Custom Software Development

Good bespoke software makes your business more efficient and profitable.

Contrary to popular belief, custom software development does not always equate to exorbitant costs. In fact, we pride ourselves on providing high-quality, tailor-made solutions that are surprisingly affordable. Our pricing models are flexible and transparent, allowing us to work within your budget without any hidden charges. We believe that every business, regardless of its size or industry, should have access to top-tier custom software development services without breaking the bank.

Big cogs representing custom software development
Custom software fit

Custom software to fit your business

Our bespoke software developers will only build the software you need to make your business work better. You are not paying for extra features you do not need or want.

Custom software ownership

You own the software

When we build software for you, you own it! You are not locked into ongoing license payments. You are able to modify and extend the software in any way you like. Read more about software ownership

Custom software is Extendable and scalable

Extendable

Bespoke software extends as your company grows. You are not stuck in the box provided by off the shelf solutions, you can call on our bespoke software developers anytime to extend your application when you are ready.

Long term support

Long term service

We support our software for the long term. Our software development business is still extending and supporting web applications built for customers who have been with us for the 22 years we have been in business.

Rapid modification of software

Rapid Modification

Custom built software is designed to be easy to work on. Our PHP developers are readily available to make rapid modifications. Simple modifications are often made in hours, not weeks or months.

Security advantages of custom software

Secure

Custom software is not subject to hacks discovered and published in common systems. When off the shelf software is compromised, all other users of that platform are at risk. Our bespoke software developers are also able to respond quickly to any security issues that may arise.

Isn't it really hard to build custom software?

No! It can be easy, low risk and reasonably priced! Our agile software development process is broken into 2 steps

step 1 - Minimal Viable Product (MVP)

Minimal Viable Product (MVP)

Our team of programmers work directly with your team to find a small software project we can build and deliver in a short time. We are looking for the minimal amount of work necessary to build a real working piece of software that helps your business. A minimal first software project keeps initial costs and risk low, and allows us to build a working relationship.

This first piece of work can be a simple as finding a paper based form or a spreadsheet and turning it into a basic web application. A web application eliminates data double entry and automatically collates data.

step 2 - Support, modify and extend

Support, modify and extend

At this early stage, you have a working software product. We simply begin a cycle of identifying, building and deploying new features and enhancements. New software development is kept to small and distinct chunks to keep risk and ongoing costs in check

We pride ourselves on employing skilled software developers who communicate clearly and work closely with your team. This direct working relationship ensures the software we deliver exactly matches the requirements of your team.

 

There must be more to it!

Yes, there are a few more things to consider.

How do we define custom software development?

Bespoke software creation is a process that involves the design, production, implementation, and maintenance of software tailored for a particular set of users, organisations or tasks. This differs from generic, pre-packaged software as it targets a very specific set of needs, unlike the latter, which is designed to accommodate a wide variety of requirements, hence making it suitable for mass marketing and distribution.

Microsoft word is one example of such generic software. It is designed to be used by a wide variety of people and organisations. It is not designed to be modified or extended to meet the needs of a particular organisation.

On the other hand, bespoke software is created with a precise set of needs in mind. Examples include:

  • An application to manage quoting, jobs, customers and suppliers for trade contractors
  • A website to promote and sell custom tours and travel
Bespoke software and its creation process are also often referred to as custom or tailor-made software, a term with roots in the tailoring industry, synonymous with a tailor-made suit. The development of bespoke software is often carried out by internal development teams or subcontracted to an external party. The methodology and processes involved in its creation are consistent with other forms of software development, including stages like requirements gathering, code development, testing, and deployment, and often utilize methodologies such as Agile, DevOps, or Rapid Application Development. Activities related to bespoke software development encompass application customization, application modernization, and application management. Application customization involves adjusting generic software to cater to specific needs. Application modernization is crucial for ensuring that a company's custom software remains relevant and can meet evolving user and market needs. Application management ensures software effectiveness by overseeing tasks like installation, updates, performance optimization, availability enhancement, and service desk functions.

Step 0 - Be sure about build vs buy

The initial step towards a successful tailored software development project is to ascertain the necessity of bespoke software instead of settling for an off-the-shelf solution.

One of the first questions we ask new customers is "have you looked for a ready-made software solution"? If there is an existing software product out there that does 80% of what a customer needs, then the customer needs to seriously consider purchasing that product rather than using our developer services.

Things to consider when looking at an off-the-shelf option
  1. Business Needs and Requirements: The most crucial factor to consider is whether the solution will satisfy your business's specific needs. Off-the-shelf software is often designed to meet the needs of a wide range of businesses. Off the shelf software will have been tried and tested by many businesses. However, it might not be a perfect fit for your specific use-case. Remember you are not always looking for the perfect fit, you are unlikely to get the perfect fit with off the shelf software, but you can get a good fit, with reduced time, cost and risk.
  2. Cost Off-the-shelf software has more predictable costs. The vendor will have a price list for upfront costs and long term recurring support costs. Custom software has less predictable costs as the required effort and potential issues are not known, so a vendor cannot provide a predictable cost to work with.
  3. Time If you need a solution urgently, off-the-shelf software might be the better option, as it's readily available. A custom solution requires time to design, develop, and test, which might not be suitable for urgent requirements.
  4. Scalability If your business is growing or anticipates growth, it's crucial to consider whether the software can scale to match this. Custom-built solutions can be designed with scalability in mind and should not attract extra license cost when scaled up. Off-the-shelf software vendors should be able to indicate how well their product will scale and provide reasonable estimations of additional license cost incurred when the software is scaled.
  5. Integration Consider how well the new software will integrate with your existing systems. Custom software can be built to seamlessly work with your existing systems, but off-the-shelf software may not integrate as smoothly and might need additional work or third-party tools.
  6. Security Off-the-shelf software is often designed with security in mind and is regularly updated to address any security issues. Custom software can be designed with security in mind, but it's crucial to ensure that your developers are following best practices and are up-to-date with the latest security standards.
  7. Support Off-the-shelf software is typically supported by the vendor, who will provide updates, security patches, and support. With custom software, your developer can provide ongoing support and can quickly fix any issues or make adjustments as needed. However, you must ensure that you have a robust agreement in place with your developers for continued support.
  8. Ownership and Control With custom software, you typically have full control over the software, its features, and its future development path. Off-the-shelf software does not offer the same level of control and you will have to adapt to the changes and decisions made by the software vendor.
  9. Competitive Advantage Custom software can provide a competitive edge by being tailored to provide the most efficient solution for your specific business processes. Off-the-shelf software is available to all, including your competitors, and might not offer the same strategic advantages.