We design and build open data systems that last.
Zimmerman offers a suite of data services built for reliability, scalability, and long-term maintainability in the international development sector. Our technical stack emphasises open source technology and transparent infrastructure — from architecture to the last pixel.
Service Capabilities & Specifications
The following capabilities and their core services form applications and standard implementations across our portfolio.
Service | Description | Discovery | Design | Delivery | Deploy | Maintenance | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Open Data Platforms | Make your data accessible, trusted, and reusable | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 3-6 months |
Data Visualisations & Dashboards | Turn complexity into clarity | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 2-4 months |
Data Architecture & APIs | Build foundations, not silos | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4-8 months |
Data Repositories | Secure, well-governed data at rest | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | 3-6 months |
Design Systems & UX | Consistency at scale through shared design | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | 2-4 months |
User Research | Design with people, for people | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | 1-3 months |
AI-Ready Data | Prepare data and systems for machine intelligence | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 3-8 months |
Technical Advisory | Make data strategic, not just technical | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Ongoing |
Engagement Models
We offer flexible engagement structures to match your organization's needs and capacity.
Retainer
Ongoing partnership & capacity
Scope
Continuous technical support, feature development, and strategic advisory on an ongoing basis with allocated monthly hours.
Timeline
6-12 months minimum
Best Fit For
Organizations requiring sustained support, iterative development, or strategic technical guidance over time.
Pricing Approach
Fixed monthly fee based on allocated capacity (hours/FTE). Predictable budgeting with flexible scope prioritization.
Project
Defined outcomes & deliverables
Scope
Fixed-scope engagements with defined deliverables, milestones, and success criteria. Clear start and end dates.
Timeline
2-6 months typical
Best Fit For
Organizations with well-defined requirements, specific deliverables, and clear project boundaries.
Pricing Approach
Fixed-price or time & materials based on scope complexity. Milestone-based payments aligned to delivery phases.
Advisory
Strategic guidance & expertise
Scope
Strategic consulting on data architecture, technology decisions, open standards adoption, and organizational capacity building.
Timeline
Flexible, ad-hoc
Best Fit For
Organizations seeking expert guidance on technical strategy, architecture decisions, or navigating complex data challenges.
Pricing Approach
Hourly or day-rate billing. Workshop and audit packages available for focused interventions.
Have a data platform or transparency initiative in mind?
We partner with public-good organisations to build the data infrastructure their mission depends on.