When it makes sense and when it does not
An off the shelf product is the right answer most of the time, and we will tell you so. Building something custom makes sense when several of these are true at once: you pay licences for features you never use, there is a parallel spreadsheet because the software does not do something essential, your process differs from the rest of the sector and that difference is exactly where you make money, or per user licence costs have crept up towards the cost of building.
What we build
- Client records and sales tracking shaped around how you actually sell, with the stages you use rather than the ones the product ships with.
- Orders, quotes and invoicing connected to what you already run.
- Operations boards for whoever assigns the work each morning.
- Client or supplier portals, when it makes sense for them to check their own information without phoning.
- Integrations with your accounting software, online shop, email or booking system.
How we avoid the never ending project
The first delivery covers the main process and nothing else, and it goes live with real people using it. Everything else is decided afterwards, with the tool already running, which is when you can see what is actually needed. Projects that try to cover everything before starting are the ones that die.
The code and the data belong to the client from day one. If one day you decide to continue with a different supplier, you take everything with you and there is nothing to rescue.
What it costs
A first version of the main process running, with training and handover. Fixed price agreed before we start.
For larger projects the cost can be spread over a monthly fee with ownership at the end. We work that out on the call according to what suits your cash flow.
Frequently asked questions
Is paying for an off the shelf product not cheaper?
Often yes, and if that is your case we will tell you. The maths changes as user numbers grow, when you pay for modules you never use, or when the process that makes you different does not fit the product.
What if something happens to you?
The code and the data are already yours and sit in your own account, documented. That is precisely why we work this way rather than with rented software.
Can it connect to the software we already use?
Almost always, if it can export or has a connection interface. It is one of the first things we check, before quoting.
Does it include maintenance?
A month of adjustments is included. After that, monthly maintenance is optional. We never make access to the tool conditional on paying it.