General Questions
Why hire Slice Networks?
We understand how important technology is to your future; so click here for all the right reasons to hire us. We run each project up to high standards.
We bring industry best practices with seasoned management in addition to talented technical engineers.
What are your hours of operation?
Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm Pacific Standard Time, but our business hours are another story. Software development rarely respects standard business hours, so our staff can usually be found after hours on client conference calls or working with our overseas development teams.
Our managed services are on-call 24/7 depending on your Service Level Agreement (SLA)
Our Network Operations Center (NOC) is there 24/7 to maintain and monitor your servers if you host with us.
Where is Slice Networks located, and how long have you been in business?
We are headquartered in Costa Mesa, in the heart of Orange County, California, halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles. Slice has been incorporated since 2010. Our core teams have been developing web applications for over a decade.
Slice Networks have datacenter facilities in several locations across Southern California and Asia.
Is Slice Networks a U.S. company?
Yes. We are based in Southern California, and draw from a large technology talent pool both locally and across the United States. Since software engineering talent knows no borders, we also partner with top development teams in Russia, Malaysia, and China.
What size businesses do you work with? Only large corporations, or small and medium sized businesses?
We work with businesses of all sizes; from the seed-level Start-up to a Fortune 500 public company. In fact, most of our customers are medium-sized. Our clients have attitude and vision more in common than size. They are long-term committed to using technology to create for themselves a competitive advantage and increasing profits.
How do you protect the confidentiality of my software?
Slice Networks signs strict confidentiality agreements with each client which bind all of our employees and subcontractors. Sensitive project details are only shared on a need-to-know basis. Live data is always accessed only from either your systems or our highly secured development environment. But our most compelling confidentiality guarantee is that we work with long time employees and subcontractors who have repeatedly proven both their talent and loyalty.
How long does it take to start a project?
It depends on the nature of the project, the talent set required, and its engineering complexity. We generally ramp up on new projects within 2-4 weeks.
How often are you onsite?
This varies highly between projects. Many of our projects execute strategic initiatives for our clients’ businesses; so meeting the responsible parties and seeing their business processes in action is critical. In those cases, we are onsite more frequently. Other projects less intertwined with daily operations require much less onsite time. Again, this varies by project. Of course, for those clients with strong feelings on this subject, we will always meet your needs.
Who owns the rights to the software?
Our clients own all the rights to the software we write. We are merely the hired guns who create it on their behalf. Handing over those rights is clearly spelled out in every contract.
How long does it take to create the typical software application?
"How long?" is TRULY one of the two most frequently asked of all questions! (How much is the other.) There are many variables for each project: the specific requirements, it's engineering complexity, the number of systems we need to interface with, etc.
We determine "How long?" during our Assess and Design phases. Frequently, our projects are critical to our client's business strategies, and are delivered in phases over time periods ranging from 6 months to several years. We just as often create applications on shorter timelines, delivered in 3-6 months. Again, this varies tremendously by project.
The best way to get a feel for your timeline is to contact us to discuss the project. This question is very difficult to answer without specific knowledge about your business and technology needs.
How much will my software project cost?
"How much?" is TRULY the other most frequently asked question! (How long is the first.) There are many variables for each project: the specific requirements, it's engineering complexity, the number of systems we need to interface with, etc.
We generally determine "How much?" in two phases. During our initial project discussions, we will approximate the costs based on our experience. Once we agree on the general scope and budget, we determine costs more specifically by architecting your software during our Assess and Design phases.
The best way to get a feel for your timeline is to contact us to discuss the project. This question is very difficult to answer without specific knowledge about your business and technology needs.
Development Questions
I get a sense my current project is not being executed properly. What are the warning signs, and what can I do about it?
Great question. Despite being critical to your business, over 70% of outsourced software projects are bungled, failing to meet scope, schedule, or budget. Click here to read about the warning signs that your project is on the wrong path.
How much of my software will be developed overseas?
This varies highly between projects. Some factors we consider include cost, industry requirements, client preference, and engineering complexity. We have mastered the art form of breaking complicated software projects into pieces and managing them effectively around the globe. Our experience guides our decisions on which tasks fare well offshore and which tasks need to be kept close to home.
Our goal is to optimize time, resources and cost for every client. For many clients, the cost savings of offshore talent is too great not to consider. Of course, for each and every project, our core U.S.-based teams design, project manage, and review every step of development.
What software technologies do you specialize in?
We have deep talent in many web, video, and mobile technologies. Click here for information on the technology talents we provide.
What type of applications do you specialize in?
We create enterprise class applications integrating mobile, video, and web capabilities that give our customers a competitive advantage. Click here for a sample of recent projects.
Who installs and maintains the software?
Generally, we host our applications in our SSAE 16 SOC I Type 2 Audited data centers. Click here to learn more about our Data Center and Network services. We also provide regular software maintenance for many of our projects.
Do we get the source code and technical documentation?
Source code is the set of computer instructions dictating how your software runs. It is the deliverable that you pay us for, so we of course provide it. Additionally, at key milestones you will be provided all relevant documentation, including the business requirements, functional specifications, and other technical documents.
How do we get technical support for our software?
The best way to get immediate technical support is to call your project manager or architect directly. Otherwise, simply contact us, select the support option, and we will expedite your issue.
Billing Questions
What do you charge per hour?
Our rates vary depending on the type and duration of the project, the engagement model, and the particular combination of talents required. For rate information, please contact us to discuss your project.
How do you engage customers? Is everything time & materials?
We offer three different engagement models to provide the optimal fit for each project and customer: time and materials, fixed cost, and dedicated team. Click here to view the pros and cons of each engagement type.
How does your payment schedule work?
We typically bill twice each month, but every project is different. This is negotiated on a client-by-client basis at the start of each project.