hindered me. I bought my tattoo machine, inks, and the other necessary things, and somehow it started.
> Programmers (even beginners) start to look at things from a different side, for example, optimize some processes or what if (probable traumas from conducting tests). In my case, it was no different. While learning the craft of tattooing, I began to see more and more connections between these two seemingly distant professions.
As time went by, there were more and more connections to programming (although I’ve only been tattooing for about 3–4 months), so I concluded that starting a new hobby or even radically changing the industry can be much simpler than it might seem.
Therefore, based on my basic experiences as a Junior developer, I decided to describe it all from my perspective. A specific description of the two industries’ similarities (and opposites).
## Due diligence
Before starting to plan a project, gathering critical information about it is essential because it is impossible to approach the planning and later implementation without it. Without knowledge, these stages seem unfeasible, and they almost always are. For the sake of this article, let’s take the design of a landing page (from the programming industry) and a sleeve (from the tattoo industry) as an example.
In the case of programming, the necessary information will undoubtedly be: what’s the purpose of the project and what are the goals? Then comes the other things like if there’s any time constraint or what’s the client vision. We start documenting the project at this stage.
Issues of tattoo design information do not stand out significantly corresponding to the IT industry. Wanting to make a tattoo, for example, the sleeve mentioned above, we need to know, first, what the design theme will be. One of the essential information will undoubtedly be the client’s health. Such as whether he has a cold, fever, allergies to the ingredients contained in the pigments, dermatitis, in the case of women, whether she is pregnant, and even whether she is taking any permanent medication. Fortunately, we can prepare a written form so we don’t accidentally miss any information when conducting the first interview. I can say that the main differences are in the dates — tattooing takes less time than developing an application (even for several sessions). Hence, the tattooist proposes dates based on his availability.
Already at the first stage, you can see significant similarities, if only the matching of the date and the general concept of the whole. There will be more of these later in the article.
## Planning the project
We already have the base information from the client, so it’s time to start the work, or at least initiate it.
At this stage, it is enough to answer the question — what do I need to do to move on? It’s that simple! Well, let’s just say…
What to do to make the application not just a concept? Foremost, let’s choose a technology stack.
The second significant thing is the design. Clients sometimes tend to deliver designs upfront. In this case, our job is to ensure it’s complete, the user journey makes sense, and UX clicks. If the client doesn’t have any design, we start with wireframes (block schema of all the pages) and proceed to the actual design phase.
And how is it with tattoo planning? Well, quite similarly. Admittedly, we don’t have a technology stack, but you have to choose needles, and there are almost as many types as JavaScript frameworks. The other thing — choosing the correct inks in terms of shades, saturation, etc.
The design on Figma is also not there, but I have a place on the body + artwork on paper. There are no screens either. For that, there are places to watch out for, such as moles, prominent veins, the inside of the elbow (the outside too, because tattooing “on the bone” is not pleasant, but it depends on the client), or other more sensitive places. It gets interesting when planning a biomechanical tattoo, but that’s a topic for another article.
Since we have components in the application, how does it relate to tattooing? The answer is straightforward — the sleeve is made throughout several sessions, so we can treat each session as a sub-session and the minor elements as components. A straightforward analogy.
## We have an idea, preliminary assumptions, and sketches, so it’s time to prepare.
To prepare for a project, what does it mean? Theoretically, it is known, but I will describe it using the example of the already mentioned projects (a landing page and a sleeve).
In the case of a project, preparation usually involves setting up an environment based on a technology stack, preparing a repository, installing packages (npm, composer, and whatnot), assigning the necessary permissions to people on the team, and the initial delegation of tasks. It wouldn’t hurt to set initial deadlines for individual milestones. In short, preparation.
And how about tattooing? In the previous section, I wrote about the selection of needles, but you can think about them now (now meaning preparing the stand). Since it will be a sleeve, it will be necessary to prepare the armrest, appropriate lighting, print the design (if it is digital, an optional point), and basically, that could be the end of it because most things are prepared at the client in the studio.
This particular stage doesn’t have a lot of common factors but rest assured. As I wrote, the tattoo artist mainly takes care of the client and the preparation of the process. On the other hand, looking for similarities — repository preparation vs. armrest preparation? Installing packages vs. selecting lighting? It may look like searching for analogies, but from my standpoint, it seems pretty similar.
## Everything is prepared so ready, set, and go…
We start working on the project, delegating stuff, and monitoring whether everything is going in the right direction. The implementation usually follows the Atomic Design methodology, that is, we start with the smallest components, such as Button or Image in order to make a whole section of them a bit later, which is then assembled into a complete page or view. This approach saves a lot of time due to the reusability of the created components.
As I mentioned a bit above — part of the preparation for the tattoo realization happens right “during the realization”, i.e. disinfecting the station, setting up the components (armrest/and, lighting), disinfecting the tattooed area, and then reflecting the carbon paper on the skin.
But before we reflect on the tracing paper it is necessary to agree on the design with the client, to make sure that this is what he had in mind, whether there is the right atmosphere and theme, color scheme… Well, in general, the whole thing in the context of the design. If yes — we reflect the carbon paper, if not — we correct and again carry out the ritual of getting along.
An essential issue — is the careful arrangement of carbon paper. Leaving aside the problems of transfer fluid (such fluid to make the pattern visible on the skin, quite useful), you need to avoid the aforementioned moles, scars, moles, etc.; otherwise, the pain will be multiplied, and there may even be bleeding.
All of the above done? Well, we mount the needle (or needle cartridge) in the razor, embrace the final adjustments of the razor and get to work.
Analogous to the project tattooing (as in any other industry), there is no point in making life difficult for ourselves, so following the proven techniques, we start doing it from the bottom so as not to smear the carbon paper with the hand.
> The implementation of the projects in these two fields, at this particular stage, seems to be a complete opposite (and in a way it is), but the premise remains the same — to make things as difficult for yourself as possible, whether it’s the reusability of components in programming or accidentally not smearing yourself with the reflected pattern.
## The design seems ready, but… are you sure?
We present the “finished” product to the client and wait for feedback. If something isn’t right, something needs fine-tuning, we embrace it. But let’s see how this look in detail:
We send the client a message that the project is ready for UAT (User Acceptance Testing). Then we await a list of changes to be made (almost always, the client will send a list because the concept changed slightly in the course). Once we receive the list, we roll it out to the devs in shuffles and “resume” the work. Then we test, QA, send it to the client for a final round of review and fly on.
With tattooing, it’s very similar, but the difference is that we don’t send the project to the client. Still, we get along with everything on the spot. Whether the shadows are correct, fillings, the thickness of the lines, and generally, all the things that can be changed. If there is something to hit (such as the thickness of the outline or the intensity of the shadows), then we correct it and make sure it’s okay. If it is, then great. :)
Immediately, you can see the analogy — when finished, we consult the result with the client and make any corrections. Simple.
## Release
The client has accepted the project after the changes (thinking utopian without any adjustments). The billing is settled, so we move on to the final act.
We move the application and database to the production server, perform migrations and imports (if required), and check everything works as it should in the production environment. Then we just switch the DNS delegation to route the traffic to the new website.
We won’t put the tattoo on the server because we work on production right away ;) On the other hand, it is imperative to provide the client with information about the care of the new artwork on his body.
Foremost — the first two weeks, which means moisturizing with cream, possibly avoiding the sun and long baths, dust, and infections (a tattoo can be treated like an open wound, so hygiene is vital).
After two weeks, avoiding excessive sun exposure or sunbathing (unless using sunscreen) would still be a good idea.
In both cases, it’s about the absolute satisfaction of our client and ensuring that everything goes off easily. Keep in mind technical support (in case of a project), or a simple “helping hand” after the tattoo is done.
## Summary
In conclusion — experience in one industry can help incredibly in another, even one that seems to have nothing to do with the previously performed. Analogies can be seen everywhere (or almost everywhere). Sometimes you just have to notice them.
I might as well write an article about analogies in the catering-management industries, but unfortunately, I don’t have enough experience with them to put it into words meaningfully.
**Remember that it is good to have a hobby even to kill time or do self-development because passion and work create unlimited possibilities for your growth in many way.**
---
# How to work effectively and not go MAD.
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/how-to-work-effectively-and-not-go-mad
Date: 2022-08-22T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Good Habits
Author: karolina_c
Summary: Whether you’re a freelancer, entrepreneurial marketer, large company head, or just starting your business, it doesn’t matter — your day is only 24 hours long. Calculate time for sleeping, eating, and time spent with your loved ones. How much do you have left? Well, that’s not much!
Whether you’re a freelancer, entrepreneurial marketer, large company head, or just starting your business, it doesn’t matter — your day is only 24 hours long. Calculate time for sleeping, eating, and time spent with your loved ones. How much do you have left? Well, that’s not much!
And then there’s the effect of technological development we can see today, information incoming from everywhere! Every day we absorb 34 gigabytes of data!
If you are a marketer like me, you probably have dozens of tabs open in front of you, each with important information, Google Docs. Somewhere in the background, your project management software is running, and a stream of messages from Slack is bombarding you. It’s only Monday, and you already have a tab headache, for which no coffee can help.
> We have another problem: we want everything at once and think we are indestructible. Like we have the superpower of limitless brain capacity, with multitasking included.
Unfortunately, as David Allen said, multitasking doesn’t exist, and our brain “is a thinking tool, not a storage device.” Indeed, now you are terrified; how are you supposed to grasp it all? Work harder? I have an answer for you, repeatedly told at our Department Of Web company — work smarter.
**Learn some of the ways I use when working on various projects simultaneously and even use them in my personal life.**
## Save, group, forget!
**Gore content ahead, beware!** One of the cruelest tortures in ancient China was the deprivation of the condemned man’s eyelids. The eyes, which constantly remained open, received stimuli from the outside world that exceeded the adaptive capacity of the human brain. As a result, the convict became ill and died. It happened a few thousand years ago. But tell me, after working on a computer for hours, don’t you feel that you’re not quite grasping what’s happening to your body and feel like you’re on a high?
Every sentence opens up thought processes and a loop, no matter how big or small. Every process needs to be closed because our brain is programmed to see it through to the end. It also constantly reminds you of the open loop, forcing you to act. Your brain turns into stalker mode and won’t finish grinding information until you finish the task.
## Jotting for rescue!
Turning off the stalker mode is throwing unnecessary processes/information out of your head, unnecessary processes/information. You can simply write it all down in handy notes.
There are many methods of note-taking! While researching, I found thousands of ways to “make good notes.” You can have your bullet journal, memo cards, or calendar or use digital solutions.
I rarely take my eyes off the screen, so I mostly use mobile or browser apps. Depending on the type of screen I’m currently working on. Happily, most of them are available on any device.
Digital notes have another significant advantage; they can be grouped and quickly searched through. You don’t have to wade through a stack of cards. You type in a command, find the folder, and there it is — the note you’ve been searching for politely waiting.
**Tips for you!**
- plan what your notes will be about
- create folders corresponding to the main topic: the name of the project, or simply “inspirations,” “home affairs,” etc.
- make sure to assign notes to folders, preferably do it right away
- designate a moment during the week to clean up
While planning and organization don’t sound sexy, they will save you time and nerves for real pleasures.
## Creating checklists — reward your brain!
You’re probably thinking — another thing requiring action and time from me, where’s this promised simplification of my work?! Quick access to a to-do list is essential — it saves a lot of time each day and allows you to stay focused.
Remember the loop our brain gets into? It’s like a hamster in a reel with Usain Bolt’s ambitions. Somewhere must be a finish line and an award, and only you can find it.
> Our brain has a punishment and reward center. Success after completing a task activates the reward areas, making us feel greater satisfaction and bliss. Moreover, the mere feeling of ticking off a list of tasks quickly gives us a sense of accomplishment.
Another reward will simply be the absence of punishment. Nothing stresses me more than an impending deadline and an incurred debt in the shuffle. Do you have the same? Checklists help to develop a habit of self-discipline. It also reduces the risk of losing important information or simply forgetting. With a list created, you can systematize your activities, move on to the next steps and minimize stress. In evolution, our brain stood in total mobilization when encountering a threat like a predator. Today, that predator is stimuli and dreaded deadlines.
**Tips for you!**
- divide your checklists into specific categories: long-term goals, fastballs, shopping lists
- remove unchecked items
- if you’re planning out a project, set due dates for tasks
- mark the end of checklists
- review and check items regularly
- make it your ritual
**In the abyss of links and snippets of content!**
This section will be most helpful for digital professionals, but anyone can benefit from it.
One of the most aggravating things about working with content (journalists and writers, I’m talking to you too) is research! I love my job, but browsing hundreds of pages for information and inspiration is tedious and time-consuming. We rarely sit down straight afterward to write a text. Idea needs time to rest, and so do you.
Digital note-taking apps that store various types of content and folders come in handy. I used to use one of the note-taking apps in my browser, and although it was convenient, pasting links and quotes into it was a chore. One big wall of text to decipher harder than Enigma, with no way to add photos or graphics.
You tell me, hey Karolina, why should I use another tool when I can go into the browser history or save a bookmark to the bar? In our game for this article, you earn extra points for saving time. Do you want to waste it browsing the history and bookmark bar, where you cannot efficiently manage them?
No kidding! Check out my method.
**Tips for you!**
- create a folder with the name of the project
- add links to sites you use in creating content
- add specific quotes in the form of text, screenshots, or photo
- write some keywords or observations about the content from the link as soon as you add it
Managing and streamlining work efficiency at the Department of Web is very important.
> Our main goal is to maintain a work-life balance, approach projects calmly but responsibly, and maximize enjoyment at work.
In the IT industry, this is very important because our body is constantly subjected to many stimuli, requiring tremendous focus and a passive position.
In our team, we use technology to improve processes, those between members as well as in individual work. We started working on a notebook in a browser that would meet the needs of both devs and the marketing department.
We gathered everything we thought would pump up our efficiency and what was missing from other tools. That’s how we came up with the idea for [MadNotes](https://madnotes.app/), a browser note-taking app with rich privacy and text formatting features. We added everything in there that is missing in other products on the market. Wait for the release of our app and become a beta tester. [Click here.](https://madnotes.app/waitlist)
Take care of yourself and your brain! Work smarter, not harder, and take a deep, deep breath!
---
# Hidden costs of website development
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/hidden-costs-of-website-development
Date: 2022-07-06T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Web Development
Author: jakub_m
Summary: Have you ever completed or been a part of a project that exceeded the deadline or budget? Yeah, who hasn’t? Do you know why that happened? I can tell you why — because of a lack of planning.
Have you ever completed or been a part of a project that exceeded the deadline or budget? Yeah, who hasn’t? Do you know why that happened? I can tell you why — **because of a lack of planning**.
That’s it. You can close this article now and start a new project with better planning. Or… you can read about our experience and find out what to look and account for.
> Planning is complicated, and you cannot foresee everything, but starting prepared reduces the risk of an unexpected outcome
This article could cover many software project types. Still, my primary focus is website or web app development because I’m experienced with running a software house since 2015. I’ve been a part of 50+ custom-developed projects, and I noticed a lot of missed things.
This article can be valuable to anyone, regardless of their role in the process. Whether it’s ordering the development (you might be the business owner) or project management (you might be the software house or agency owner), or you’re responsible for the discovery or planning phase (you might be the one who’s doing the job). I think you’ll find this helpful.
So, speaking about a custom website, what two things would it need to come alive? **The design and the code**, right? That’s the bare minimum a web project needs, and with “only” these two, it can be operational. If that’s the case, it’s only the cost of producing the design and code.
You may already know that’s not true, but have you thought about everything? I’ve gathered all the **not-so-obvious** hidden costs you may encounter while budgeting for or creating a web project, and I’ll show you how you can keep all of these under control.
Let’s get into it.
## Materials
This one is easiest to foresee because it’s an expense you need to cover at the beginning or a very early stage of the project.
It includes things like fonts, stock images (or photo sessions), and various licenses for 3rd party software. Anything that’s needed to compose the design or provide functions you need for the software.
If the project’s website creator does “time and material” billing, they should (at least in theory) account for all the producer goods before adding the cost of time spent.
In my opinion, the client should not be paying for the things that are part of the production process, like fonts, icons, developer licenses, or photo sessions — **that’s the creator’s expense**. By _should not be paying_ I mean this cost should be baked in the final price.
The client should be paying for everything that has been used only for their specific project or any recurring costs, like a WordPress plugin license purchased only for this particular job.
Either way, all these costs should be planned upfront or **at least estimated**.
## Infrastructure
The website needs a server and domain, yes, that’s obvious. But let’s dig deeper.
We’re all already used to the free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate, and most of the hosting providers include it by default. But sometimes, it’s worth adding another layer of authorization. LE certificate is a DV (Domain Validation) certificate, which proves you’re an owner of a domain, but there are others. You may want to purchase an OV (Organization Validation) or EV (Extended Validation) certificate to prove that not only is the domain yours, but you’re an authorized entity to serve it. **Can you imagine logging into your bank account having in mind that the SSL cert is only telling you the domain is right?** Roman Munteanu covered [all the differences between free and paid SSL cert](https://medium.com/@munteanu210/free-vs-paid-ssl-certificates-b86202293c04) so you may want to check out that article.
I won’t elaborate much on the domain. **You need it,** and it’s an annual cost you’ll have to cover and budget for, and that’s the client’s expense.
I’ll end this section with the server, aka, the hidden cost of hosting services. You can start as low as few dollars for the cheapest shared hosting you can find. But what if you go viral? What if someone tries to hurt your business with a DOS (Denial of Service) attack? You need to scale and optimize for performance and security.
You can use a plethora of solutions, starting from a dedicated (and optionally managed) server, hiding behind a cache layer and/or WAF like Cloudflare, or migrate to Cloud-based solutions from Microsoft, Google or Amazon. Cloud-based hosting can be scaled up with a few clicks, and it’s **limited only by the depth of the client’s pocket**. So yeah, that’s the client’s expense.
> Account for the growth.
## Cost of Quality
Boy, oh boy, this one is closest to my heart as I’m the founder of our software house [Department of Web](https://departmentofweb.com). We deeply care about quality, so our costs sometimes escalate quickly, and it’s tough to plan for these. We cover that expense on our own to lower the tech debt and to make sure we’re delivering a top-notch product. In the meantime, we train our staff.
The QA (Quality Assurance) and technical review alone **can eat up to 15% of the development time**. To clarify — that’s only the cost of checking the work, not fixing it!
If you’re the one who’s doing the work or managing it, account for this because if you don’t, it will backfire on you or your client. It can be technical debt, missing functions, poor UX, or a poorly designed foundation that’s hard to extend.
> All serious projects that are built to last, make money, and thrive, need to be as close to perfection as possible. If they aren’t, someone will pay for that later, be it through the cost of fixing or the cost of lost opportunities.
The best way to mitigate this issue is to **add time or budget margins**. We worked out that something close to 20% would be accurate for the majority of projects, but it depends on the number of unknowns and the size of scope or brief. The second-best thing is to **control the progress and adapt quickly**.
## Scope Creep
We’re switching over to the client’s cost. Verbless, please! Ladies and gentlemen, the scope creep! 🎉
> Scope creep (also called requirement creep, or kitchen sink syndrome) in project management refers to changes, continuous or uncontrolled growth in a project’s scope, at any point after the project begins. This can occur when the scope of a project is not properly defined, documented, or controlled.
> [As per Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scope_creep)
Every single feature added or changed while doing the project is a hidden cost. But! You can shed some light on it to make it a bit more visible and under control.
Imagine building a super-simple blog website when all the designs have been approved, and almost all development work is completed. And then, all of a sudden, you say (or hear): “oh, and the newsletter signup form, please.”
This can be easily planned for **with good preparation and a discovery phase**. It’s easier to account for “we’re going to need a newsletter signup form in the future” than dealing with it along the way, when changes may be required in the entire website concept.
The newsletter signup form is only a silly example, but with the worst-case scenario, there can be dozens of these during the lifetime of a project.
Just try to think about the future and all the opportunities. And **pick the right ones**.
## Post-release
You thought that when you released the project to the public, you’d be done? **You’re so wrong**.
> You cannot make a baby and leave it on its own
The project will need to be taken care of, but let’s start with trivial examples of hidden costs you may not account for. That’s the periodic cost of services you have used to build the product, like hosting, domain, or licenses. When you combine this, you may encounter a **significant bill in your email** a year post the project start date. Be prepared.
It’s not only that. Projects based on any popular CMS (Content Management System) like WordPress need to be maintained. The bare minimum would be to update all the system components like plugins, but this may also include uptime monitoring.
There’s more. If you released an app, maybe there’s a need to provide support services for the end customer?
Not to mention ongoing costs of SEO and marketing…
I’m not sure if you noticed while reading the article, but most of the hidden cost remediation is as simple as this:
> The more spent on the precautions, the fewer unexpected costs in the future
It may feel counter-intuitive initially, and many may think something like, “I spent X $ (or hours) already, and we haven’t even started yet”, but **it’s worth it, trust me**.
Did I miss anything? What was the most astonishing thing you forgot to include in the budget?
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# From Digital Marketing to Programming World
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/from-digital-marketing-to-programming-world
Date: 2022-06-06T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Web Development
Author: david_h
Summary: What you are about to read is how I changed careers to programming from digital marketing, starting with no relevant background experience or degree.
**_“I should learn to code”_** — This thought crossed my mind several times in my adult life, and if you are reading this article probably you also thought this at some point in your life.
What you are about to read is how I changed careers to programming from digital marketing, starting with no relevant background experience or degree.
## From Mexico to Poland
I’ve been working since I was sixteen. I started working in a coffee shop, then during summers in college I was a cook in a taco place in Mexico City, and then when I moved to Poland in 2013 my first job was in a Call Center giving tech support to a Chinese phone company.
When I was back in college, I imagined that as soon as I graduated I would be working in a multinational company, negotiating some deals for the company or making some strategies for the launch of a new product… Unfortunately, I got a punch of reality and I realized that getting a full-time job as a fresh graduate was hard! I studied International Business in one of the best colleges in Mexico, I spoke English fluently and I had some experience as a trainee in an Insurance company. My CV was not that bad, but after 10 months of looking for a full-time job in my field I couldn’t get any, and so for different reasons (girlfriend), I moved to Poland in 2013.
My first jobs in Poland were not the ones I dreamed of back in college, as I mentioned my first job was in a Call Center. Then I realized it was something I didn’t want to do for the rest of my life, so I enrolled in my Master Studies in Business in Central and Eastern Europe. Those Master’s Studies allowed me eventually to get a better job, and finally to land some interviews in some fields that I wanted to start my career.
## How I Landed My First Job in Digital Marketing
The first serious job that I got during my Master’s Studies was as an analyst for a Financial company. I was working and studying at the same time. During one of my classes, I noticed that one of my friends was writing something for her fashion website, I was interested because I thought having a website was something that only companies or super-nerd people had. My friend told me that she started her blog a couple of years back and it was quite easy to set it up.
That day as soon as I got home I started to google how to create a website, and here it was the first time I saw WordPress. After reading dozens of articles I was ready to set up my first website, and this was a personal blog called [Chido-Fajny](https://www.chido-fajny.com/), which is a personal blog where I write about everything related to Poland and its culture, traditions, food, language, and many more.
Setting up this WordPress was extremely interesting and kind of addictive, every day that passed I wanted to get home and try different things on my site, maybe change a few colors or some more advanced things like putting Google Analytics to see how many people visited my site. I’m completely aware that setting up a page in WordPress is quite easy, but at that time I felt like a hacker that had just outbroken Pentagon security.
After styling my blog perfectly the next challenge was to make some people actually read it, and here is how my love for digital marketing started. At that time, I was only using Facebook to play Farmville or just to post random photos on my wall. I had no idea about the potential of social media, or how can Google help your business.
While I was working in this finance company and spending the other half of the day on my blog I realized that working in Marketing would be the right path for me, and I decided to go for it.
It was not easy, but I got a job in a Sass company. I was giving webinars of our tool, writing articles about Social Media, SEO, and digital marketing. I was testing our Social Media Listening tools, it was awesome! I was gaining a lot of experience and knowledge, and the best part of this is that I could apply those to my blog. It was a win-win situation for me. I was living the dream!
After that my digital marketing campaign started to take shape and I enjoyed my journey. My last job was managing social media and paid campaigns with budgets of thousands of Euros. I was dealing with marketing agencies from different countries, I was planning global strategies and campaigns with people from all over the world. I felt that I had accomplished the goal that I had when I was in college.
## Stuck in My Career?
You could say that I was doing pretty fine: living in a different country, stable job, good coworkers, good salary… But after some time it came to my mind this question: “Is this everything? Will I be doing this for the rest of my life?”
I don’t want to sound overdramatic but I got quite scared and depressed because I felt stuck in my career. I have to admit that I felt jealous of people like doctors or lawyers that have dreamed of their profession since they were children. I hadn’t had that feeling, I mean digital marketing was something that I liked and that I was good at, but I couldn’t imagine doing that for the rest of my life.
There were a few days when those Zoom calls seemed to last for days, that during 2 hours meetings we talked about nothing, or that I understood social media differently from what my boss understood. In marketing, as in life, everything is subjective, there are some common techniques but there is no written rule that if you apply something it will work for your company or your product. I felt that I was drowning and I had to do something to change it.
## Once in a Lifetime Opportunity
In March of 2021, I felt like I had collected all the seven dragon balls and that I summoned Shenron (In case you don’t get this reference probably you are way younger than me). Essentially, I felt that everything in my life was suddenly on the right track to make a change in my life.
For the first time since I moved to Poland, I finally had my permanent residence permit, which meant that I could stay legally in Poland even if I didn’t have a job. Due to the coronavirus crisis, there was a restructure in my company and my position was terminated, but they gave me a good termination package so I was covered in terms of money for a few months. My wife was pregnant so at that point, I didn’t have any major responsibilities apart from taking my dog for a walk. For the first time in my life, I was free to do whatever I wanted.
I could easily just stay at home playing video games, or taking some holidays with my wife, or go back to Mexico for a few months. Any of those things didn’t sound bad at all, but in the end, my plans were different, I decided to invest in myself.
## Learn to Adapt, or Get Left Behind
My passion for blogging and trying different things on my website never died, but I was still a complete beginner in anything related to programming. I acquired some knowledge in WordPress by reading a lot of articles or by following some tutorials on YouTube, but that’s it. I never tried anything else.
A couple of years back, my wife did a coding Bootcamp, in case you don’t know what a Bootcamp is — it is an intensive program of software development, it normally lasts a few weeks or months, and after you graduate, you are ready to start searching for a job in programming. When my wife enrolled in this Bootcamp, I was really into Digitial Marketing, so I thought it was cool but I didn’t think that was something I would like to do.
It’s quite funny to think now that fours years later, I would be doing the same thing.
Now it was time to look for the right Bootcamp, I spent a few weeks looking for the perfect match for me. One of the things I noticed on the internet, especially in programming forums was that when some people wanted to change careers to programming and asked questions about Bootcamps, the hate of programmers toward those programs was huge! I think some programmers didn’t find it fair that some people just spent a few months learning how to program and they could get a job doing something that they had spent years mastering. I kind of understand them, because it was the same story when I was working in marketing and people were doing certifications or programs in social media or SEO, and to be honest, they were ready to work on this. But as in life, you need to learn to adapt or get left behind.
Anyway, after reading those opinions about Bootcamps in general, I thought to myself: “Let’s do it! What do you have to lose?” I mean, I already knew that programming would be something that I would enjoy, and even if after the Bootcamp I realized programming was not something for me, and that marketing was my destiny, well now I would be even more prepared for my next job!
## Coding Bootcamp? Is It Worth It?
My first advice for any of you that is considering enrolling in a Bootcamp to change careers is: Be honest with yourself. It’s 99% probable that if you enroll in a Bootcamp you will graduate from it, but talking seriously about programming, it is not for everyone. Of course, anyone can learn how to code, you can learn a few commands in the terminal or some rules in CSS, or how to write a loop in JavaScript, but the logic behind it, to know when you need to apply something specific is not as easy as it seems.
During the Bootcamp, you will not have time to do anything else, after each day you will feel mentally and physically exhausted. In case your previous job was something repetitive where you felt that you were not using your brain anymore, or that you could be doing your activities without even paying attention to it… well, you will feel that your brain is finally waking up.
The Bootcamp helps you to improve certain skills: think outside the box, try to find a solution to a complex problem, teamwork, it helps you to not be afraid of asking questions. A typical day in a Bootcamp looks like this:
- Fast programming exercise
- Theoretical concepts
- Lunch Break
- Small coding exercises
- Big coding projects in teams
After one month in the Bootcamp, you will know for sure if programming life is for you or it is not. You need to be honest with yourself, otherwise, you will feel frustrated and in the end, you will feel that the last few months you were just looking at a screen for hours without learning anything.
In general, I would recommend enrolling in a coding Bootcamp, it gives you the basics of your new career, if you study a lot after your classes and you do all of the exercises and studies complementary material, it will help you to land some interviews after you graduate.
In general, I loved my Bootcamp studies, and for me was one of the best decisions of my life! I never studied so much in my life (not even in college), I made great friends, I did an amazing React and Laravel application called [DAS Travel app](https://dastravelapp.eu/). In general, the Bootcamp allowed me to turn my ideas into something real.
But it’s not that you just enroll in a Bootcamp and magically you will learn everything and you will have a job when you graduate… this is not how it works at all. The reality hits you hard.
## Job Market Is Saturated
When I was looking for Bootcamp programs, 99% of them promised you that you would find a job easily when you graduated, but this is unfortunately not true. In the case of Poland, the job market for junior positions is saturated! The amount of offers for Juniors is extremely low if you compare it with Mid or Senior positions. In case you land an interview make sure to be prepared as hell because that might be your only chance.
The other problem that some of my Bootcamp friends and I had was that some companies don’t consider Bootcamp as a professional experience, I don’t agree with this but the reality is that many fresh graduates are looking for opportunities, so you must do something extra if you want to shine when looking for a job.
Some advice that I can give you as a Junior Developer are:
- Make your Github profile beautiful — I don’t mean to style your profile by adding some emoticons. What I mean is that make sure to only have the proper repositories with clear instructions of how someone can preview your work.
- Make a proper portfolio — having a Github profile is mandatory, but having your portfolio in your domain that’s something valuable. It’s the perfect place where you can show the recruiters what you can do.
- Freelance is a good idea — what I mean by this is that you can help your friend or relative to create their website or app you can do it for free but it will be a great first step to improve your portfolio.
- Be ready to apply for dozens of offers — don’t give up! It might be possible that you will feel demotivated if no one is calling you for interviews, be patient and just be ready when someone calls you.
## Getting My First Job as a Developer
If one year ago you told me that I would be working as a full-time developer, I probably wouldn’t believe you, but here I am working as a Junior Front End Developer at the [Department of Web](/).
This was the 86th job application I did. To be honest I was not sure if they would call me, mainly because the position was to be filled with someone that spoke the Polish language. I do speak Polish, but I never worked in Polish, only in English and Spanish, but anyway I decided to apply.
After a few days, I got an email from the CEO of the company, telling me that they checked my Github profile and they would be interested in inviting me for an interview, one of his initial concerns was that I would need to speak in Polish on daily basis. I just told the truth saying that I had never worked in the Polish language, but I was comfortable talking Polish in ”normal” situations (by the way thanks to my blog, I had some material in the Polish language that confirmed that I spoke the language). They trusted me and invited me to the next step of the recruitment process.
The next step was a recruitment task: to make a simple WordPress plugin using React.js. I spent quite a lot of time making this plugin, and I sent it for review.
The next day I got a response on my task, and I was seeing one of the most brutal and insightful feedback on my job search ever. The CEO spotted my mistakes, gave some recommendations to improve my code and they told me honestly that my lack of experience was clear. I was reading the email and to be honest “Damn, I didn’t get the job…”. However, at the end of the email, they offered me a position to be part of the Department of Web! I couldn’t believe it! I felt like when your favorite football team wins the championship after a dramatic penalty kick series. I was jumping like a kid.
It has been a short but intensive journey as a Junior Developer. Every day at the Department of Web I learn something new, I feel that I’m using my brain to find a solution to a problem. The feedback I receive is amazing, it helps me to become a better developer every day. One of the things I love about is that on this job there is no room for bullshit, it is not open to subjectivity. In the end, the only question is: Does it work or not?
## Was Becoming a Developer the Right Decision?
I’m just starting my journey in this new career, but I could say straight away that Hell yes! It was the best decision I could ever do for myself and my family.
I have to mention this as well because I don’t want to look like a hypocrite: Money is not everything but it’s important. I’m not making millions at the moment, but I felt that in my previous career my income would be capped no matter where I would work. Unless I became a CEO of a multinational company I considered that there wasn’t real growth for me in that industry.
Becoming a developer doesn’t guarantee a huge salary, what I love about this profession is that you are getting paid based on what you know. If you invest in yourself and get new skills you will get rewarded for this.
I’m not sure if I will do this for the rest of my life, but for now, I will do my best to become an excellent developer. In the end what matters is to: **learn to adapt, or get left behind.**
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# Quality Assurance in Web Development — Invaluable or Waste of Money?
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/quality-assurance-in-web-development-invaluable-or-waste-of-money
Date: 2022-04-04T00:00:00.000Z
Category: QA
Author: anna_s
Summary: Quality assurance is increasingly recognized as an important part of the website or application development process. However, in an attempt to cut costs, some companies may simply abandon this stage, considering it an unnecessary expense. Could this be true indeed, or does such an approach generate the risk of much higher costs in the end?
Quality assurance is increasingly recognized as an important part of the website or application development process. However, in an attempt to cut costs, some companies may simply abandon this stage, considering it an unnecessary expense. Could this be true indeed, or does such an approach generate the **risk of much higher costs in the end**?
The main task of quality assurance (QA) is to **guarantee the fulfillment** **of the quality requirements **defined by the company delivering the product or the customer ordering one. In our company, [Department of Web](/), we believe that it is imperative to meet both demands.
Good QA includes checking the product for visual and functional compliance with the design intent, but also a general review of the product quality to ensure that the final result is at its highest level, even if there was a gap in the original assumptions.
## Why you shouldn’t skip the QA process
It is well-known in the programming world that **writing a completely error-free code is highly unlikely**, if not impossible. Implementing code without proper quality checks can generate a variety of problems, ranging from ones as simple as a broken link to more serious ones, such as lack of possibility to finalize the purchase, which leads directly to profit losses.
> Many of these issues can be found and eliminated during the QA process before the final product is released and exposed to customer complaints, causing reluctance and discouraging further use.
Since time is money, customers easily get disheartened and look for a different offer while the former fails.
But losing clients is not the only way to mishandle your money due to skipping QA. Going back to fix a problem that emerged some time ago is almost always **more time-consuming than fixing everything from the get-go, during the development cycle**. The earlier the defect is recognized, the easier, faster, and therefore cheaper it is to correct it. Why spend money fixing a problem that could have been prevented in the first place?
## Done is NOT better than perfect
The internet is full of articles championing the phrase: _“Done is better than perfect”_. It is accurate in some cases, but associating it with product quality is a **popular misconception**. In our opinion, the statement relates to a feature set (MVP — _minimum viable_ — product), but quality should always be top-notch.
> _A poorly executed project is bound to be laced with hidden problems, only to be patched up over and over again. Often, these missteps cannot even be corrected anymore, and the project must be rebuilt from scratch._
When looking for cost or time savings, it may be a good idea to **cut down on the features list instead of releasing an underdeveloped product**. It is always better to start from a small but solid foundation that can be freely expanded on later than to develop a project that is defective from the very beginning and in which any attempt to modify it involves fixing old bugs.
## QA overhead costs
It is generally recognized that the **cost of quality is between 15–40% of the total business cost**. This figure consists of the cost of good quality, prevention and appraisal costs, and the cost of poor quality, internal and external failure costs. The latter can be significantly reduced (or even eliminated) thanks to quality assurance.
In our case, a company that builds web apps, we estimated that we need between 4–7% of the total project time for visual and functional QA and about 6–8% for the code review. From this, it follows that making sure that everything is at its best **takes us approximately 10–15%** of the total time that we spent on the project.
## Types of QA
As you can guess from the above, there are few types of quality assurance. They can be classified according to what they are oriented towards (UI / UX / Code) and according to the method of testing (manual and automated). The major difference between the last two is that in manual testing, a person performs the tests step by step, while automated tests are executed automatically by the code written especially for this purpose.
**User interface testing** focuses mostly on appearance and functionality in terms of compliance with the design and initial assumptions, while the **user experience tests** are to make sure that a given product is best received by the user. For example, in the case of a website, it depends on the clear layout of elements, loading speed, and intuitiveness in navigating the pages, among many others.
Last but not least, the **code review** aims to improve the quality of the product from the back-end, which, among many other things, **helps to further develop the product and reduce the tech debt**.
## Benefits of Quality Assurance
The implementation of quality assurance in the website or application development process has significant advantages.
> One of the most important of which is a certainty that everything looks and works exactly as it was designed. The devil is in the details, so it’s best to take good care of them.
Another essential trait is the convenience of having one more round of final verifying that your initial ideas are working the way they were intended. It’s good to have everything laid down right from the beginning, but it’s even better to have a chance to fix something in case it turns out to have a slight flaw.
Therefore, it is important not only to test the product while it is being developed but to **test each piece separately as well as all together**. Flight testing is one thing and will catch most bugs, but it’s still a good idea to test your final product when all the components are working together. That way, you can be sure that every little detail alone works just as well as all of them as a whole.
> As a team in the [Department of Web](/), we firmly believe that introducing quality assurance leads to a better final outcome, thereby increasing the chances of a pleasant user experience.
This, in turn, makes customers more likely to use that particular website or app rather than the one from the competition.
How do you feel about the QA? Do you think is it necessary or is it just an additional cost?
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# Who and Why
URL: https://departmentofweb.com/blog/who-and-why
Date: 2022-01-14T00:00:00.000Z
Category: Company Life
Author: jakub_m
Summary: We’re Department of Web. Yes, this name suggests we’re a department in some government office. No, we’re not. But yes, we do web. We’re actually another company.
We’re **Department of Web**. Yes, this name suggests we’re a department in some government office. No, we’re not. But yes, we do web.
We’re actually **another company**.
Confused? Good 🙃
I’m Jakub, one of the co-founders, and I’m going to untangle this all. I’ll take you on a journey through our origin, name, and how we got started.
Buckle up, and let’s go.
## The Origin
I started as a freelancer a very long time ago. Counting internet-years, it was circa 150 years ago.
About 120 internet-years ago, I started [BracketSpace](https://bracketspace.com/) — our WordPress plugins business. But plugins were only a chunk of the company; we also did client projects along the way. Eventually, we focused on outsourcing services, and we did that during the last 6 human-years.
We’ve been working with companies like InsaneLab, WP Served, Good People Digital, and Fusebox, providing mainly WordPress-centric development services. We did countless **pixel-perfect WordPress websites**, coded from scratch, based on the provided design. We also implemented a big Laravel app accompanied by a React-based embed player. It was all happening under the BracketSpace umbrella.
That was fun, but BracketSpace is the WordPress products brand. **No one knows that we even did all these amazing projects!** That’s crazy, and we wanted to do something about it.
## The Name
One day, I was doing the main CEO duty, which is thinking. Between the various ideas, there was one that was particularly interesting.
I thought about a website that mimics the most stereotypical government office. **Lazy, overly complicated, broken, and frustrating**. There were ideas to put a contact form that spits out the printable letter you need to send via mail. Or limiting the website operational hours to just a small window during the day.
Then, the _Department of Web_ name naturally just came to mind.
That idea put a smile on everyone’s face, and it seemed to be a perfect side-project. I purchased the domain and forgot about it for a few months. Standard stuff.
## Now What?
It just so happened that my (former) wife, Kasia, stepped down from her graphic designer role in one of the local companies she was working with. I, on the other hand, was available to take on some new projects.
Let’s sum up what we had in the equation at this point:
- a talented graphic designer
- a programmer with the team
- side-project waiting to be picked up
So, naturally, we decided to work together and use that project for that purpose. Kasia already had some other ideas for the website, so we shifted from an easter-egg project\* to a full-blown idea of a **professional software house that doesn’t fuck around and delivers truly top-notch projects**.
That’s what we do now at the [Department of Web](/). Our new brand.
\*we couldn’t resist doing at least one easter-egg anyway💁♂️
## The Website
_Let’s do a simple website for a start _— we agreed. Three months later, we’ve been still polishing the pixels.
That website introduced a whole new stack that we haven’t been working with previously. We did this website statically, using Gatsby and hosting it on the edge. Every component was done in separation using Storybook. All to come to perfection as close as we could. **Blazing-fast perfection**.
Starting from the design and ending on the implementation, it was a truly joyful process with lots of creative ideas. This is why the _simple website_ idea quickly turned to the UI that sparks joy 😉
So please, [click around](/) and let us know in the comments if you like the experience.
That’s it. We started our journey and we hope you’ll **join us for the ride**.
There are lots of great projects ahead of us, and if you’re keen to see what we’re up to, then follow us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/departmentofweb/) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/departmentofweb/).
Here, [on our blog](/blog), we’ll be covering web development topics, starting from the business process and ending on the money-related stuff. I promise, **good content**!
See you on the other site! 🖖-
PS. We’re officially available for hire, so feel free to [contact us](/contact).
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