Give apps employees build with AI a clear path to release and support
Employees build tools with ChatGPT, Claude and Cursor, and departments gradually come to depend on them. I help preserve their value with an app inventory, technical review, CI/CD releases and clear support ownership. We take the first app through the new process. I implemented this approach at a large company: code lives in the company's GitLab, a technical owner reviews and prepares apps, and DevOps receives release-ready software through a service desk request.
Start with a free written discussion. I respond personally within one business day. Calls are available in Russian only.
A useful tool can become a business risk
AI-assisted development can save employees time and help generate revenue. A blanket ban can lose that value. Each app needs an owner and clear responsibility for technical readiness, release and support.
A department depends on a personal account
A script or bot runs under an employee's account, paid for with a personal card, with data stored in their own cloud. If the author leaves, the department risks losing access to the tool.
Credentials are stored in the code
An author may leave passwords and API keys for CRM, email or payment services directly in the code. If those files reach a public repository, outsiders can use the exposed credentials.
Business data reaches public chatbots
While building or using an app, an employee may send customer records, contracts or accounting exports to a public service. Personal data and confidential information can leave the company along with them.
No one owns troubleshooting
When an app fails, its author turns to administrators whose responsibility is servers, not application code. Without a technical owner, no one is assigned to investigate and prepare a clear task for the infrastructure team.
Other departments cannot adopt the tool
A useful app could help more teams, but missing documentation, tests and a shared code repository make it difficult to maintain and improve. The company is not ready to give other employees access.
No one knows which apps are in use
Managers do not know how many employee-built apps are running or which ones the business relies on. They discover them by chance, often only after a failure.
One process from app preparation to support
Employees can keep building useful tools. The company gains an inventory, clear release requirements and defined responsibilities for keeping those tools running.
- A shared app inventory recording authors, data handled and hosting locations.
- Release requirements covering a company repository, credentials stored outside the code, company accounts instead of personal accounts, and CI/CD releases.
- A request form in your service desk: employees confirm the preparation they can handle, while a specialist separately checks technical readiness.
- A defined technical owner role covering app intake, review, improvements, release preparation and coordination with DevOps and administrators after release.
- The first useful app taken through the new process to release. Preparation of each additional tool is scoped separately.
- An author guide explaining what employees must prepare before handing an app to the technical owner.
The process in practice
Test the process on the first app, then hand it over
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1
Build the inventory
I work with department heads to identify apps already in use, where they run, what data they process and how important they are to daily work.
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2
Define requirements and roles
We agree on release requirements proportionate to your company. We separate basic preparation by the author, in-depth review by the technical owner and deployment by DevOps. Authors follow the guide before submitting an app for review.
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3
Take the first app to release
The technical owner reviews and updates the app to meet release requirements: checking code in the company repository, removing embedded credentials and preparing it for deployment. DevOps releases the prepared app through CI/CD to test and production environments on company servers.
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4
Hand over the process and support
I hand the process over to your team. If you do not yet have an in-house specialist, I can remain the external technical owner, handling app-level technical issues and coordinating with DevOps and administrators. We agree on the ongoing scope separately.
Implementation and support costs
The estimate depends on the number of apps in use and their importance to the business. The initial review is included in process implementation. Work on individual apps and ongoing technical support each have a separately agreed scope.
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Establish the release process
I build the inventory, define release requirements and the service desk request, and assign technical ownership. The first app goes through preparation, review and CI/CD release by DevOps.
Budget: From $6,000
Timeline: 3-6 weeks
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Prepare one app for production
I update one tool: move its code into a repository, address security and data handling, prepare documentation, and deploy and release it with your DevOps team or administrators. For two weeks after handover, we work together on debugging and fixes.
Budget: From $3,000
Timeline: 2-4 weeks
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Ongoing technical ownership
I act as the external technical owner: reviewing new apps, helping employees, diagnosing and improving existing tools, and coordinating with DevOps. Availability, scope and incident response are agreed in the contract. Major changes are quoted separately.
Budget: From $3,000 per month
Timeline: Monthly
When to establish a release process
This service fits if
- Employees have built several apps or bots already used within the company.
- A department depends on at least one of those tools.
- Leadership wants to support AI-assisted development with clear rules and oversight.
You need a different starting point if
- You need a formal security assessment or certification. That requires a specialist security organization with any required licenses.
- You need legal advice on data processing or compliance documentation. I can design and implement technical requirements such as access controls, data location and deployment, but legal questions require a qualified adviser.
- Employees have not built any tools yet. Start by automating a specific business task.
What to know before we start
Does this make sense outside an IT company?
Yes, especially when employees build tools but there are no in-house developers to review and maintain the code. Even two or three apps that a department depends on are a reason to define a release process and technical ownership.
Does this replace a security audit?
No. I establish an engineering process covering code and credential storage, technical review, releases and support ownership. I can prepare the technical side for assessment and implement requirements. Formal assessment or certification belongs with a specialist security organization holding any required licenses. Legal questions require qualified legal advice.
How do you introduce rules without discouraging employees?
Give authors clear, basic preparation steps and leave in-depth review and improvements to the technical owner. The process then offers support and a way to share tools with colleagues, not just restrictions. At the company where I implemented this process, employees continued building apps, with a technical owner reviewing them before release.
Do code checks need to be automated from the start?
With a small number of apps, you can start with manual review by a technical specialist. A checklist helps prepare a request, but it does not prove that an app is secure or replace a review. As the volume grows, repetitive checks can be automated while the specialist remains responsible for technical readiness.
What would you like to solve?
Share a detailed brief, requirements or any materials you already have. If you have none yet, a few sentences about the current situation and your goal are enough. I review every message myself and respond within one business day.
- You will work directly with me, not a sales representative.
- A free initial written discussion will help establish whether I can help and where to start.
- If the project is outside my expertise, I will tell you directly.
Alexander Chadaev
Done
Thank you, your message has been received
I will review your message and get back to you within one business day. We can discuss the details in writing in English. If you prefer a brief call, calls are in Russian only.
For urgent requests, you can reach me on Telegram: @chadaev_ai