Once an internal system is in productive use, a new risk emerges.
The gradual erosion of structure as new requirements accumulate.
Without architectural guidance, systems tend to drift:
- responsibilities blur
- short-term solutions harden into long-term constraints
- technical debt accumulates silently
- each change becomes more expensive than the last
The Evolution Retainer exists to prevent this drift.
What the Retainer Is (and Is Not)
The Evolution Retainer is:
- an ongoing architectural role
- a structured form of technical oversight
- a way to preserve clarity while systems evolve
The Evolution Retainer is not:
- a development capacity extension
- a support or ticketing service
- a substitute for an internal team
Its purpose is guidance — not execution.
How We Support Evolution
Architectural Sparring
- evaluation of new requirements and approaches
- early identification of structural risks
- clarification of responsibilities and boundaries
Regular Reviews
- review of new modules or extensions
- feedback on structure, maintainability, and consistency
- identification of emerging architectural issues
Evolution Planning
- prioritization of structural improvements
- management of technical debt
- preparation of larger refactorings or follow-up sprints
Focused Interventions
- targeted guidance during critical phases
- short, high-leverage discussions instead of late corrections
How the Retainer Works
The retainer is based on:
- a fixed monthly engagement
- a clearly defined architectural focus
- a limited number of regular touchpoints
Typical rhythm:
- one to two scheduled sessions per month
- additional short alignments when needed
The retainer is intentionally proactive, not reactive.
Engagement & Fee
The Evolution Retainer is offered as a monthly engagement.
Light
€2,000 per month (excl. VAT)
For smaller teams or low-frequency guidance needs.
Core
€3,500 per month (excl. VAT)
For active systems with regular architectural decisions.
The retainer is cancelable monthly, with a short notice period.
When a Retainer Makes Sense
An Evolution Retainer is particularly valuable when:
- the system is business-critical
- multiple developers or teams are involved
- requirements evolve continuously
- long-term stability matters
If your primary need is development capacity or operational support, a retainer is not the right model.
What You Gain
With an Evolution Retainer, you gain:
- architectural continuity
- early correction instead of costly rework
- sustained system clarity
- protection of your initial investment
The retainer ensures that growth does not come at the cost of control.
Consistency over intervention
Good architecture does not require constant intervention.
But it does require consistent attention.
The Evolution Retainer provides exactly that — quiet, continuous architectural presence.