https://www.fluent-consultants.com/why-midsized-companies-are-rethinking-custom-software/ 2026-03-25T09:47:37Z https://cdn-thumbnails.sproutvideo.com/729bd3bc1c1fe0c7f8/b44691adf0db830e/1/w_1280/poster.jpg?v=1774450057 Fluent Engineering Podcast Fluent Engineering: Senior US-Based Teams for Custom Software That Actually Works Most companies that have lived through a custom software project have a war story: missed timelines, blown budgets, offshore headaches, and a final product that doesn’t really solve the problem. In this Fluent Engineering conversation, Ray Ruecker talks with Greg Deitch (CEO, Fluent) and Jeremy Stephens (President, Fluent) about how Fluent’s senior, US‑based engineering team designs, builds, and supports custom software that delivers the outcomes clients actually wanted in the first place. You’ll hear: 1. What Fluent engineering services really are—and when custom software makes sense over off‑the‑shelf tools 2. Why so many projects go sideways with “extra hands” developers, offshore teams, and no real oversight 3. How Fluent’s Design Studio blueprint‑before‑build process prevents scope creep, surprise change orders, and “this isn’t what we thought we were getting” outcomes 4. Why complex, business‑critical problems require experienced engineers (Fluent’s team averages 20+ years building business applications) 5. How long‑term support changes the way Fluent designs and builds from day one 6. What to look for in a tech partner: process, governance around scope and budgets, industry understanding, and willingness to support v1.0 and beyond 7. How AI is changing custom software—from accelerating development and testing to making custom builds more affordable for mid‑sized companies 8. Fluent’s approach to security and regulated environments (PCI, HIPAA, GDPR), including encryption, MFA, and private AI models baked into the design from the start 9. A real‑world case study in transportation and logistics: automating manual data entry, adding dashboards, and changing the employee‑to‑client ratio so the business could scale 10. Why many clients say, “I wish we’d done this sooner”—and keep bringing Fluent back for the next initiative If you’re considering a major software initiative—or trying to fix the last one—this episode will help you see what a true engineering partner looks like versus just another dev shop. Want to explore whether Fluent is a fit for your next build? Visit Fluent Consultants to learn more about Fluent Engineering, Design Studio, and how a senior US‑based team can help you ship the right software, not just more code. 910 https://videos.sproutvideo.com/embed/729bd3bc1c1fe0c7f8/b44691adf0db830e 2026-03-03T10:05:18Z Fluent Engineering Fluent Consultants custom software development senior software engineers US based software team long-term software report software solution Strategy for growing companies https://www.fluent-consultants.com/fractional-tech-leadership/ 2026-03-25T09:46:14Z https://cdn-thumbnails.sproutvideo.com/dc9bd3bc1c1ce0c156/d58d127063366308/0/w_1280/poster.jpg?v=1774449974 Fractional Leadership Fractional Technology Leadership: When You Don’t Need a Full‑Time CIO (Yet) You’re growing. Systems are getting more complex. Tech fires keep popping up. But you’re not ready to hire a full‑time CIO or VP of IT. That’s exactly where fractional leadership comes in. In this Fluent conversation, Ray Ruecker talks with Greg Deitch (CEO, Fluent) and Jeremy Stephens (President, Fluent) about how fractional technology leaders help growth‑minded companies get real strategic IT leadership—without the full‑time executive price tag. You’ll learn: 1. What “fractional leadership” actually means—and why it’s becoming so common for growing firms 2. The warning signs you don’t have the right strategic technology leadership in place: 3. Constant firefighting and reactive IT decisions 4. No clear technology roadmap tied to business goals 5. Projects that stall, slip, or blow past budget 6. Tech leaders who keep the lights on but never talk strategy 7. The difference between an IT doer and a true IT leader—and why you need both 8. Why growing companies struggle to build the right IT leadership team (and why great technicians don’t automatically make great leaders) 9. When fractional leadership makes more sense than hiring full‑time: 10. You need senior experience, but not 40 hours a week 11. Your needs are changing quickly as you grow 12. You’re not confident evaluating technical leaders on your own 13. What Fluent’s fractional leadership looks like in practice: 14. Setting a clear technology strategy and roadmap 15. Vendor management and making sure you have the right partners for your current stage 16. Project guidance and getting struggling IT initiatives back on the rails 17. “Executive translation” between technical teams and non‑technical leadership 18. Mentoring and assessing your internal IT team so you have the right people in the right seats 19. What changes when you finally get the right technology leader in place: 20. Fewer surprises 21. Technology becomes an enabler instead of a blocker 22. Growth feels intentional instead of chaotic 23. The biggest misconceptions about fractional leadership (hint: it’s not “extra hands” or simple staff augmentation) 24. How Fluent helps CEOs and leadership teams evaluate what they really need and match with the right fractional leader If you’re a CEO or business leader wondering whether you’ve outgrown your current IT setup—but you’re not ready for a full‑time CIO—this episode gives you a clear, low‑risk way to step into real technology leadership. Curious if fractional technology leadership is right for your company? Visit Fluent Consultants to explore how a fractional leader can help you move from reactive IT firefighting to a roadmap that actually supports your growth. 1061 https://videos.sproutvideo.com/embed/dc9bd3bc1c1ce0c156/d58d127063366308 2026-03-03T10:27:15Z fractional leadership fractional CIO technology leadership Fluent Consults Strategy for growing companies strategic technology leadership Fluent Consultants