Client paid their agency $31k over 4 months for "workflow optimization." I recreated everything from scratch in 67 minutes. Runs 4x faster.
Client paid their agency $31k over 4 months for "workflow optimization." I recreated everything from scratch in 67 minutes. Runs 4x faster. Sometimes starting over beats fixing broken things. THE PROBLEM Client: "Our workflows are getting slower" Agency: "You need our optimization package" Client: "What's that involve?" Agency: "Performance audit, code refactoring, architecture improvements" Cost: $31,000 Timeline: 4 months Month 1: Audit phase Month 2: Planning phase Month 3: Implementation Month 4: Testing and rollout Client paid. THE RESULTS After 4 months and $31k: - Workflows 12% faster - Three new bugs introduced - Monthly maintenance required - Additional $2k/month ongoing support Client called me: "This doesn't feel right" THE ANALYSIS Me: "Show me the workflows" Client shares access. I review their system. What I see: - 9 workflows - Overly complex routing - Redundant steps everywhere - Built like spaghetti code Me: "Your agency optimized this?" Client: "That's what they said" Me: "They polished a mess" THE SOLUTION Me: "Let me rebuild these from scratch" Client: "How long?" Me: "Give me an hour" Client: "For the estimate?" Me: "For the rebuild" THE REBUILD 1:00 PM - Open Skada.ai Workflow 1: Lead processing - Agency version: 24 nodes, 8 seconds - My version: Generated in 4 minutes, runs in 1.8 seconds Workflow 2: Order fulfillment - Agency version: 31 nodes, 12 seconds - My version: Generated in 6 minutes, runs in 2.4 seconds Workflow 3-9: Same pattern 2:07 PM - Done All 9 workflows rebuilt. All tested. All deployed. THE PERFORMANCE Agency's "optimized" workflows: - Average execution: 9.2 seconds - Error rate: 3.1% - Maintenance: Weekly updates needed My rebuilt workflows: - Average execution: 2.1 seconds - Error rate: 0.1% - Maintenance: None needed 4.4x faster. Built in 67 minutes. THE COMPARISON Agency approach: - Analyzed existing complexity - Added patches and fixes - "Optimized" inefficient structure - Charged $31,000 - Took 4 months