To hear more about this topic, listen to our farm-to-table software development podcast.
Over the past decade, the farm-to-table culinary movement has changed the dynamics of the restaurant industry. It has re-emphasized proximity, speed, agility, community and partnerships between suppliers, chefs and the public.
I see a similar shift happening in software development. We spent the ’90s and early 2000s shipping development work offshore and interacting with emerging communication technologies. But the current trends reverse these ideas, and set up an analogous farm-to-table software development experience: local teams working closely with clients to quickly adapt to new technologies and changing user demands.
The ultimate benefits of this change are increased performance and efficiency. Cultivating these close relationships (in terms of geography, context and culture) create a shared understanding about what needs to be done and how best to do it. You can’t recreate this level of communication and collaboration via Slack, nine time zones away.
A local approach to software development also reduces the need for rigid communication, management and planning structures. You should have the same goal for people as for software: continuous delivery and integration.
As locally-based team members ramp onto or off projects, they can easily transfer knowledge and expertise. Having a community both inside and outside of work unleashes creativity, improves job satisfaction and boosts morale. All of this leads to better, faster and more consumer-centric decisions and adaptations.
Beyond producing better tasting food, farm-to-table restaurants serve a social and economic good. They build community and create a circular economy on a local level. “Buy local” can have a major uplifting impact on struggling communities.
Catalyte exists to do the same thing with software development. We know that by finding and employing local talent, talent that due to background is overlooked by traditional hiring methods, we can make a difference in the lives of countless individuals, families and transform the community at large.
We strive to service clients with developers located either onsite or in the surrounding metro area. This creates that circular economy which snowballs to create real change. Local dollars, paying local people who then reinvest back into local businesses.
As ingredient availability changes, suppliers and chefs can quickly modify recipes while still meeting customer expectations. Similarly, when a new mobile device or operating system comes online, developers must be agile enough to adapt current products while maintaining user experience.
Of course, none of this is possible without talented local developers with the aptitude for innovation and agility. That’s why you’ll see us aggressively expand into new markets over the next 12-18 months. We know that local talent exists and we know how to put it to use co-creating the future with our clients.
We hope you’ll join us.
– Jacob Hsu, CEO
