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Guides

Guides

Practical reference guides for teams that build, buy, and run software. Updated regularly, built to last.

Build, Buy, or Replace

8 guides

Decision frameworks for build vs buy, SaaS replacement, legacy modernisation, and migration planning.

Build, Buy, or Replace

Power Apps, SaaS, or Custom Build? A Self-Assessment for Business Leaders

Answer 10 questions covering your IT capability, requirements, and preferences to get a tailored recommendation. Free, expert-backed results in three minutes.

12 min read
Build, Buy, or Replace

What You Can (and Can't) Legally Copy When Replacing SaaS: A UK Guide for CTOs

UK copyright law protects expression, not functionality. Learn what CTOs can legally replicate when replacing SaaS with custom-built software, including clean-room implementation, TOS boundaries, and data portability rights.

20 min read
Build, Buy, or Replace

Modernise, Rebuild, or Replace: A Decision Framework for Legacy Systems

Six modernisation strategies explained in plain language. Decision criteria, cost and risk comparisons, and how AI-augmented delivery changes which options are viable.

14 min read
Build, Buy, or Replace

The AI-Era SaaS Replacement Playbook: When, Why and How to Replace SaaS with Custom Software

AI-augmented development has collapsed the cost of custom software. A decision framework for UK CTOs evaluating whether to replace SaaS tools like HubSpot, BambooHR, and Workday with purpose-built systems.

18 min read
Build, Buy, or Replace

SaaS to Custom Software Migration: A 90-Day Playbook

A phased migration plan for moving from SaaS to custom software. Covers discovery, data migration, parallel running, and cutover with week-by-week guidance.

10 min read
Build, Buy, or Replace

When to Replace SaaS with Custom Software: A CTO's Decision Framework

A practical scorecard for CTOs evaluating whether to replace a SaaS tool with custom-built software. Six criteria, scoring guidance, and worked examples.

8 min read
Build, Buy, or Replace

Build vs Buy: How AI-Augmented Development Changes the Equation

The traditional build-vs-buy framework assumed custom software was slow and expensive. AI-augmented delivery changes the cost, speed, and risk calculation. A practical decision guide for CTOs and product leaders.

14 min read
Build, Buy, or Replace

Signs Your Legacy System Is Costing You More Than You Think

Legacy systems hide their true costs in maintenance burden, talent risk, security exposure, and missed opportunities. Eight warning signs and how AI-augmented analysis reveals the full picture.

12 min read

AI and Code

3 guides

AI tools, IP ownership, attribution, and compliance for enterprise teams.

AI and Code

AI Code Attribution for Enterprise Procurement Teams

A practical framework for tracking and documenting AI-generated code. Repo-level model logs, PR attribution notes, CI licence gates, SBOM integration, and what procurement teams should require from suppliers.

15 min read
AI and Code

Is Your Organisation Ready for AI? A Practical Readiness Checklist

Most AI projects stall before they deliver value. This guide provides a structured readiness assessment across five dimensions: data, people, process, infrastructure, and governance.

14 min read
AI and Code

RAG vs Fine-Tuning vs Prompt Engineering: Choosing the Right AI Architecture

Three approaches to getting your data into AI, each with different costs, timelines, and trade-offs. A practical comparison for enterprise teams evaluating AI architectures on Azure.

16 min read

Teams and Support

3 guides

Choosing partners, managing handovers, and outsourcing application support.

Teams and Support

Choosing a Software Development Partner in the Age of AI

How to evaluate software development agencies when AI-augmented delivery is the new baseline. Eight criteria that matter, how to assess AI maturity, and red flags to watch for.

12 min read
Teams and Support

Your Development Team Left: A Practical Guide to What Happens Next

Your developers left, your vendor disappeared, or your contractor finished. The system is still running and the business still depends on it. Here is what to do, in order.

10 min read
Teams and Support

Managed Support vs Hiring: When to Outsource Application Maintenance

Should you hire a developer to maintain your software or use a managed support partner? A practical cost, risk, and capability comparison with AI-augmented economics.

12 min read

Development Practice

3 guides

DevOps, CI/CD, testing, estimation, and delivery patterns.

Development Practice

In-House DevOps vs DevOps-as-a-Service: A Cost and Capability Comparison

Should you hire a DevOps engineer or work with a DevOps-as-a-Service partner? A practical comparison of cost, coverage, risk, and how AI-augmented delivery changes the economics.

12 min read
Development Practice

DevOps Maturity: Where Does Your Team Stand and What Should You Fix First?

A practical DevOps maturity model with AI-augmented practices at each level. Self-assessment questions, DORA metrics, and a prioritised improvement path.

14 min read
Development Practice

From Prototype to Production: What AI-Built Software Needs to Ship

AI tools make prototyping nearly free. The gap between a working demo and production-grade software is where most projects stall. A practical guide to bridging it.

12 min read

API and Integration

5 guides

REST, GraphQL, gRPC, Azure API Management, and integration patterns.

API and Integration

Planning an Integration Strategy: A Guide for Business and Technology Leaders

Integration projects fail when the strategy is wrong, not when the technology is wrong. A practical guide to planning an integration programme that moves at AI-augmented speed.

14 min read
API and Integration

Backend for Frontend (BFF): API Patterns for Mobile and Web Clients

When to use the BFF pattern, how it compares to a single API or API gateway, and how to implement it on Azure. Practical architecture for teams serving mobile, web, and internal clients.

12 min read
API and Integration

Mobile API Best Practices: Building Backends That Scale

How to design, secure, and operate APIs for mobile apps. Protocol choice, authentication flows, offline sync, push notifications, versioning, and Azure architecture patterns.

13 min read
API and Integration

API Versioning Strategies That Actually Work at Scale

URL path, header, and query parameter versioning compared. Breaking vs non-breaking changes, deprecation workflows, Azure APIM versioning, and a practical policy template.

11 min read
API and Integration

REST vs GraphQL vs gRPC: Choosing the Right API Style for Enterprise Systems

A practical comparison of REST, GraphQL, and gRPC for enterprise teams. When each style fits, protocol trade-offs, Azure hosting implications, and a decision matrix.

14 min read

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