Custom Software Development
Software built around the way your business already runs.
When the spreadsheets, SaaS workarounds and manual hand-offs can't keep up, we design and build the system you need, then stay on to run it with you.
What you end up with
- Replace the manual, error-prone steps with software that does them the same way every time
- Own the system that makes you different from your competitors
- Cut the per-seat licence and workaround costs that climb every time you hire
- Get a platform your own team can keep extending for years
Most projects start with a fixed-price discovery, so you have a scoped plan and an estimate in hand before you commit to a build.
Overview
When building your own makes sense
Most businesses run on a mix of off-the-shelf tools that were never designed to work together. That works for a while. Two systems disagree about the same order, or a process gets stuck in someone's inbox. Then someone works out that the team is spending hours a week re-keying data from one screen into another. That is usually the point where custom software pays for itself. The SaaS tools stay for the parts they do well. We build the piece in the middle that joins them up and covers what's specific to your operation.
We start with a short, fixed-price discovery. It maps the real workflow and works out what to build and what to buy. You get a number for the first release before anything is committed. Then a small senior team designs and builds in two-week releases, so you see something working early and can steer as you learn.
What's included
The kinds of work this covers.
- 01
Internal platforms and back-office systems
Order management, scheduling, quoting, approvals, stock. The systems your operation runs on all day, designed for the people who use them.
- 02
Customer and partner portals
Self-service portals that take the routine calls and emails off your team. Account management, document exchange, order tracking and onboarding.
- 03
Workflow and process automation
Multi-step processes with rules, approvals, notifications and an audit trail, so the work stops living in email chains and a shared spreadsheet.
- 04
Data and reporting tools
Dashboards and reports built on live data you can trust, without the weekly export and the tidying up in Excel.
- 05
Systems integration
Connecting the new system to your ERP, CRM, accounts package and third-party services. A record gets entered once and matches everywhere.
- 06
Support and improvement after launch
A support and improvement retainer. Businesses change, and a system nobody is working on goes quietly stale.
Is it right for you?
A good fit if
- A core process is held together with spreadsheets, email and someone re-keying data
- You've outgrown an off-the-shelf tool and are paying people to work around it
- The way you operate is a big part of why customers choose you
- Whatever you build has to plug into the systems you already run
- You want to own the roadmap and the IP outright
How we approach it
The steps between a first call and go-live.
Discovery and scoping
Two to four weeks. We map the workflow, sit with the people who do the work, agree the smallest useful first release and give you a fixed estimate for it.
Design and architecture
A clickable prototype tested with the real users, and a technical design that fits your existing estate, security rules and hosting.
Build in short releases
A new release every two weeks into a staging environment you can test yourself. Automated tests, code review and CI/CD are in place from the first week.
Launch and keep improving
Data migration, training and a monitored launch. After that, a fixed monthly retainer to keep improving the system alongside your team.
Deliverables
What you'll have at the end.
- Discovery report covering scope, estimate and what to build versus buy
- Clickable prototype and design system
- The production application, with source code you own
- Automated test suite and CI/CD pipeline
- Infrastructure as code and runbooks
- Documentation, then a hand-over or ongoing support
Typical stack
The tools we tend to use for this.
Related work
Projects that used this service.
Questions
Questions about this service.
How much does custom software cost?
It depends on scope, which is why we start with a fixed-price discovery. Most first releases we build land between £40k and £250k. The discovery gives you a number you can defend internally before you commit to the build.
How long does it take to build?
A focused first release usually ships in three to five months. We aim for the smallest version that removes the problem and get it into daily use. After that it grows in short cycles.
Who owns the code and the IP?
You do. Everything we build for you, including source code, designs and infrastructure definitions, is yours from day one and lives in a repository you control.
Can you work with our existing systems and IT team?
Yes. Most systems we build sit alongside an ERP, CRM or an older application that isn't going anywhere. We connect to those systems and leave them in place, and we work within your security and hosting rules.
What happens after launch?
Your choice. Some clients take a full hand-over with documentation and training. Most keep us on a support and improvement retainer so the system keeps changing as the business does.
Related services
Industries
- Logistics & Supply ChainDispatch, tracking, warehouse and carrier systems that keep goods moving.
- Manufacturing & IndustrialShop-floor, quality and planning software connected to your machines and ERP.
- Professional Services & B2BClient portals, engagement tools and internal platforms for firms that sell expertise.