When spreadsheets and standard software no longer support a workflow well, a custom tool can help. We develop web applications and internal tools around the people, data and decisions involved in the actual work.
An internal approval.
Instead of tracking requests across spreadsheets and email, a tool records ownership and the decision.
- Capture a request
- Review with the owner
- Record the decision
Custom software for the work around your shop.
Some tasks fit neither the shop administration nor an existing standard application. A team may need to review quote information, approve internal requests or combine records from several systems. When spreadsheets and email are maintained in parallel, ownership and the current state of work can become difficult to follow.
A custom web application can bring those steps together. We first examine the people involved, the data they need and the decisions within the workflow. Existing software and interfaces are considered so a new tool can use information already available. A concrete task is the starting point for defining the required functionality.
Before we build anything.
- Who will use it?
- The people involved, their roles and the situations in which they need the tool.
- What needs to become easier?
- A specific workflow or decision that currently requires unnecessary coordination.
- What data already exists?
- Existing systems, permissions and information the application can build on.
A usable first version with a defined scope.
We identify what the first version needs to do and what can follow later. For an approval workflow, that could mean capturing a request, assigning responsibility and recording a decision. Reports or additional integrations can then be assessed as separate steps. This lets your team evaluate the central workflow using the application itself.
Permissions, data storage and ongoing operation belong in planning from the beginning. We agree on testing, release and ownership of support. Handover includes the agreed source code and documentation so your team understands how to use the application, who is responsible for it and how further changes can be discussed.
Considered from the start
- Agreed first functional scope
- Tests of core workflows
- Source code, documentation and handover
Questions about custom software development.
When does a custom application make sense?
When an important workflow requires numerous manual steps in standard software or necessary features are missing. First review existing tools and their extension capabilities. A custom application should provide a concrete benefit to its users and fit the organisation’s ability to maintain and operate it.
Do we need a complete specification before contacting you?
No. Start with the current workflow, the roles involved and examples of the intended result. Together we clarify data, dependencies and open questions. This helps define a first usable version before committing to the full development scope.
Can the application use our existing systems?
We assess that using interfaces, data formats and access permissions. Information from a shop, ERP or CRM could be included, for example. Ownership of the data and any permitted write-back need to be clear, so the connection is planned alongside the operational workflow.
Can you continue development of existing custom software?
We review source code, architecture, documentation, tests and the current running environment. Licences and access also need to be clear. Those details help assess the prerequisites for taking over the application and sensible next changes without assuming a complete rebuild is required.