A distributed development team can move quickly when responsibilities, communication, and handoffs are deliberately structured.
A defined overlap window is useful for decisions that genuinely require real-time discussion. Status updates and routine information can usually be handled asynchronously.
Good documentation becomes especially important across time zones. Clear tickets, architecture decisions, and recorded context allow the next team member to continue work without waiting for another meeting.
When evaluating a distributed engineering partner, ask what happens to your project during the hours when your teams do not overlap. A strong answer should describe a repeatable delivery system.