The terms 'climate change' and 'sustainability' bring to mind plastic trash and fossil fuels. But there's another contributor behind the scenes: our digital lives come with very real costs. This Earth Day, we’re exploring the green side of data— the good, the bad, and the ugly. We'll uncover the hidden impacts, potential/hopeful innovations, and the part we can each play to keep this modern, data-driven world spinning. The Bad: Data has a footprint too. You might picture data as weightless—just ones and zeros floating in the cloud. But the reality is much heavier. Every photo we upload, email we send, and show we binge relies on massive physical infrastructure in the form of data centers. These are rooms, buildings, even full facilities packed with servers. Fiber optic cables stretch across continents, and devices constantly ping each other for updates. This won't stop anytime soon, and all of it consumes energy. A lot of it. Research estimates mark global data center power usage at 1–2% of total electricity use, or 250-500 TWh (terawatt-hours). Add to that the carbon cost of manufacturing new tech, powering billions of devices, and cooling those server rooms, and the invisible damage of our digital habits comes to light. It should be no surprise that the numbers keep climbing: The IEA predicts "data centres' total electricity consumption could reach more than 1000 TWh in 2026" ( IEA, Electricity 2024 Executive Summary ). The quest for better AI and machine learning comes with a price, too, climbing from 14% to an estimated 27% of the global market ( Goldman Sachs Research, 2024 ). So what's the takeaway? Our digital world isn’t as “clean” as its shiny new toys. Energy-hungry data centers, device manufacturing, AI, and internet usage come with carbon costs. While we may not see smokestacks when we hit “send,” the emissions are still there— they're just harder to spot. Photo Credit: Jordan Harrison | Unsplash & IG @jouwdan The Good: Green Innovations in Data Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there (not yet, anyways). We're a fortunate species that, despite its planet-sized blunders, still has brilliant innovators. Those problem-solvers are reimagining how we power and manage data. While being eco-friendly sounds kitschy and trendy for a while, it's very good that businesses hopped on board: Tech giants and startups alike are investing in data centers powered by renewable energy—solar, wind, even hydroelectric. Google, Microsoft, and AWS are building facilities that run on carbon-free electricity, energy-efficient cooling systems, even submerging the servers in liquid. It’s not just about where the power comes from, but also how we use it. We can make significant changes beyond building better data centers: Engineers are optimizing code, minimizing redundant data storage, and shifting to more efficient hardware. Some even utilize edge computing, which processes data closer to where it’s generated. This cuts down on the energy needed to transmit and store it. In addition, data is being used to do real good: We're using satellite data and machine learning to monitor deforestation, track ocean pollution, and forecast climate patterns. Analyzing for optimization allows cities to improve energy grids and transportation. Farmers are using data to reduce water waste and chemical runoff. Every bit makes a difference. The same tools that contribute to our footprint can also helping us shrink it— if we use them wisely. The Ugly: Doing the Hard Work Sustainability isn’t sleek or simple. Real change requires effort, trade-offs, even some discomfort. We can’t just wait for big tech to fix everything, so we can at least lead by example: Spring clean your cloud storage, emails, software bloat, and databases. Does every dataset truly need to be collected and kept forever? Switch to eco-friendly cloud providers. Support data-driven environmental initiatives. We know that these aren't headline-worthy actions, but they add up! If you're in tech, build with sustainability in mind: efficient code, lower-resolution assets, fewer server calls. If you're a consumer, resist the urge to upgrade devices every year or supporting companies that are transparent about their carbon goals. It’s not flashy, and it’s not easy. But that’s why it makes a difference. It matters. It's important for us to disclose the multiple authors of this blog post: The original outline was written by chat.openai, an AI language model. The content was then edited and revised by Lindey Hoak. Goldman Sachs (2024), AI to drive 65% increase in data center power demand by 2030, Goldman Sachs, https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/articles/ai-to-drive-165-increase-in-data-center-power-demand-by-2030 . Published February 4, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2025. IEA (2024), Electricity 2024, IEA, Paris https://www.iea.org/reports/electricity-2024 , License: CC BY 4.0 OpenAI (2025). ChatGPT. Retrieved from https://openai.com/chatgpt " BearPeak Technology Group is a software studio based in Boulder, CO, offering studio, startup, strategy, and staffing services. Get in touch with BearPeak for a free consultation at bearpeak.io/contact .

In the software world, the terms architecture and design are closely related, sometimes even used interchangeably, but aren't quite the same thing. We're here to distinguish the differences between software architecture vs design (and why you need both). Photo Credit: Dennis Kummer "Just because architecture is supposed to be stable, it does not mean that it should never change." - Gereon Hermkes, Scaling Done Right New to BearPeak? -  Watch a client testimonial - Learn about  how we work - Read more  about us TABLE OF CONTENTS Software Architecture = The Big Picture Software Design = The Details The Importance of Proper Architecture 1. Provides a Roadmap 2. Ensures Scalability 3. Improves Maintainability 4. Enhances Reliability 5. Increases Reusability The Importance of Proper Design 1. Requirements Analysis 2. High Quality 3. Testing 4. Easy to Maintain Software Architecture vs Design To non-programmers, the world of coding gets confusing fast, especially when terms overlap but aren't exactly the same (for another example, see React vs. React Native ). To discuss the roles of software design and architecture, it's important to first identify the differences: Software Architecture = The Big Picture The high-level, comprehensive structure of a software system. This includes: The overall organization Its components The relationships between components Software architecture involves making strategic design decisions that affect the system's quality attributes, such as scalability, reliability, and maintainability. It may help to picture software architecture as the trail on a map: It would be represented by where the landmarks are placed, what type they are, and how the path connects from one to the next. Software architecture works similarly: Planning the big-picture pieces of a structure. Software Design = The Details Defining and planning the detailed specifications for a software system. This involves: Creating a plan. Ensuring the plan meets the functional and non-functional requirements. Following standard design principles like modularity, abstraction, encapsulation, and separation of concerns. Design affects the quality of the software. This includes how easy it is to maintain and how well it meets the needs of its users. In our map analogy, software design would be the details of the landscape and trip. The important sights to include and avoid, any potential pitfalls, and what supplies to pack so you have enough for the journey. Now that we've distinguished software architecture from design, let's discuss why both plans are vital to a successful project: The Importance of Proper Architecture 1. Provides a roadmap It's harder to get lost when you have a good, straight-forward guide. Software architecture sets the direction for the development process, defining the overall structure, the components it will contain, and how they will interact with one another. This helps the team to stay focused and aligned with the end goal. 2. Ensures scalability Good software architecture ensures that the system can be scaled up or down as needed. By anticipating future growth and change, the architecture can be designed to accommodate; The system can adapt without requiring a complete overhaul. 3. Improves maintainability Software architecture separates concerns and makes the system modular. This means that changes can be made to individual components without affecting the entire system, reducing the risk of introducing bugs or breaking the system. 4. Enhances reliability Well-designed architecture makes the system more reliable by minimizing the risk of errors and failures. By building in redundancy and failover mechanisms, the system can continue to operate even if individual components fail. 5. Increases reusability A well-designed software architecture can make the system more reusable, allowing components to be repurposed for other projects or reused within the same project. This can save time and resources by reducing the need to develop new components from scratch. The Importance of Proper Design 1. Requirements analysis Proper software design starts with requirements analysis. This involves understanding the needs of the users and the system's functionality requirements. Considering these details ensures that the software system will meet the needs of its users. 2. High quality Proper design means making a plan reliable, efficient, and easy to use. This is essential because it reduces the likelihood of bugs, crashes, and other problems that affect the user experience. It not only matters that software works, but that it can be navigated by human users. Proper design makes it easier for users to accomplish their tasks and reduces the likelihood of frustration and error. 3. Testing Proper software design includes testing to ensure that the software system meets its requirements and is high quality. Testing involves creating test cases that verify the behavior of the software system under different conditions. Testing ensures that the software system is reliable and free of bugs. 4. Easy to maintain Well-designed software is modular, meaning it's made up of individual components that can be updated/modified without affecting the rest of the system. Both software architecture and software design make it easier to fix bugs and add new features without the risk of everything crashing down. Software Architecture vs Design In summary, proper software architecture is essential for developing high-quality, scalable, maintainable, and reliable software systems that meet the needs of their stakeholders. Proper software design is critical because it affects the quality of the software, how easy it is to maintain, and how well it meets the needs of users. By following these elements, software developers create exceptional plans that cover the big picture and small details of a project. Looking for a software developer to elevate your company's code? Clean and efficient planning plus high-quality, scalable content? Contact us to get connected with an expert developer of your own! We always offer free consultations and reviews of your current code. It's important for us to disclose the multiple authors of this blog post: The original outline was written by chat.openai, an exciting new AI language model. The content was then edited and revised by Lindey Hoak. "OpenAI (2023). ChatGPT. Retrieved from https://openai.com/api-beta/gpt-3/" BearPeak Technology Group is a software studio based in Boulder, CO, offering studio, startup, strategy, and staffing services. Get in touch with BearPeak for a free consultation at bearpeak.io/contact .

How can you predict the unpredictable? Navigating a small business i s already a whirlwind on a normal day—so what happens when chaos strikes? Perhaps the internet goes down, someone launches a competitive product, a pipe bursts upstairs, or in this case, the market changes. Every small business faces uncertainty, but the right plan turns surprises into opportunities. Today, we’ll explore methods for adapting to market changes, with the aim of keeping your small business afloat. New to BearPeak? 👋 Nice to meet you! - Learn how we work - Watch a client testimonial - Read more about us TABLE OF CONTENTS Economic & Financial Changes Industry & Competitive Shifts Technological Changes Prep Work to Adapt to Market Changes Economic & Financial Changes This is the first category most of us think of when we hear 'market changes,' so let's tackle it straight away. Picture it— Interest rates are changing, you're facing inflation, or worst: you're in a recession. How can a small business pull through? Focus on customer retention The customer comes first. Without them, there's no business. Honing in on this focus could mean offering flexible pricing / payment plans, MORE HERE, or donating proceeds to a charity in need to draw awareness and stay in-the-know. Negotiate Time to be a salesman, maybe even a haggler. Try to negotiate better supplier contracts, adjust your product/service's pricing strategically without alienating customers. Secure fixed-rated loans when rates are low (if needed). Shuffle your eggs It's time to diversify to reduce risk: Place your eggs across more baskets by diversifying your revenue streams, suppliers, and even target audiences (if it won't detriment your current clientele). Secure the stronghold Optimize your inventory by ordering stock only when needed, avoid over-purchasing, and seek bulk discounts without overcommitting. Keep backup suppliers and communicate with customers about any delays. This is also the time to reduce unnecessary debt before rates rise. Industry & Competitive Shifts It's the classic scenario of a new next-door neighbor: A new competitor enters the market. Whether you're facing a duplicate to your service or one of your competitors has innovated something new, consumer trends are shifting: Shhhhh... Listen! In this moment, more than ever, understanding your audience is crucial. When customers have more choices, the best way to stand out is by being the genuinely better option. Elevate your customer service wherever possible. Invest in R&D and conduct regular market research to track industry shifts and identify what remains constant as new competitors emerge. Most importantly, listen to your customers. What do they appreciate about your competitor? And, just as importantly, what keeps them coming back to your small business? Strengthen your identity A memorable brand identity is powerful. Strive for a short, easy-to-pronounce name, a professional and recognizable logo, and consistent brand colors, typefaces, and messaging across all platforms. This doesn’t mean you need a complete rebrand—in fact, maintaining your brand’s established reputation can be a major advantage, especially as new competitors try to make a splash. Sometimes, a simple brand refresh is all you need to stay modern and memorable. Dress your best Put your best foot forward—this is your chance to showcase what makes your business stand out. Highlight your unique value propositions and remind your audience why your company is different. After all, no one else brings your vision, passion, and expertise to the table. At the same time, stay adaptable and amicable. Show that your business is willing to evolve with changing customer preferences. You can embrace current trends to stay relevant while retaining your core identity. Technological Changes Today, new software, automation tools, and algorithm updates seem never-ending. It’d be impossible to integrate every new app and AI tool into your business—so where should you focus? Strengthen What You Already Have Invest in cost-effective technology that streamlines operations and boosts efficiency. This includes implementing strong security measures, as cybersecurity threats are always changing, too. Educate your employees on updates and download a manual/tutorial for future hires to ensure smooth transitions. Diversify Your Approach Constant algorithm changes can make online marketing feel like a moving target. Instead of relying on a single platform, spread your efforts across multiple channels. A well-rounded strategy increases your chances of success and protects your business from sudden shifts in any one platform’s rules. Prep Work to Adapt to Market Changes Build a flexible framework If you’re in the early stages of your business while reading this, consider yourself lucky—seasoned entrepreneurs are dying to tell you two things: to go for it (naturally) and to plan ahead. A strong foundation gives you better insight, reduces the risk of needing to start over, and creates more room to grow. Foster innovation Encourage experimentation and creativity. Fresh ideas can help you stay ahead of competitors and adapt to evolving market demands. Keep the lines of communication open—invite suggestions, respond to emails and DMs, and make it clear that every voice matters. When your team feels heard and valued, you’ll be surprised by the innovative, out-of-the-box ideas they bring to the table—ones you might have never thought of on your own! Empower your decision-makers Providing a flexible, durable framework includes the people. If your company hits a new hurdle and everyone responds by freezing and waiting on you to fix it, it might already be too late to recover. Empower leaders on all levels of your business to feel confident making decisions so their team can pivot when needed. You need a reliable and dependable team of experts to make this work. External partnerships Collaborating with other small businesses, freelancers, or consultants can give you access to specialized expertise that's ready in a pinch. When challenges arise, having a network of experts, mentors, and business allies in your corner of the ring can make all the difference. We can't help but plug our team here at BearPeak. We're a team of hand-selected professionals led by a founder who's been part of 4 startups, all of them successful. Even if you choose not to hire us, let's get you connected with our network of professionals. Small businesses stick together! It's important for us to disclose the multiple authors of this blog post: The original outline was written by chat.openai, an AI language model. The content was then edited and revised by Lindey Hoak. OpenAI (2025). ChatGPT. Retrieved from https://openai.com/chatgpt " BearPeak Technology Group is a software studio based in Boulder, CO, offering studio, startup, strategy, and staffing services. Get in touch with BearPeak for a free consultation at bearpeak.io/contact .

Q: What services does BearPeak offer? We help small businesses however they need. Some clients aren't even sure what  they need, so we're here to listen. Then we bring roadmaps to the table; strategies to get you from where you are to where you want to be. Since every situation is different, BearPeak wears many hats. But here's how we typically sort our services into categories: Strategy - Leadership services from a Fractional CTO or other specialized skillset. We provide mentorship and guidance to fit your schedule. Staffing - Dev shop services like providing a front-end, back-end, full-stack, cloud, or 10x programmer for your project. Startup - Empowering startup founders from the moment they write an idea on a napkin through to a working MVP. Studio - Visual design services like brand identity, web and logo design, social media, merch, and e-commerce. Q: Are you serious about your money back guarantee? A: 100%! If you are not completely satisfied in the first month (30 calendar days) of the beginning of your engagement, you may - for any reason - request a refund. We will return all fees and work to find you a replacement resource. Q: What are the strategic advantages of working with BearPeak? A: Flexibility, well-rounded expertise, outside perspective, supervision, and significantly reduced risk. Technical projects don't fail because of the technology, but the people. Great people with a great process make an amazing product. Q: How do BearPeak prices compare to the market? A: Comparable to fully burdened FTE salaries, typically. Cheaper than most of our competitors as well, on a margin basis, which means you receive higher-quality resources. Q: Are you hiring? A: We're happy to hear you're interested in joining the BearPeak team! The best place to see our job openings and get notified of new ones is on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bearpeaktech/jobs Q: What if my question isn't here in your FAQs? If your Q isn't an FAQ, let's chat! Visit our   contact page  to get in touch. Q's about software developer staffing: Q: What makes BearPeak candidates better than other agencies? A: BearPeak vets our candidates more deeply than typical agencies. In many cases, our candidates are people we have personal knowledge of; almost referrals. Q: Is BearPeak a tech "matchmaking" service? A: We're more than that - We are your partner. Our clients look at BearPeak as an extension of their engineering team at all levels - Individual Contributor, Leadership / Strategy, and Human Resources. Q: Are BearPeak developer candidates BearPeak employees? A: Sometimes. BearPeak is flexible with our candidates (and clients), engaging with them on whatever basis is best for the individual. Some BearPeak candidates are employees, some are contractors. Q: What does BearPeak provide beyond the engineer? Any project management support, work tracking/guarantees, etc.? A: Every engagement (optionally) includes a dedicated "Software Delivery Director" at no additional cost, who ensures timelines are met and quality is high. We guarantee that if you're not happy - for any reason - in the first month (30 calendar days) we will refund our fee. Q: How do you compare contractors to FTEs from a cost perspective? A: We always look at compensation as a combination of base salary, benefits, bonuses, stock, etc - which we refer to as the "fully burdened" cost of the role. We also assume that only 48 full weeks of any given year are worked, as everyone needs time off. BearPeak Technology Group is a software studio based in Boulder, CO, offering studio, startup, strategy, and staffing services. Get in touch with BearPeak for a free consultation at bearpeak.io/contact .

It's the new big thing: Hosting a software application or service on remote servers over the internet (instead of a local server or personal computer). The process allows you to access the software from anywhere with an internet connection, rather than being restricted to a single physical location. If the tech jargon doesn't convince you to move to the cloud, maybe these benefits will! Read on for 6 excellent reasons you should move your company's software to the cloud. This article has been updated in 2025 for current relevance. Photo Credit: Ales Nesetril, Unsplash “Carrying around these non-connected computers is byzantine by comparison.” - Steve Jobs New to BearPeak? - Watch a client testimonial . - Explore our software studio . - Learn more about us . TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.  Scalability 2.  Accessibility 3 . Save $ 4. Improved Security 5. Increased Reliability 6. Automated Software Updates So... How Do You Move to the Cloud? 1. Scalability The cloud allows businesses to easily increase/decrease the amount of resources they use, depending on their needs. Want to try out a new extension? It no longer takes a CD download (or 2 or 3!) to install something new. It allows you to be proactive: If cloud computing works well for your company, you can later expand or shrink your software's contents much quicker and efficiently! 2. Accessibility Software in the cloud can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, making it easier for remote employees or geographically-dispersed teams to collaborate. BearPeak Technology Group is a Colorado-based consultancy, but our remote software developers come from all over, and all of them can work on your software via the cloud. You can hire engineers whenever you need them, and they don't have to commute to your office. That means no flash drives, floppy disks, or long file downloads anymore! 3. Save $ Cloud computing eliminates the need for expensive on-premise hardware. This includes reducing the costs associated with maintaining a physical infrastructure. You no longer have to buy the next-gen computer or newest specialty machine to stay up-to-date! 4. Improved Security Cloud service providers have the resources and expertise to provide robust security measures, such as data backup and disaster recovery, that may be beyond the reach of many businesses. No matter what's happening in your home office, from construction to a natural disaster, you don't have to be at risk of losing your software if it's in the cloud instead. 5. Increased Reliability Cloud service providers have multiple servers and data centers, so if one fails, the system can be redirected to another. This minimizes downtime and reduces the risk of data loss. 6. Automated Software Updates Cloud service providers are responsible for maintaining and updating the software, which means that businesses no longer have to worry about manually updating software or installing security patches. This saves time and reduces the risk of technical issues that can arise from manual updates. So... How Do You Move to the Cloud? To move software to the cloud, your business needs to choose a cloud service provider. You'll also need to determine the right cloud deployment model (public, private, or hybrid) for your specific needs. Finally, you'll need to consider the security and privacy implications of storing data in the cloud, and take steps to ensure that your data is protected. If this doesn't sound like your field of expertise, hire someone who can help! Software consultancies like BearPeak Technology Group have expert developers for hire who can move your software to the cloud for you. Check us out! We offer free consultations. Moving software to the cloud offers numerous benefits to businesses of all sizes. With the right planning and preparation, businesses can reap the benefits of cloud computing and improve their competitiveness in today's rapidly-evolving technology landscape. It's important for us to disclose the multiple authors of this blog post: The original outline was written by chat.openai, an exciting new AI language model. The content was then edited and revised by Lindey Hoak. "OpenAI (2023). ChatGPT. Retrieved from https://openai.com/api-beta/gpt-3/" BearPeak Technology Group is a software studio based in Boulder, CO, offering studio, startup, strategy, and staffing services. Get in touch with BearPeak for a free consultation at bearpeak.io/contact .

Photo Credit: Valna Studio | Unsplash @valnastudio | IG @mukukostudio "Happiness us not at the top of the mountain, but in how to climb.” ~ Confucius Starting a business is an exciting yet challenging endeavor. The path is filled with twists and turns, but with the right strategy, you can increase your chances of success. Today, we’re sharing some of our favorite tips to help make your startup succeed. New to BearPeak? -  Watch a client testimonial - Learn about  how we work - Read more  about us TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Define a Problem & Solution 2. Validate Your Idea 3. Build a Strong Team 4. Make Connections 5. Be Flexible 6. Focus on Cash Flow 7. Stay Persistent 1. Define a Problem & Solution As the founder of TechCrunch Michael Arrington said, “The best startups generally come from somebody needing to scratch an itch.” For a stronger chance at success, your startup should be built to solve a specific problem for a specific clientele. Identify a clear problem and solution to help focus your efforts. It will give you a clear direction for your business, no matter what branding, technological, or business changes happen along your journey. For example, at BearPeak, we recognized the problem that 90% of startups fail, with 10% not even making it through their first year. We believe that with better guidance, a strong network, and access to experts in software development and leadership, we can provide a solution to those startups that truly want to succeed. We help startups start up. 2. Validate Your Idea We hate to say it, but there are ideas out there that simply don’t have a market. Before investing your hard-earned time and money into a startup, make sure there is a market for your product or service. It's important to conduct market research and validate your idea by talking to potential customers and getting feedback. Be your own first customer: Would you buy it? BearPeak validated its business idea by talking to startup Founders and CEOs. They were searching for software experts, leadership guidance, and a stronger local network, all things BearPeak provides! We found our first clients in our Boulder neighborhood. 3. Build a Strong Team "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." Your team is the backbone of your startup, so it's important to build one that's strong, supportive, and diverse. Not only will you gain different perspectives and insights, but even ones that you don’t agree with will challenge what you previously thought true. Stay open to new ideas to keep your startup afloat through uncharted waters. 4. Make Connections For a better chance at success, it's important to surround yourself with like-minded people. Step outside your office and meet other startup founders! Building a network of contacts and relationships can help you find new opportunities, gain access to resources, and even find new customers. It's excellent to follow a structured system to get your startup moving, but making connections will bring opportunities you couldn't have predicted. We recommend attending events, joining organizations, and connecting with others in your industry as often as possible. 5. Be Flexible In the early stages of a startup, it's important to be flexible. It’s your baby, but you can’t control exactly how it will turn out. Be prepared to pivot your strategy and make changes as needed based on feedback from customers and the market. When our founder John Eckhardt had the idea for BearPeak, he had a completely different name in mind! He was willing to brainstorm new names, styles, even services and clienteles, in order to serve people as best as he could. You're currently browsing the fourth version of our website! New and improved iterations wouldn't have been possible without flexibility. 6. Focus on Cash Flow No, you’re not being greedy by focusing on the money; Cash flow is the lifeblood of your startup, and it's important to carefully manage your finances. Before investing all your savings into one new tool or extra-cool gadget, do your research and compare competitors. The ultimate goal is to keep expenses low, track your cash flow, and make sure you have enough money to sustain your business through its early stages. 7. Stay Persistent Starting a business is not easy, and there will be challenges along the way. Stay focused, persistent, and never give up. Why did you start your business? What motives you to keep going? Reflect on your successes so far to encourage yourself to keep making improvements every day. Even minuscule improvements can add up to something great. Make Your Startup Succeed This takes hard work, dedication, and a bit of luck. But by following these tips, you can increase your chances of success and turn your dream into a reality. It's hard to stay persistent without accountability and assistance; make sure to check out BearPeak's services to start building a network of startup professionals. It's important for us to disclose the multiple authors of this blog post: The original outline was written by chat.openai, an exciting new AI language model. The content was then edited and revised by Lindey Hoak. "OpenAI (2023). ChatGPT. Retrieved from https://openai.com/api-beta/gpt-3/" BearPeak Technology Group is a software studio based in Boulder, CO, offering studio, startup, strategy, and staffing services. Get in touch with BearPeak for a free consultation at bearpeak.io/contact .

Software development is a fast-paced environment. It's an endless cycle of improvements, making it hard to gauge whether your team is truly thriving. How can you tell if your technical team is on the right track? Measuring success is tricky business. Unsure whether it's time to bring in a tech expert? Here are telltale signs that your engineers are in trouble. New to BearPeak? - Watch a client testimonial - Learn how we work - Read more about us TABLE OF CONTENTS Missed deadlines High turnover Bottle-necked decision making Failure to adopt best practices The Knowledge Silo Solutions have been temporary 1. Missed deadlines Think this sounds obvious? You may only have that clarity when you aren't deep in a project. When you're there in the thick of it, all sorts of explanations come up: Maybe you hit an unexpected roadblock. Maybe an emergency derailed the project as your team hurried to fix a new issue instead of working on the material they were initially assigned. Whatever the reason, review why your team missed deadlines. If projects are consistently delayed, and especially if the product delivered was below expectations, your team is in trouble. 2. High turnover Are engineers frequently leaving your team? Time to find out why morale is low. It could be anything from poor communication to burnout. If your devs display high levels of stress, fatigue, or disengagement, it's time to reevaluate. Here are some details to look for: A great engineer has an uptick in bugs or a drop in code quality. Your team is staying quiet; avoiding suggesting improvements or taking initiative. There's silence in meetings, fewer questions, and lack of discussion. Peers are venting in private chats to each other instead of addressing issues constructively. Sudden resignations. If top engineers leave, others may be inclined to follow. Increased sick days & time off, especially without notice. A lack of passion; they're doing the bare minimum and showing less enthusiasm. More friction between team members or between the team + leadership. Overwork without results; Long hours but little real progress. Honest insights from departing employees that highlight unaddressed issues. 3. Bottlenecked decision-making When a new decision needs to be made, who makes it? How long does it take? Your team may be great engineers, but they might have difficulty articulating their current challenges or aligning with other departments. If there is any uncertainty about who has task authority, you're facing an issue. Poor communication only causes further confusion and delays. 4. Failure to adopt best practices Don't avoid the hard work and research it takes to follow best practices. Whether its outdated tools, a lack of automated testing, or a resistance to modern dev trends, lack of quality will eventually rear its ugly head: Increased technical debt, frequent bugs, and more. Your team will struggle to grow the product, infrastructure, or team size if it doesn't have a proper foundation. Look for inefficient workflows, like a lack of clear objectives, or poor adherence to Agile or Scrum. 5. The Knowledge Silo Every team has its best players. But if key individuals on your team are the sole holders of critical knowledge, failure is only a sick or vacation day away. Your current team should be proposing and experimenting with new ideas and solutions, otherwise innovation is stalled. If they aren't, how do we fill the knowledge gap? Introduce a knowledge base or wiki (this could be in Confluence, Notion, or even a well-organized GitHub repo) to store key information. You may have to request the key individual to document the missing critical processes/architectures into this base. Make documentation updates a recurring task, not a one-time effort. Pair programmers / Shadowing days. Rotate responsibilities Host internal knowledge sessions (& record these for future reference) Mandate cross-training Make knowledge-sharing part of performance evaluations 6. Solutions have been temporary You may have tried one, five, maybe dozens of third-party consultants already. But if they've only provided temporary fixes rather than building internal capabilities, you need an expert. Sometimes you need a 3rd-party viewpoint on a confusing situation. An outside voice can reassess how the team works together. Bring in someone who will address your team's progress, processes, and dynamics, like one of our experts here at BearPeak. This is the part where we toot our own horn, because we've seen quite a few dev teams dealing with a range of issues, and we know how to help. If you're interested in how our process works, let's chat! An intro call is free, with no strings and no stress, just insights: Let's talk about your team. It's important for us to disclose the multiple authors of this blog post: The original outline was written by chat.openai, an AI language model. The content was then edited and revised by Lindey Hoak. " OpenAI (2025). ChatGPT. Retrieved from https://openai.com/chatgpt " BearPeak Technology Group is a software studio based in Boulder, CO, offering studio, startup, strategy, and staffing services. Get in touch with BearPeak for a free consultation at bearpeak.io/contact .

This statement was last updated on Monday, March 3rd. We at BearPeak Technology Group are working to make our site www.bearpeak.io accessible to people with disabilities. What Web Accessibility Is An accessible site allows visitors with disabilities to browse the site with the same or a similar level of ease and enjoyment as other visitors. This can be achieved with the capabilities of the system on which the site is operating, and through assistive technologies. Accessibility Adjustments on This Site We have adapted this site in accordance with WCAG 2.2 guidelines, and have made the site accessible to the level of AA . This site's contents have been adapted to work with assistive technologies, such as screen readers and keyboard use. As part of this effort, we have also: Used the Accessibility Wizard to find and fix potential accessibility issues Set the content order of the site’s pages Defined clear heading structures on all of the site’s pages Added alternative text to images Implemented color combinations that meet the required color contrast Ensured all videos, audio, and files on the site are accessible Requests, Issues, and Suggestions If you find an accessibility issue on the site, or if you require further assistance, you are welcome to contact us through the organization's accessibility coordinator: John Eckhardt (303)-900-3093 info@bearpeak.io

Finding the right talent to fit your needs can be time-consuming, overwhelming, and downright discouraging. From ghosting to inadequate deliverables, all sorts of things can go wrong when you hire an online programmer. Let's cover the top 5 most frustrating problems that occur when hiring software developers online. We'll also provide solutions so you never have to deal with these problems again. “If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional, wait until you hire an amateur.” - Red Adair New to BearPeak? -  Watch a client testimonial - Learn about  how we work - Read more  about us In case we haven't met, hi! We're BearPeak Technology Group: A Colorado-based team of engineers who help you hire remote software developers efficiently and reliably. We have cumulative decades of experience in software development and startup success, so we can tell you first-hand about the difficulties you may run into along your company's journey. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Not Knowing What You Need 2. Not Knowing Who You Need 3. It Can Take Weeks 4. High Failure Rate 5. No Quality Guarantee 1. Not Knowing What You Need If you aren't a software engineer yourself, how are you supposed to know which type to hire? Learning terms like front-end, back-end, full stack, and DevOps is complicated enough, but then just in the software development category alone, there are hundreds of languages. Python, Javascript, Bash, Golang, Perl, Ansible... and the list of gibberish jargon goes on. Do you need someone who can match your current code language? Or are you looking to build something new, fresh and better? How do you even get started? Fortunately, some companies (like us, BearPeak Technology Group ) offer a free code assessment. The engineers on our team can review your current content and recommend professional developers who best fit your needs; We're the bridge between company leads and the software developers you're looking for. 2. Not Knowing Who You Need It's hard to trust people beyond your current network - It's like taking a shot in the dark. You're handing your code, your information, and your valuable website over to a complete stranger! You can find software developers online for quick projects, costing as little as $5 (you now the site). This may work fine for a small code error, but what about big projects? Are you comfortable giving all your information to someone whose face you'll never see? Fortunately, the experts at BearPeak would love to talk! We're suckers for face-to-face calls, catching up on life events and telling you all about our favorite Colorado hiking and skiing spots. Our team is made of diverse, senior-level professionals with decades of cumulative experience. In fact, we've had great success on startup teams, and have gone through the trials and errors so you don't have to. BearPeak programmers (or candidates) are vetted more deeply than typical agencies. In many cases, they are people we have personal knowledge of; almost referrals. We won't recommend anyone to join your team that we don't personally know and trust. 3. It Can Take Weeks Hiring a new employee can be such a long process: Researching, writing and posting listings, waiting for candidates to reach out, comparing credentials, scheduling and conducting interviews, selecting a candidate, onboarding and explaining the process, then finally seeing if the programmer can do what you need them to. This process for hiring a software developer can take up to 8-12 weeks. We know you and your team might not have that time; Are you looking for outside help with a current project? When is the deadline for that deliverable? BearPeak cuts down the hiring time by providing excellent candidates from the very beginning. You tell us what you need, and we'll provide the perfect match. We'll also provide a Software Delivery Director (free of charge!) who will stick by both you and the programmer as the project is completed. 4. High Failure Rate From ghosting to poor communication, unclear expectations to inadequate deliverables, hiring online can be a disaster. The last thing you want is to hire someone, think you've made a great decision in just the nick of time, then hear excuse after excuse about why you'll never receive the changes you wanted. Juggling a startup is complicated enough on its own. Adding an unreliable hire into the mix only makes it more likely that your big software dreams will remain just that: big dreams. BearPeak knows that fear of failure and never reaching your goals. But we've pushed through, reaching pitfalls and peaks of our own, to become experts in our field. Now we're ready to help you trek through your journey. Every BearPeak engagement includes a dedicated Software Delivery Director at no additional cost. They ensure that timelines are met and quality is high. We guarantee that if you’re not happy - for any reason - in the first month (30 calendar days) we will refund our fee. 5. No Quality Guarantee What if your new software programmer delivers... well... subpar work? All that money and time, emails back and forth, now a product that doesn't match what you thought you'd be getting. The conversation can be uncomfortable, and some freelancers won't correct their mistakes for free. Even if they will, do you even want to work with them anymore? You may have to hire someone new just to fix what the first programmer did wrong. Never want to worry about throwing your money away on inadequate programmers ever again? Hire a team that ensures a quality promise: All BearPeak Technology Group services come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It's important for us to disclose the multiple authors of this blog post: The original outline was written by chat.openai, an exciting new AI language model. The content was then edited and revised by Lindey Hoak. "OpenAI (2023). ChatGPT. Retrieved from https://openai.com/api-beta/gpt-3/" BearPeak Technology Group is a software studio based in Boulder, CO, offering studio, startup, strategy, and staffing services. Get in touch with BearPeak for a free consultation at bearpeak.io/contact .

Meet Vanessa Otero , the Founder and CEO of Ad Fontes Media. Otero's organization is a media watchdog: It rates sources in terms of their political bias and reliability. She founded Ad Fontes Media to serve as the publisher for the Interactive Media Bias Chart, which requires complex custom software to function. Otero hired BearPeak Technology Group to help her team take the chart to the next level. You can view Vanessa Otero's client testimonial as a video below, or read on for a written version: Client Testimonial What solution did BearPeak provide for your problem? VO: We were looking for some additional help in all aspects of development: Front-end, back-end, and transitioning some of our software over to the cloud. We would have greater cloud computing needs and better infrastructure, something truly scalable so we could grow. BearPeak was able to source the right folks, start executing and producing features, like shipping features, within a week. I mean, that’s a really fast turn-around time. What did BearPeak offer that made their services unique? VO: John, specifically, has lots of expertise in getting software programs into the cloud, developing pipelines, and the type of processes that you need to make sure that you can continue to build new features and ship them out quickly. I think one of the things that BearPeak brings to the table is the ability to structure the project and communicate it really well. So, I always had really clear expectations of what was going to happen and when, and who was going to do what. You can’t find that everywhere, you know? Lots of folks have the skills to do software development, but you can’t just throw folks into a room and expect really efficient results, or that everyone’s going to get along, unless you have somebody who really understands interpersonal dynamics and has the technical knowledge. Would you choose to work with BearPeak in the future? VO: I’m a repeat customer of BearPeak. It’s really nice to be able to have a company that you can rely on. You know, we worked with them for about a four or five-month sprint last year, and then we were done with the project that they delivered on, right? Things were going great with our company, and then we found another spot where we really needed to invest some dedicated resources to developing a particular product and putting it out there, and we brought them back. And both times were different. We had different needs of where our software was and where we wanted it to be, and they were able to deliver. I have no doubt that, in the future, as our needs grow, they will be able to come in and step in and fill that role when we need extra talent. Who would you recommend work with BearPeak? VO: I would recommend startups that have a need to expand their capabilities work with BearPeak. The ability to find exactly the kind of developer that you’re looking for, that was really helpful to me. I have some technical background, but not experience programming in, you know, any language, let alone multiple languages, and knowing the various different skill levels and the pool of talent that’s available. Recruiting for software talent is difficult, especially if you’re not sure exactly what you need. Founders are looking to get their software set up correctly on cloud platforms, and implement things like testing and CI/CD where it really enables you to put out features quickly, expand the scale of your offerings with minimal downtime and minimal errors. BearPeak has that expertise. Folks who are looking for sourcing the right talent, cloud computing, BearPeak is definitely the company I would recommend. Want to learn more about BearPeak's services? Check us out! BearPeak Technology Group is a software studio based in Boulder, CO, offering studio, startup, strategy, and staffing services. Get in touch with BearPeak for a free consultation at bearpeak.io/contact .

What exactly does a web designer do every day? The daily schedule of an online employee can seem like a mystery; When you only see their occasional notifications and meet for video calls every couple of days, the other details of their work go unknown. Photo Credit: Kelly Sikkema | Unsplash Most of our team no longer works in an office, so let's take this opportunity to share what the BearPeak team members do in a day. Follow along with our designer Lindey through her typical work day. New to BearPeak? -  Watch a client testimonial - Learn about  how we work - Read more  about us 8:00am - Wake Up & Planning Working from home, I have the luxury of a calm morning routine. I roll out of bed and prepare a cup of hot chai. While eating breakfast, I usually scroll through Notion on my phone, adding and rearranging my to-do list of tasks for the day. My BearPeak role consists of both web design and social media management, so I'll be spending my day making art and social posts. 10:00am - Video Call Meetings Depending on the workday, I attend meetings to discuss our current clients, campaigns, and upcoming social media posts. 11:00am - Web Design Work I prefer to dive right into my biggest projects right away; My ideas are fresh from the meetings, and I have a clear set of objectives from my morning to-do list. It's important to note that not all of my tasks will be completed in one day: Any artist knows that a quick sketch or minor vector adjustment often turns into something much longer. Artwork takes multiple days, returning to the project with new perspectives and ideas. One of the nicest perks about doing art for a living is the ability to listen to something as I work. From dozens of Spotify playlists to audiobooks, I often have something going in the background. I also have the strange ability to look at any art I've completed and remember what I was listening to as I created it, like a visual time capsule. I'm also a big fan of pomodoro videos, which help me power through work in 25-minute increments and remind me to take 5-minute breaks in between. 12:00pm - Lunch What's for lunch? Likely leftovers: Falafels and stir-fried vegetables are two of my favorites. Otherwise, I'll cook a pot of rice with chicken curry and naan. Whatever I eat, I aim for all my food groups and a lot of water to help me focus when I get back into my work. For the remainder of my lunch break, I stay away from computer screens because I know the juxtaposition will freshen my ideas (and help avoid eye strain). I like to watercolor, read books, and take walks outside. 1:00pm - Work I do well with challenges and time pressure, so I like to pick one project and aim to complete it within the hour. Most often, that challenge is in Buffer, our choice for social media planning software. I'll aim to finish organizing and writing a week's worth of posts before the hour's up. Since we love Boulder, Colorado so much and appreciate the hometown that has helped us grow , we like to share current local events. I take time every week to catch up on what's happening in Boulder and add the best highlights to our upcoming post calendar. 2:00pm - Exercise To keep my brain focused (and my body from morphing into the shape of my desk chair), I make sure to get in some exercise every day. I prefer yoga or a mat workout, both of which take about an hour. 3:00pm - Work The remainder of the workday is devoted to any outstanding projects. I turn on a Deep Focus playlist on Spotify and knock out a blog article or two. 6:00pm - Dinner Prep & Chores I enjoy the simple prep of measuring out the ingredients, throwing them all in an Instant Pot, setting the timer, and forgetting about dinner until it's ready. I take this time to clean up the apartment, take out the trash, finish folding and putting away the laundry, or do the dishes. Once it's ready, I like to watch TV while eating: Anything from Bob's Burgers to Grey's Anatomy, sometimes a Studio Ghibli movie. 8:00pm - Winding Down The events of this time of day vary, but I often scroll TikTok, read, or play my newest video game obsession. This alternates between Rune Factory, Fallout, and Terraria. I also like writing my own novels, so late-night hours with a cup of chamomile are the perfect time to explore another passion. I make sure to be in bed before 10pm; I LOVE sleep, and I want to be freshly alert in the morning to have another excellent day of work. BearPeak Technology Group is a software studio based in Boulder, CO, offering studio, startup, strategy, and staffing services. Get in touch with BearPeak for a free consultation at bearpeak.io/contact .

It's quite an important decision. Whether you just need someone to double-check your code or you’re looking for a complete overhaul, the team you choose can have a significant impact on your project's success. With so many companies offering software development services, it can be overwhelming to determine which one best suits your needs. But the struggle is over: We have the advice you’ve been looking for. New to BearPeak? -  Watch a client testimonial - Learn about  how we work - Read more  about us We aren’t just trying to sell ourselves as the solution; sure, we know a thing or two about which companies make reliable partners, but everyone has different needs. Whether you use our services or not, we want nothing but the best for you, so let's talk about what that scenario should look like. TABLE OF CONTENTS Experience and Expertise Communication and Collaboration Quality and Testing Project Management and Delivery Pricing and Value Choosing a Software Company Experience and Expertise When choosing a software development company, look for a team that has a proven track record of delivering projects similar to yours. There are thousands of software development teams out there; Make sure you pick one that understands your business. It's also important to consider the expertise of the developers themselves. You'll want to ensure that the team has the necessary technical skills and knowledge to complete your project. Ask about their experience with specific programming languages and frameworks that are relevant to your project. In the software world, we refer to developers with titles based on how long they’ve been working: Senior for ~6 years and Staff-level for ~12+. Look for this on the company’s website or feel free to ask. Software developers know that their field house can seem foreign. Whole other languages, programs, and processes can make it overwhelming to talk about, especially if you haven't worked in their roles before. But devs are more than happy to answer questions, to clear up what complex jargon means and does, you only need ask. Communication and Collaboration Be on the lookout for a team that is responsive and communicates clearly and frequently. You want to work with a company that is easy to reach and provides regular updates. Nobody wants to work with a lackluster team that doesn’t meet your expectations, and definitely not one that ghosts you! You should also look for a team that is collaborative. If they work closely with you, they'll better understand your business needs and goals. The best software development companies will be able to offer insights and suggestions that can help improve your project, and also explain why those changes would be beneficial. Behind every website is a different team of flesh-and-blood people. Do these ones mesh well with you? Quality and Testing Quality is essential in software development. Look for a team that has a strong quality assurance process in place. This will ensure that the code is clean, well-documented, and maintainable. Not many teams will take the time and effort to get to know your project, your code, and your goals in-depth, so look for the golden nugget teams that do care. Teams like BearPeak Technology Group offer a free code review at the beginning of your time together, then a 30 money-back guarantee for any issues with the code or service. Testing is also a critical part of the development process. Imagine how frustrating it would be to receive a beautiful final product and part ways, only to learn it doesn't work? Ensure the software is thoroughly tested before deployment to minimize the risks. How can you do this? Ask the company about their testing process and how they ensure the software is of high quality. Project Management and Delivery Effective project management is also crucial. Look for a company with well-defined project management process in place. This should include regular status updates, a clear timeline, and a defined scope of work. Teams like BearPeak will schedule your next call during the initial call. They’ll provide updates on their work via email or Slack, and they’ll take notes and return to them. Look for a team that takes your project seriously and treats it with care. You'll also want to ensure that the company has a strong track record on delivery. Ask for references and case studies that demonstrate their ability to deliver projects on time and within budget. Pricing and Value Pricing is, of course, an important consideration when choosing a software development company. However, it's essential to look beyond the price tag and consider the value offered. Look for a team that provides transparent pricing and flexible payment options. This doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll list their prices on their website; Custom coding requires a custom price. Consider the long-term value of working with this company. Will they be able to support and maintain the software after the project is complete? Do they offer ongoing training and support to ensure that your team can effectively use the software? Choosing a Software Company Choosing a software development company is a critical decision that requires careful consideration. Remember to take your time and do your research to ensure that you choose a company that is the best fit for your needs. Good hunting! If this article has piqued your interest in BearPeak’s services, let’s talk about your project . It's important for us to disclose the multiple authors of this blog post: The original outline was written by chat.openai, an exciting new AI language model. The content was then edited and revised by Lindey Hoak. "OpenAI (2023). ChatGPT. Retrieved from https://openai.com/api-beta/gpt-3/" BearPeak Technology Group is a software studio based in Boulder, CO, offering studio, startup, strategy, and staffing services. Get in touch with BearPeak for a free consultation at bearpeak.io/contact .