Software Rescue – Save Failed IT Projects
We save failed IT projects and restore them to success. Our experts analyze the situation and develop solution strategies to get your project back on track.
Our Rescue Services
Analysis of Failed Projects
Full analysis to find the causes of problems.
- Root Cause Analysis
- Risk Assessment
Code Refactoring
Restructuring and optimization of existing code.
- Code Quality Improvement
- Technical Debt Reduction
Takeover & Renovation
Complete takeover and renovation of old projects.
- Project Takeover
- System Migration
Knowledge & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions About Software Rescue
Basics & Diagnosis
When is a project really in trouble?
Typical signs: missed deadlines, budget explosions, declining code quality, team frustration, or when the original provider has given up. If you have doubts whether your project is still salvageable – it usually is.
How quickly can you assess our situation?
An initial assessment usually takes 2-5 days. We review code, architecture, documentation, and processes – then you get a clear picture of what is salvageable and what a rescue costs.
Project in trouble?
We do a free initial assessment and show you options.
Björn Groenewold – CEO
Process & Approach
How does a software rescue proceed?
Step 1: Emergency analysis (2-5 days). Step 2: Stabilization of the most critical issues. Step 3: Systematic rehabilitation with prioritized measures. Step 4: Handover or continued support.
Do you take over projects from other providers?
Yes, that is one of our core competencies. We take over code, documentation, and responsibility – even if the previous provider left suddenly or the handover was chaotic.
Questions about the rescue process?
We explain our approach in a non-binding meeting.
Thorsten Frieling – Project Management
Costs & Timeline
What does a software rescue cost?
Depends heavily on the initial situation. An analysis starts at €3,000, full rescues range from €15,000 to several hundred thousand € for complex projects. After analysis, you receive a transparent cost estimate.
How long does a rescue take?
Critical stabilization often within days. Complete rehabilitation typically takes 2-6 months, depending on size and complexity. We work in phases and deliver visible results early.
Technical Measures
What if the code is really bad?
We've seen a lot. Sometimes a stepwise refactoring is enough, sometimes a partial rewrite makes sense. We advise honestly what's worth saving and what should better be rebuilt.
Do you also modernize outdated technologies?
Yes, often a rescue includes technology modernization. From PHP5 to modern versions, from jQuery to React, from monolith to microservices – we bring systems up to date.
Have a project in distress?
We take on hopeless cases and get them back on track.
Björn Groenewold – CEO
Software Rescue: Recovering Stalled or Failed Projects
Failed software projects represent more than wasted budget. They carry the accumulated business knowledge of months or years of requirements gathering, user testing, and iterative refinement that would be extraordinarily expensive to recreate from scratch. Our software rescue practice is built on the principle that most troubled projects contain salvageable value. Through systematic triage, we identify what works, what needs repair, and what should be rebuilt, then execute a recovery plan that protects your existing investment.
The root causes of project failure are remarkably consistent across industries: unclear requirements that drifted over time, architectural decisions that could not scale, accumulated technical debt that made changes increasingly dangerous, or communication breakdowns between business stakeholders and development teams. We begin every rescue engagement with a candid assessment that diagnoses these underlying issues rather than just treating symptoms, because sustainable recovery requires addressing the problems that caused the failure in the first place.
Our emergency stabilization process typically delivers visible improvements within the first two weeks. We triage critical bugs that affect end users, secure obvious vulnerabilities, and establish basic monitoring so the team can see what the system is actually doing. This rapid stabilization buys time for the deeper rehabilitation work that follows, where we systematically refactor problematic code paths, introduce automated testing, and establish proper deployment pipelines that make future changes safe and predictable.
Taking over a project from another provider requires a specific set of skills that go beyond writing good code. We have developed structured handover processes for situations where documentation is missing, the previous team left abruptly, or the codebase has no tests. Through careful reverse engineering and stakeholder interviews, we reconstruct the system knowledge needed to maintain and improve the application confidently. Many of our longest client relationships began as rescue engagements that evolved into ongoing development partnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Software Rescue
Costs & Takeover
How much does emergency stabilisation cost?
Initial analysis typically €2,000–5,000 excl. VAT; stabilisation €5,000–20,000 excl. VAT. We often respond within 2–4 hours. We give a clear quote after a short assessment.
How much does a project takeover cost?
Code analysis around €3,000–8,000 excl. VAT; full takeover €10,000–30,000 excl. VAT. Ongoing maintenance afterwards from €500–2,000/month excl. VAT.
Which technologies can you take over?
PHP, Python, Java, .NET, JavaScript, Delphi and others. We clarify exotic stacks in advance and have handover processes when documentation is missing.
What happens in the first two weeks?
We triage critical bugs, fix obvious security issues and set up basic monitoring. That buys time for deeper refactoring, tests and deployment pipelines.
Related Topics
Complementary Services from Other Areas
These services are frequently requested together with Software Rescue or complement it thematically.
Consulting & Strategy
Integration & Interfaces