BUILD OPERATE TRANSFER (BOT)

We set up, run, and hand over small to medium (30-120 people), custom-built software teams. By the end, you’ll have a senior team without the overhead of building it.

Let’s talk→

Trusted by great companies

WHO IS BOT FOR?

Our Build-Operate-Transfer service is a good fit for:

Traditional companies investing in digital products
You’re building internal software or launching a new digital offering, but software isn’t your core business. We give you the team, processes, and handover plan to build it right.
Companies setting up a long-term presence in the region
Whether you’re expanding into Europe or looking to build a nearshore capability, BOT helps you get started quickly, with the option to fully own the team later.

THE PROCESS — From the first hire to the last handshake

01

Build

This is where we lay the groundwork. You define the kind of team you need. We take care of setting it up.

What’s included:

Role definitions and team structure planning
Sourcing and screening candidates from our talent network
Office space, tools, and IT infrastructure setup
Legal, compliance, and payroll handled by our team

Your level of involvement depends entirely on you. If you want to approve every hire and every team decision, you can do that. If you want to lie back and let us handle everything, you can do that as well.

Timeframe

Small team (30): ~3-5 Months
Large team (120): ~6-9 Months

02

operate

Once the team is up and running, we manage all daily operations. You focus on product, delivery, and outcomes.

What we take care of:

Day-to-day team management and performance tracking
Ongoing hiring and onboarding as the team grows
HR, payroll, and legal compliance
IT support and operational logistics
Regular check-ins, reporting, and collaboration with your team leads

Throughout this phase, the team works as an extension of yours. You maintain full visibility and influence without having to manage every detail.

Timeframe

Small team (30): ~6-9 Months
Large team (120): ~12-18 Months

03

Transfer

When the time is right, we start the transfer process. You take full ownership of the team, tools, and infrastructure.

How the transition works:

We align on a transfer plan and timeline
Contracts and IP formally transfer to your company
Operational knowledge is documented and handed over
We support with legal, HR, and onboarding steps as needed
You decide if and how we stay involved after the handover

You’ll walk away with a fully integrated team that you own, ready to keep building under your leadership.

Timeframe

Small team (30): ~3 Months
Large team (120): ~4-6 Months

GREAT, BUT WHY DECODE?

We’re based in the EU

We’re located in Croatia, giving you a strategic EU location with strong English skills, time zone overlap with most of Europe, and work culture alignment with both EU and US teams. Read more about the benefits of setting up an office in Croatia here.

Fast, senior-first hiring

Our established talent network and efficient hiring processes allow us to recruit top senior developers as fast as 2-3 weeks. Without compromising quality.

Proven track record

We regularly build expert teams on tight deadlines. We scaled teams for our Fortune 500 partners from 3 to 30 in a matter of months, allowing our clients to move fast with senior developers.

High retention

Our team is stable, not a revolving door. Over 80% of our developers stay with us for at least 3 years because of fair compensation, strong culture, and meaningful projects.

Let’s talk →

Tools & Tech stack

Mobile

iOS native:
Swift, Objective C

Android native:
Kotlin, Java

Cross-platform:
React Native, Flutter, Kotlin Multiplatform

Web

Web Backend:
Node.js, Java Spring & Quarkus, Python, Ruby on Rails

Web Frontend:
React, Angular, Vue

Desktop:
Electron

Analytics

Google analytics

Mixpanel

AppCenter

Firebase

Shake

Productivity

Slack

Google Workspace

Jira

Confluence

Microsoft Teams

UI/UX Design

Figma

Useberry

Principle

Hotjar

DevOps

BitBucket Pipeline

GitHub Actions

GitLab CI/CD

Jenkins

Fabric/Firebase

Azure DevOps

Source Control

GitHub

BitBucket

GitLab

Azure DevOps

Testing

Shake

Selenium

Appium

XCTest

Mocha

Jest

We’re your ready-made, self-managed team totally focused on you — Let’s build your team →

2012

the distant year when we started our story

80+

expert employees under one roof

4.5

years is our average client collaboration span

But don’t take our word for it

Here’s what our clients have to say about us.

Kenneth Huebsch, director of software engineering, shares his experience working with DECODE.

Their staff showed broader engineering skills, beyond just “mere” software development, like an analytical approach, diligent troubleshooting, and the willingness to learn fast.

Tonci Damjanic

CTO at Bizzon →

Working with DECODE is a pleasure. Their expertise on iOS and Android is excellent and as well as working well with my team they’ve also presented workshops on mobile development to help train up my less experienced engineers.

Richard Underwood

Director of Engineering at Metaswitch →

DECODE made an excellent job working with us on one of our most strategic projects with one of the biggest, most global clients within the industry. With great energy, great technical knowledge, very quick understanding of the situation and what was needed to be done, including the willingness to walk the extra mile, they were a big part of make this project so successful. True professionals and very good output with high quality and speed!

Christoffer Möller

COO at Snowfall

DECODE is a great support to our in-house engineering team. Their knowledge of mobile app development is remarkable. Working aside them is always an ongoing pleasure.

Marijan Zivic

Head of Software Product Development at GDI →

DECODE’s in-depth knowledge of creating real-time communication apps was exactly what we needed for such a demanding mobile app solution. Because of their high quality and speed, I consider them as a five-star agency.

Jack Templin

CEO at Thoughtcap

Working on several successful projects together, DECODE developers have become a valuable part of our team, supporting us in our mission of delivering top-quality mobile banking solutions to our customers.

Slavko Znidaric

Mobile solutions manager at Asseco SEE →

This could be the start of a great partnership

Fill in the short form below, or skip to the bottom to arrange a chat direct with our Strategic Partnerships Manager. Either way, we’ll be back in touch as soon as we can to arrange an informal call.

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or

Arrange a chat with Damir, our strategic partnerships manager.

Book a time

Still unsure about something?

Don’t worry, whatever it is, we’ve got you covered in our FAQ.

How big does the team need to be to make BOT work?

BOT makes sense if you’re building a team of at least 5 people. If you’re scaling fast or planning long-term, it’s even better.

Can we extend the ‘operate’ phase?

Absolutely. Some clients want more time before taking over. We’ll adjust the plan to match your pace.

What if we want to pause or cancel before the transfer?

You’re in control. We’ll always support what’s best for your business, even if that means stopping short of transfer.

Do we own the IP from the start?

Yes. All code and documentation belong to you from day one. No hidden clauses. No fine print.

Is post-transfer support available?

Yes. If you want us to keep helping with operations, HR, or tech leadership after the transfer, we can make that happen.

In the spotlight

See all →

by Mario Zderic 16 min read
Build-operate-transfer (BOT) model in software development: in-depth guide
A clear, no-fluff guide to the build-operate-transfer model – what it is, how it works, and when it actually makes sense for your company.
by Ante Baus 11 min read
The pros and cons of the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model in software development
Here, we’ll take a closer look at the pros and cons of the build-operate-transfer model – and when it actually makes sense for your business.
by Marin Luetic 16 min read
The top challenges of the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model in software development and how to solve them
A practical guide to the top challenges of the BOT model in software development and how to solve them at every stage.

gigapixel How to build engineering teams

A practical handbook created by experts leading teams on projects for Microsoft, AT&T, and Royal Caribbean. Learn how to build and scale your team, while getting ahead of growing pains — before they start.

Get the full handbook as a PDF →

BUILD OPERATE TRANSFER (BOT)

We set up, run, and hand over small to medium (30-120 people), custom-built software teams. By the end, you’ll have a senior team without the overhead of building it.Let’s talk→

Trusted by great companies

WHO IS BOT FOR?

THE PROCESS — From the first hire to the last handshake

Build

operate

Transfer

GREAT, BUT WHY DECODE?

We’re based in the EU

Fast, senior-first hiring

Proven track record

High retention

Tools & Tech stack

But don’t take our word for it

Kenneth Huebsch, director of software engineering, shares his experience working with DECODE.

This could be the start of a great partnership

Still unsure about something?

How big does the team need to be to make BOT work?

Can we extend the ‘operate’ phase?

What if we want to pause or cancel before the transfer?

Do we own the IP from the start?

Is post-transfer support available?

A practical handbook created by experts leading teams on projects for Microsoft, AT&T, and Royal Caribbean. Learn how to build and scale your team, while getting ahead of growing pains — before they start.

We’re a full-service partner to the world’s most ambitious companies — Let’s talk →

We set up, run, and hand over small to medium (30-120 people), custom-built software teams. By the end, you’ll have a senior team without the overhead of building it.

Let’s talk→