The same logic applies to software. When a mission critical system goes down, it costs far more than just the repair. It hits your revenue, your productivity, your customer satisfaction. And in many cases, it means serious financial losses as key projects grind to a halt. For this kind of software, “cheap” can be the most expensive choice you make — because the risk of failure is exponentially higher.
In short (TL;DR)
When it comes to mission-critical systems, “cheap” can turn out to be very expensive. Cutting corners may save money upfront but risks downtime, financial losses, and damaged trust. These high-stakes projects demand experienced teams, tight collaboration, and a zero-failure mindset. In short: experiment where you can — but when failure isn’t an option, invest in certainty.
The Role of Your Project Approach
As an architect, I’ve seen enough projects to recognize recurring patterns. One of the most important lessons? How you approach a project depends on what kind of system you're building.
There are moments where you can experiment — with new vendors, fresh technology, or junior teams — and score quick wins. But there are also moments where that approach will lead to serious problems. The difference lies in the role of the system you’re working on: Is it mission critical or not?
Let me share a few real-world examples to show you what I mean.
“Experience isn’t expensive; it’s what keeps cheap from becoming very costly.”
When Failure Is Not an Option: High-Pressure Rebuilds
A few years ago, we were approached by a large fiber network provider. Their situation was urgent: the project management system supporting their nationwide fiber rollout couldn’t handle the increased demand. These were high-cost infrastructure projects, where every meter of fiber came with serious price tags. A missed deadline in planning meant real financial losses.
Their existing vendor couldn’t keep up with the volume or complexity. Time was tight — any delay meant postponing part of the national rollout.
In this kind of situation, there’s no room to experiment. So we assembled a full team right away and deployed every available resource. We built a completely new system in record time. No gradual handover. No extensive test phase. The system had to work — flawlessly — from day one.
And it did. But only because of the intense collaboration with the client. We worked side by side, had daily check-ins, and continuously aligned priorities. In projects like this, the line between success and failure is razor-thin. A minor planning error can trigger major delays.
The system is still in use today. The nationwide fiber rollout is nearly complete — in part thanks to this solution.
But things could’ve turned out very differently without the right approach, and without full commitment from both sides.
The Temptation of “Cheap and Fast”
This approach to mission critical systems may not sound very agile. And no, it’s not the cheapest. Everyone understands that custom development requires investment.
But in a market full of vendors with wildly different pricing models — all claiming to deliver the same quality — it’s tempting to go for the lowest bid. So why would you pay more if it looks like you can get the same thing for less? Because experience is more than a cost — it’s an insurance policy. Experience means more than just technical skills. It’s about recognizing risks early.
A junior developer sees an integration issue and says, “We’ll solve it with an API.” A senior developer asks: “What if that API goes down? How do we handle data conflicts? What if the volume triples overnight?”
The Value of Real-World Experience
We’ve delivered projects where financial transactions depended on our system. Where production lines couldn’t run without our scheduling tool. Where thousands of users needed simultaneous access — without failure.
We understand what’s at stake when a system goes down at the worst possible moment. That kind of knowledge isn’t taught in school. You gain it through hands-on experience, learning from past mistakes, and applying those lessons in future projects — so your clients don’t have to learn the hard way.
So When Do You Invest in Certainty?
Not every system is mission critical. So not every system needs the same approach. If you’re building a marketing website or an internal dashboard that only sees occasional use — by all means, experiment. Try out new suppliers or tools. No problem. But if the system is core to your business — if downtime means financial loss, if errors damage your reputation, if you can't explain to customers why it's not working — then you invest in certainty.
You choose professionals with real-world experience. People who understand what it means when your system fails. Who have already made the rookie mistakes — so you don’t have to. And who are ready to deliver under pressure.
