Working with a software team you do not sit next to is normal now. It works well when a few habits are in place, and badly when they are assumed.
Agree the rhythm
Decide at the start how often you will see progress, in what form, and who will be there. A regular, short review of working software beats long written updates.
Write decisions down
Any decision that changes scope, cost or dates should be written in one shared place the same day, with who decided and why. Months later, nobody has to remember a call.
One clear contact
You should always know who to ask. One named person on each side, with a backup, prevents questions from drifting.
Show, don’t describe
Progress is best shown as something you can click, not a percentage in a report. If a preview environment exists, you should have access to it.
These are working habits we aim to follow; the specifics are agreed at the start of each project.