A Clear, Documented Process From First Call to Ongoing Support.
We don't rely on guesswork. Alison Prime uses a repeatable, structured framework for every project—spanning discovery, architecture, build, QA, security checks, and long-term maintenance.
The Alison Prime Project Timeline
Discovery
- Stakeholder interviews & goals
- Existing tech audit
Plan & Arch
- Tech stack selection
- Data schema mapping
Build
- Sprint-based development
- Regular staging updates
QA & Launch
- Security & performance checks
- Managed deployment
Maintenance
- Uptime monitoring
- Ongoing patches & support
Exact steps and duration vary by project size and complexity.
1. Discovery
Before writing a single line of code, we focus on understanding your business goals, existing constraints, and the specific needs of your stakeholders.
- Existing site/app audit
- Current API integrations inventory
- Defining clear success criteria
2. Plan & Architecture
We translate your goals into a technical roadmap. This phase defines the scope, selects the right technology stack, and identifies potential risks early.
- System architecture outline
- Scope definition & rough timeline
- Risk & assumption logging
- High-level plan
- Proposed stack
- Initial estimates
5. Ongoing Maintenance & Support
Software isn't static. After launch, we shift from "build mode" to "sustain mode." We prefer to stay involved via maintenance retainers to ensure your investment remains secure, fast, and compatible with modern standards.
What we typically handle
- Security patches & software updates
- Daily backups & uptime monitoring
- Rapid incident response
- Small feature improvements
What you handle
- Content updates & blog posts
- Business strategy decisions
- Internal staff workflows
- (We can assist with these upon request)
How We Collaborate During a Project
Kickoff & Check-ins
We start with a detailed kickoff call to align on goals. Throughout the project, we maintain a rhythm of regular check-in meetings (usually bi-weekly) and frequent asynchronous written updates so you never have to ask "What's the status?"
Tools We Use
Transparency is key. You will have access to our project management board (to see active tasks), a shared documentation space for requirements, and we use industry-standard version control systems to keep code safe and traceable.
Decision-Making & Approvals
We don't rely on hallway conversations. Key architectural decisions and scope changes are documented in writing. We require formal approval on designs and staging builds before moving to production to prevent misunderstandings.
Your Point of Contact
You won't be bounced around a call center. Every client is assigned a primary technical lead. This person understands your business context, knows your codebase inside out, and is responsible for answering your questions clearly—without the jargon.
Handling Scope Changes Without Chaos.
Projects evolve, and that’s okay. We build flexibility into our process, but we protect the timeline and budget by keeping changes visible and agreed upon.
Scope & Changes
- We define a clear baseline scope before a single line of code is written.
- New requests are logged formally as Change Orders—never lost in email threads.
- We discuss the impact on time and cost before any extra work begins.
Risk & Constraints
- We identify technical risks during Discovery, not days before launch.
- Blockers are flagged immediately to stakeholders.
- When constraints appear, we propose realistic alternatives rather than ignoring the problem.
“We prefer to surface constraints early instead of overpromising.”
Process FAQ
Timelines vary based on scope. A standard marketing website typically takes 4–6 weeks, while complex web apps or custom integrations can range from 2–4 months. We provide a detailed timeline during the Discovery phase.
Yes. We often act as an extension of internal teams, handling specific migrations or feature builds. We adopt your team's version control workflows and coding standards to ensure seamless collaboration.
If it's an existing system we are maintaining, we have SLA response times for critical incidents. If it's a new build in development, we prioritize blockers immediately to keep the timeline on track.
We aim for a fixed scope to protect your budget, but we know business needs change. We handle scope changes via a formal "Change Order" process, where we discuss the impact on cost and timeline before approving the new work.
To start, we typically need access to your current hosting/DNS (if applicable), brand assets (logos, fonts), and a designated point of contact on your team for approvals.
Absolutely. Data migration is a core part of our architecture phase. We map out data structures carefully to ensure users, orders, or content move over accurately without data loss.
Want to see how this process would look for your project?
Share your current situation with us. We’ll outline a rough roadmap and let you know if we’re the right fit to help.