Is It Out of Scope? — Web design
Is adding real-time chat support integration out of scope for a web design project?
Yes. Wiring up a live chat tool is a technical integration, not a design deliverable.
A chat widget's appearance — where it sits, how it looks against the rest of the design — is a design conversation, but the actual integration with a chat platform's backend is a separate ask entirely.
Is it out of scope?
Yes. Styling a chat widget to match the design system is one thing; wiring it up to a live chat platform and its routing/notification system is technical integration work.
Clause typically implicated
Clause typically implicated
Exclusions clause→ — Live chat platform integration is technical implementation work excluded from a design engagement.
Example contract wording
Example contract wording (illustrative, not legal advice)
We can style a chat widget to fit the design system, but connecting it to a live chat platform and its backend is integration work outside this scope. That'd need a developer to wire up.
How MarginFlow flags it
MarginFlow flags chat-platform integration requests outside_scope on design contracts, distinguishing styling work from backend integration.