Navigating Challenges: From Pattaya’s Beaches to Bangkok’s Hustle
Our first serious business problem was not finding clients. It was finding developers willing to work with us in Jomtien Beach—not technically Pattaya, but a quieter beach a few kilometres south.
The Unexpected Challenge of Recruitment
At the time, Outsourcify was just two web developers: Kwanruedee and me. As local and international work increased, we moved into a larger two-bedroom condo, using one bedroom as the office. It had sea views, fresh air and was only a few minutes’ walk from the beach. Almost nobody answered our job advertisements.
Despite the appealing living conditions—our spacious beachfront apartment and the relaxed (and cheap) lifestyle—Pattaya’s reputation complicated our recruitment efforts. In Thailand, particularly more than 10 years ago, Pattaya was predominantly seen as a nightlife and party city, which didn’t align with the professional image we wanted to project as a technology-driven company.
Furthermore, our limited budget restricted us to recruiting fresh graduates or junior developers, many of whom hesitated to relocate to Pattaya. Concerns about family approval and the perception of working in such a city became substantial hurdles.
Not actually where we created Outsourcify but years later on a company trip to Krabi (Maya Bay)
Moving from Beach Life to Bangkok
Once we accepted that the location was the problem, we left Jomtien for a serviced apartment in central Bangkok. Within two weeks, we found a three-bedroom condo—two rooms would become offices—and recruited our first two employees.
The condo was on Sukhumvit Soi 16, near Asoke. The address alone made Outsourcify easier for candidates to understand and reach. Moving solved in weeks what months of job advertisements in Jomtien had not.
Our first office was inside a condo in Bangkok’s busy Asoke area
How Location Impacted Our Business
Moving to Bangkok not only resolved our recruitment issues but also positioned Outsourcify better in the Thai and international business community. Our credibility as a professional web agency improved significantly, attracting larger, more diverse projects and opportunities.
Additionally, being based in Bangkok facilitated more face-to-face interactions with clients, strengthening relationships and trust. It also allowed our team to participate actively in Bangkok’s vibrant tech community, attending events, workshops, and conferences, further elevating our industry presence.
Our second office was in a large townhouse in Sukhumvit soi 16
What We Learned About Location
The experience taught us that an office location affects recruitment, credibility and the daily life of a team. Years later, COVID forced us to reconsider the other half of that question: how often did everyone need to be in that office?
How We Settled on Hybrid Work
We worked remotely during the pandemic and kept part of that flexibility. Today, employees can work from home two days per week. Three shared office days suit the way our particular team works, especially because we recruit interns and junior developers who benefit from seeing how experienced colleagues solve problems.
Some work is better done quietly at home. Workshops, mentoring, onboarding and difficult project conversations tend to work better when people share a room. We do not claim this is the right model for every software company; it is the balance we reached after trying both extremes.
The Bangkok Advantage, Reaffirmed
Bangkok makes that hybrid model practical. It gives us a central place for the team and visiting clients, while two home days reduce the burden of Bangkok commutes. The important lesson from Jomtien was not simply “move to a capital city.” It was to notice when our preferred lifestyle was making the business harder for everyone else—and then act on it.
In the next article, we’ll explore how Outsourcify evolved in terms of services, technology, and strategy over the past decade, laying the foundation for our continued growth and success.
The Outsourcify Story #4: Adapting Over a Decade
Our initial team, here eating out together
