Custom software built around how you work
Gjethe designs and builds custom software for processes that off-the-shelf tools don't fit: internal tools, customer portals, workflow and approval systems, scheduling, quoting and reporting software, and the integrations that connect them to the tools you already use. You own the code, and every project starts with a fixed quote.
- Free first consultation
- Written quote for your project
- Flexible payment milestones
At a glance
- Typical builds
- Portals, internal tools, workflows
- Stack
- Next.js, Node.js, Python, PostgreSQL
- Ownership
- Code and data are yours
- Pricing
- Quoted per project
Definition
What is custom software development?
Custom software development is the design and building of software for a specific organisation's needs, as opposed to buying a general-purpose product and adapting your work to it.
Most businesses run on a patchwork of spreadsheets, email threads and SaaS tools that each do part of the job. Custom software is worth it when that patchwork costs real time and money, when your process is what sets you apart, or when per-user licences for a tool you only half use become expensive. We help you decide honestly whether to build, buy or configure, and if building is right, we keep the first version small and focused on the work that hurts most.
Who is it for?
Teams living in spreadsheets
Critical work happens in shared spreadsheets that break, get overwritten and can't enforce rules. A purpose-built tool keeps the flexibility and adds structure, permissions and history.
Businesses with a distinctive process
Quoting, scheduling, approvals or production planning work in a way no product supports, and that way of working is part of your advantage.
Companies serving clients online
Clients email files, call for status updates and ask for documents. A portal gives them self-service access and frees your team.
Organisations paying for unused licences
You pay per seat for a large platform but use a fraction of it. A focused tool can cost less to run and fit better.
Teams juggling disconnected tools
The same data is typed into three systems. Custom software becomes the place where it lives once, connected to the rest.
What's included, and what you keep
What's included
- Process mapping workshops with the people who do the work
- Requirements and a written, fixed-price scope
- User roles and permissions design
- UX and interface design in Figma
- Database and data model design
- Development of the web application
- Integrations with existing tools via APIs
- Data import from spreadsheets or legacy systems
- Audit logs for important actions
- Automated tests for core workflows
- Deployment to cloud hosting under your account
- User training and documentation
What you receive
Handed over at the end. Yours to keep.
- The running application on your own cloud account
- Source code in a repository you control
- Database with your migrated data
- Technical documentation and architecture overview
- User guide for each role
- Figma design files
Custom software with or without AI
Most of the custom software we build has no AI in it at all. AI is added only where it does a job better than ordinary code.
| Traditional custom software | Custom software with AI features | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Follows exact rules: forms, approvals, calculations, permissions, reports | Adds judgement on unstructured input: reading documents, answering questions, classifying requests |
| Typical examples | Order management, scheduling, quoting tools, client portals, dashboards | Document extraction, internal knowledge search, AI assistants, smart routing of tickets |
| Behaviour | Predictable and fully testable | Probabilistic, so it needs evaluation, limits and human review for important actions |
| Running costs | Hosting and maintenance | Hosting, maintenance and per-use model costs |
| When to choose it | The process is clear and rule-based | Part of the work involves text, documents or language that rules can't handle well |
Build, buy or configure?
The honest question to answer before anyone writes code.
| Option | Choose it when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Buy a SaaS tool | Your process is standard and a product covers most of it | Per-user pricing at scale; adapting your work to the tool |
| Configure a platform | A flexible system (CRM, Airtable, Odoo) gets you most of the way | Workarounds piling up as needs grow |
| Build custom software | Your process is distinctive, critical or poorly served by products | Scope creep; plan for maintenance after launch |
How do we keep custom software affordable?
The biggest cost driver in custom software is scope, so we start small. We identify the one or two workflows that cause the most friction and build those first, using proven building blocks (authentication, permissions, file storage, payments) instead of inventing them.
We also design for change. A clear data model, automated tests on core workflows and readable code mean that adding the next feature doesn't require rewriting the last one. That is what keeps the cost of the second and third versions reasonable.
Finally, we connect rather than replace where we can. If your accounting software works, the new tool sends data to it instead of re-implementing invoicing.
What kinds of custom software do we build?
Client portals
Secure places where clients upload documents, track progress, approve work and download invoices.
Workflow and approval systems
Requests that move through defined steps, with notifications, deadlines and a full history.
Quoting and pricing tools
Rules-based quotes generated in minutes from your products, rates and margins.
Operations and reporting tools
Production planning, scheduling, inventory and the dashboards that show it all.
How custom software development works, step by step
Every step has a clear output you can review. Timing is agreed in your quote.
- 1
Discovery workshops
We sit with the people who do the work, map the current process and find where time and errors are lost.
- 2
Scope and quote
A written scope for the first version, with user roles, features and integrations, and a fixed price.
- 3
Design and prototype
Screens designed in Figma and clicked through with real users before development.
- 4
Iterative build
Development in short cycles with demos, so you see working software early and steer it.
- 5
Data and integrations
Existing data imported and cleaned; connections to your other tools tested end to end.
- 6
Launch and adoption
Training for each role, a careful switch-over and agreed support while people adapt.
Tools, and what shapes your quote
Pricing is based on your project and agreed in your quote. These are the things that move it.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Number of workflows | Each distinct process (quoting, approvals, scheduling) is its own set of screens, rules and tests. |
| User roles and permissions | Many roles with different access need more design and testing than a single type of user. |
| Integrations | Every system the software must read from or write to adds mapping, error handling and testing. |
| Data migration | Cleaning and importing years of spreadsheets or legacy data can be substantial work. |
| Reporting | Custom reports and dashboards add queries, visualisations and exports. |
| Compliance needs | Audit trails, data retention rules or approvals required by regulation add requirements. |
| Mobile access | Field use may need offline support or a companion mobile app. |
| Area | Tools |
|---|---|
| Front end | Next.js, React, TypeScript, TailwindCSS |
| Back end | Node.js, Python (FastAPI, Django), REST and GraphQL APIs |
| Data | PostgreSQL, Redis, object storage for files |
| Auth & security | role-based access control, SSO via OAuth/SAML, audit logging |
| Infrastructure | Vercel, AWS, Azure, Docker, GitHub Actions |
Common mistakes to avoid
What we see go wrong most often, and how a good project avoids it.
Automating a broken process
Software makes a process faster, not better. Fix unnecessary steps on paper first, then build the improved version.
Designing without the actual users
Managers describe how work should happen; the people doing it know how it really happens. Involve them early.
Building everything at once
A large first release delays value and multiplies risk. Launch the workflow that hurts most, then expand.
No plan for maintenance
Software needs updates, hosting and occasional fixes. Budget for it from the start so the tool doesn't decay.
Locking data inside the tool
Make sure you can export your data and access the database. Your information should never be hostage to a vendor.
Frequently asked questions
Does custom software have to include AI?
No. Traditional custom software (databases, workflows, permissions, integrations and reports) is a large part of what we build, and most business processes don't need AI. Where AI genuinely helps, such as reading documents or searching internal knowledge, our AI engineers add it as one component of the system.
How do I know if I need custom software?
Usually when you notice the same data typed into several places, work tracked in spreadsheets that keep breaking, or a SaaS tool you pay for per user but only half use. The free consultation is the place to test whether building is genuinely the best option.
Will we own the software?
Yes. The source code, the database and the cloud accounts are yours once the project is paid for. You can bring in other developers at any time.
Can the software connect to tools we already use?
Yes. We integrate with accounting, CRM, email, calendars, storage and most systems that offer an API. Where a system has no API, we look at exports, imports or other safe workarounds.
Can we start with a small version?
That's what we recommend. A focused first version proves value quickly, and the architecture allows it to grow.
How do you handle security and access?
Every user has their own account with role-based permissions, data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and important actions are recorded in an audit log.
Will our team need training?
We include training for each role and written guides. Most internal tools are designed so new users can learn them in a short session.
What happens after launch?
Support after launch is agreed in your quote. A maintenance plan can then cover hosting, updates, monitoring and small improvements, and larger features are quoted as separate phases.
Can you take over custom software another team built?
Yes. We start with a code and infrastructure audit, document what exists, fix urgent issues and then continue development.
Related services
Web Applications & SaaS
Portals, dashboards and subscription products.
API Integration
Connect the tools you already use so data flows on its own.
Dashboard Development
Live dashboards for operations, sales and finance.
CRM & ERP Development
Custom systems, or HubSpot, Salesforce and Odoo set up properly.
UI/UX Design
Research, wireframes, prototypes and interfaces.
QA & Software Testing
Manual and automated testing across browsers and devices.
Database Design
Schemas, performance tuning and migrations for your data.
No-Code & Low-Code Apps
Bubble, Glide and low-code builds, set up properly.
Custom Software Development by industry
Talk through your process.
Tell us what you need. You get an honest assessment, a clear plan and a written quote. The first consultation is always free.
- What happens next
- 1You tell us what you need
- 2We aim to reply within 24 hours with questions
- 3You get a written quote for your project