5 Things to Consider When Hiring a Web Applications Developer

Web applications are highly technical and complex to create; they require experienced developers to make sure they work flawlessly. The application must be programmed manually which, depending upon the complexity of the application, could take a substantial amount of time. There is simply no way around that.

If you’ve already searched for developers you should have noticed that there is a wide range of hourly rates out there. As expected, those located overseas tend to have the lowest hourly rates while developers  based in the US,  Canada and Western Europe tend to have higher rates. However, don’t let the lower cost fool you! When shopping for a web developer there are several things to keep in mind:

1) The final price of an application remains relatively consistent.

Generally those who charge a lower hourly rate are less experienced and take longer to create the application, which adds more hours and drives up the price. Developers who charge a higher per-hour rate generally take less time to complete the application therefore reducing the total cost. At the end of the day the applications end up costing the about the same.

2) Experienced developers simply create better applications.

Experienced developers charge a higher hourly rate because they are experienced.  They create a better application. Their applications tend to be more stable, user friendly, and attractive. An experienced developer can save hours of downtime later and can often foresee what a client will want to add later and build the application with feature enhancements in mind.  

3)  Language issues pose tremendous problems.

Although many foreign developers can speak some English, often their accents are so thick that although they are speaking English it can be almost unintelligible. Generally they person selling the application services will not be the one creating the application and although the salesperson is understandable, the developers may not be. This may not seem like a big deal but it can mean hours of wasted time which translated into hours of needless expense. As I said above, web applications are incredibly complex and communications must be crystal clear. A Mistranslating the word “and” to “or” could cost thousands. 

4) Time zones add another layer of complexity.

As I’m writing this it is 9:30 AM here in Arizona, the start of a bright new work day. My third cup of coffee is still steaming on my desk and I have some minor updates that need to me made for a few clients’ websites. I’ll have those knocked out by 10:00 AM which frees more up for some new projects. However, what if I was based in New Delhi India? What would that mean for my clients? Right now it is 10:00 PM in New Delhi. It would be at least 10 hours before I could speak to a developer but by that time I hope to be home with my children. Malaysia is no better. It’s actually tomorrow there! When making a decision consider the developers location. After you pay them it’s often too late to change.   

5) International law is important

Companies based in the US are legally liable to their clients. Here in the US we have a great court system which serves as a deterrent to dishonesty. Many foreign countries do not have an effective legal system. Even if they do, good luck pursuing them in court. International law is expensive and time consuming therefore generally not worth the time or expense. “What are the chances of being taken advantage of?” you ask. Well, how would you feel if you spent thousands of dollars creating the perfect one-of-a-kind application only to find it for sale somewhere else? Then your competitors put the same application on their websites and the edge you were hoping for is gone and the money essentially wasted. Doing business with a US-based company gives you peace of mind that this will not happen which is priceless.
 
When deciding upon a web developer be sure to look beyond the price. If someone wants filet mignon they go to a steakhouse not a diner. The same holds true with web development. Just about any developer can make an application but it takes experience to create a great web application! TSI Applications has the experience, fair prices, staying power and a solid track record of creating great cutting edge applications behind us. Before you settle for the lowest price consider what you’re losing. Do you want your filet mignon cooked over an open flame by a master chef or slapped into a greasy frying pan by a part-time cook?  The answer to that question will help determine which developer to use.

Make Yourself Available

What’s the secret to maintaining long term relationships with clients? I can’t speak for other industries but when it comes to web application development there are three: be available, be available and most importantly, be available. I believe that the reason we have been able to maintain relationships with our clients for over 12 years (so far) is because we are always there. It doesn’t matter if it’s the middle of the night or the middle of the day. If it’s important enough for the client to pick up the phone and call you it’s important enough for you to answer. We don’t have the luxury of determining what is important; the client does. Being there when the “you-know-what” hits the fan is critical to building trust. When the client calls in a panic your calm voice on the other end of the phone should immediately reassure him that the problem has a solution and the team will start fixing it right now. And yes, even if it’s two in the morning.

Your client needs to think of you in two ways. First he/she should be thoroughly convinced that you consistently develop solid well built applications.  And second, he/she needs to always have the assurance that you’ll be available.  

Let’s face it, application bugs happen. Any developer who tells you that there will never be issues with an application is simply not being honest. In the web application development world we have a myriad of client browser and security configurations that could cause issues with the functioning of an application. There could be intermittent availability of a remote database that requires shifting to a back-up server. Unforeseeable things happen.  When that happens it’s important that you’re at the desk with the team day or night.

If your web application development company is not answering every call every time you should consider looking elsewhere. If e-mails take 24 hours for a reply you should consider looking elsewhere. TSI Applications is there for our clients, day or night. Give us a call to see how we can earn your trust and let us build your business some incredible web applications to help draw potential customers.        

Consider a Veteran for the Job!

Several years ago TSI Applications worked with the Veteran’s Corporation and the West Mesa Community Development Corporation to help provide employment to veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately we ran into an issue that prevented us from launching the program but during the research phase I came to see how desperate many of these men and women are who return from combat. Our research showed that many were under-employed, working at fast food restaurants and other low paying jobs. Many were living at or below the poverty line (see the statistics). Here were well trained men and women who had laid their lives on the line for us and when they return home they find themselves standing on the corner with a couple of dollars in their pockets and civilian clothes that don’t fit. Our veterans are treated no better than someone just released from prison.

My advice to any company seeking employees is to search for veterans. Most are grateful for the opportunity to work and will normally serve their employers with the same dedication to duty that they demonstrated while in the service. They bring more to the table than you know.


I spent four years stationed on a ballistic missile submarine based in King’s Bay, Georgia. After decommissioning the USS Von Steuben (SSBN-632) in 1994 at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, I transferred to shore duty as an instructor at Naval Submarine School in Groton, Connecticut. My Naval experience gave me the tools I need to run this company. It was not the position I held in the Navy but the instilled values of integrity, attention to detail and discipline that enable me to persevere.

When evaluating a veteran for a position don't just focus on their skills instead look at who they are and consider where they come from. There are not many openings for submarine mechanics in the civilian world, but Intel saw something in me. They looked beyond my job description and understood what a veteran brings to the table. If the Fortune 100 companies have tapped into this valuable resource shouldn’t you give it a shot?

When you are seeking your next employee, remember the veterans!

If you are not in a position to hire a veteran consider supporting the Wounded Warrior Project  instead.

Should I Add a Web Application To My Website?

The short answer: definitely!

Let's face it, the goal of any website is to attract and keep visitors. Web applications help you do both by providing useful tools (especially custom one-of-a-kind tools) that your visitors will use over and over again. While many of these applications are offered by large companies with an in-house IT staff, it's the small companies that need them most. Having a unique web tool can increase exposure for your business which is what small/mid-size businesses need.

Say you own a small marketing firm. What type of web application would you use? Of course spending time evaluating your customers is critical to determining their needs. A marketing company may want to allow users to design (using templates and stock images) marketing materials online (brochures, mailers, etc), create a newsletter application that pulls names and addresses from an existing company database, or even allow customers to search for competitors in their geographical region. The options depend upon your customer's needs.

While there are a myriad of "off the shelf" web applications you can install on your website, these applications are certainly not unique. Your company could be one of thousands that have purchased the exact application. And it's probable that others are promoting their website more effectively than you are, so that web application rests in suspended animation somewhere, long forgotten by the world (and eventually you). This is where custom web applications come into play. It is the custom applications that make your company really stand out from the crowd. It is the one-of-a-kind application that will keep people coming back to your website. The application that has been fine tuned to your specific audience will always yield better results than a canned application.

Ask yourself, "Do I want to fit in with the crowd or do I really want stand out?" When you decide to transform your website from a hole in the web into which you toss hosting money every month to a true beast of burden that pulls its weight within the company call TSI Applications. We are experts at creating custom and complex web applications and we will NEVER resell or reuse applications built for our customers.

TSI Applications will help you find that perfect application to complement your website. The first step to a website transformation is talking to one of our sales agents who can help put you on the right path.

You will never know how many customers you could lose by waiting another day.