Software Project Rescue
When Software Projects Fail, We Make Them Succeed
UK businesses waste £37 billion annually on failed IT projects. With 83.9% of projects failing to meet their goals, you're not alone in this crisis.
The good news? Projects showing early warning signs have 60-70% recovery success rates when rescued quickly. We specialise in turning software disasters into success stories.
The Crisis is Real
Software Project Failure Statistics
Understanding the scale helps you realise - it's not just you
It's not too late
From Crisis to Success in 90 Days
Your project is hemorrhaging money. Your vendor has disappeared. The code is a disaster. We've seen it all before-and we know exactly how to fix it.
Research shows that project rescue typically costs just 15-30% of the original budget versus 60-80% for a complete restart. With the right approach, failing projects achieve 150-500% ROI within 90 days.
Khiliad's Project Rescue service combines UK project management expertise with senior technical leadership to recover failing software projects quickly and efficiently. No blame games, no endless analysis-just practical solutions that get your project back on track.
Why Projects Fail (And How We Fix Them)
- 57% fail due to poor communication → We establish daily standups and clear reporting
- 39% lack proper requirements → We document what actually needs to be built
- 45% of features go unused → We prioritise what matters for your business
- 25% team turnover kills knowledge → We document everything and stabilise teams
Warning Signs
Is Your Project Already in the Danger Zone?
Critical Warning Signs:
Budget & Timeline
- Over 20% budget variance
- 15%+ schedule delays
- "Almost done" for weeks
- No demo after 3 months
Team Breakdown
- Developers gone silent
- 25%+ team turnover
- Can't get straight answers
- Vendor holding code hostage
Technical Crisis
- Nobody understands the code
- Basic features broken
- Can't deploy without crashes
- Security vulnerabilities found
Experiencing 3+ signs? You need immediate help.
Proven Process
Our 4-Phase Rescue Methodology
Based on 20 years of successful project delivery and industry best practices
Phase 1 - Emergency Triage (24-48 Hours)
Immediate stabilisation to stop the bleeding. We secure your code, assess critical risks, interview key stakeholders, and provide an honest go/no-go recommendation. You'll know within 48 hours if your project is salvageable and exactly what it will take.
Phase 2 - Deep Dive Assessment (Week 1)
Comprehensive technical and organisational review. We analyse your codebase quality, review all documentation, evaluate team capabilities, identify technical debt, and assess market alignment. Deliverable: detailed recovery plan with timeline and budget.
Phase 3 - Stabilisation Sprint (Weeks 2-3)
Stop the crisis, restore confidence. Fix critical bugs blocking progress, establish proper development processes, implement daily progress tracking, stabilise team dynamics, and deliver first working features. Your project moves from "disaster" to "challenging but manageable."
Phase 4 - Recovery & Delivery (Weeks 4-12)
From stable to successful. Complete priority features, refactor problematic code, implement automated testing, create comprehensive documentation, and prepare for handover or ongoing support. You get working software that meets your business needs.
Why Choose Khiliad
What Makes Our Rescue Service Different
We combine technical expertise with business acumen and human understanding
Direct Developer Access
No intermediaries, no telephone game. Talk directly to senior developers fixing your code. Get honest answers, realistic timelines, and technical insights without the corporate filter.
UK Leadership, Global Scale
British project management ensures clear contracts and communication. Our nearshore development teams provide 24/7 capability for rapid recovery. Best of both worlds: local accountability, global resources.
Fixed-Price Certainty
Crisis budgets are already stretched. Our fixed-price packages for assessment and stabilisation remove financial uncertainty. Know exactly what recovery costs before you commit.
Proven Recovery Framework
Based on Henrico Dolfing's Project Recovery Model™ and 60+ analysed turnarounds. Our structured approach delivers 28x better financial outcomes than ad-hoc rescue attempts.
No Lock-In Guarantee
Once rescued, you're free to continue with us, take it in-house, or work with others. Complete code ownership, documentation, and knowledge transfer included. Your success, your choice.
Senior-Only Team
No juniors learning on your dime. Every team member has 10+ years experience and has successfully rescued projects before. When time is critical, experience matters.
Common Scenarios
Crisis Situations We Resolve Daily
Failed Outsourcing Disaster
The Crisis: Your offshore vendor delivered unusable code, missed every deadline, then disappeared with your deposit.
Failed Outsourcing
Your offshore team delivered spaghetti code or vanished entirely. We untangle the mess, rebuild what's needed, and deliver working software. Recovery: 6-8 weeks.
Technical Debt Crisis
Years of quick fixes made your system unmaintainable. We refactor strategically while keeping your business running. Recovery: 8-12 weeks.
Team Breakdown
Key developers left, nobody understands the code. We decode, document, and stabilise your system. Recovery: 4-6 weeks.
Deadline Emergency
Launch date is fixed but software isn't ready. We focus on must-have features and get you across the finish line. Recovery: 2-4 weeks.
Vendor Hostage
Your vendor won't release code without more money. We bring legal support and technical alternatives. Recovery: Varies.
Compliance Nightmare
Failed security audit, GDPR violations discovered. We patch, remediate, and prepare for re-audit. Recovery: 4-8 weeks.
Time Is Money. Every Day Costs You More.
Research shows early intervention delivers 60-70% success rates versus 30% for late-stage rescues. The best time to act was yesterday. The second best time is now.
Common Questions
Project Rescue FAQs
Clear answers about saving your failing project