How We Work Across Time Zones
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Commit to hours, not to flexibility
“We are flexible with time zones” means nothing. What matters is which specific hours the team is reachable, and whether that is written down.
So we put overlap hours in the contract. If a client needs 3pm to 6pm their time covered, that is a commitment rather than an aspiration, and it is arranged before the project starts.
The overlap by region
| Client region | Overlap with our engineering hours | Arrangement |
|---|---|---|
| UK and Ireland | 5–6 hours | Standard, no adjustment |
| Western Europe | 5–6 hours | Standard |
| Middle East | 6–8 hours | Standard, generous |
| US East Coast | 2–3 hours | Part of the team shifts later |
| US West Coast | 1–2 hours | Shifted hours, more async |
| Australia and NZ | 4–5 hours | Standard, inverted day |
What we do for narrow overlap
- Shift part of the team's day rather than asking you to take early calls
- Batch questions into one written block, sent before your morning
- Record every demo, with a written summary, so attendance is optional
- A UK-hours commercial contact for anything urgent
- Decisions requested with a deadline attached, so nothing waits silently
The failure mode with narrow overlap is not the hours. It is a question that waits a full day and then gets answered ambiguously, costing a second day.
Asynchronous by default
Even with generous overlap we run written-first. Twice-weekly updates, decisions logged, demos recorded. Meetings are for things that genuinely need discussion.
It costs a little more effort per update and it means the project does not depend on anyone being in a room. It also produces a written record, which is worth a great deal when someone joins in month four.
Response times we hold to
- Questions in the shared channel: within the same working day, usually within hours
- Anything blocking work: prioritised immediately during overlap
- Production incidents on a support retainer: within the agreed response time, including outside overlap
- Commercial questions: same working day, UK hours
Holidays and coverage
Our engineering office observes Pakistani public holidays and the UK office observes British ones. Both calendars go to clients at kick-off so a quiet week is never a surprise.
For anything with a support commitment there is defined cover, with a named person and a route that does not depend on one individual being available. A single-point-of-failure on-call arrangement is not a support arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
Can you work our hours entirely?
What if we need someone urgently outside overlap?
Do you take calls early or late?
How do we know work is happening?
Thinking about hiring a development team?
Send us the brief, however rough. We will tell you honestly whether we are the right people, and who we would suggest if we are not.
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