Great software starts here.

In some cases, custom software may be a last resort. However, for projects involving complex workflows, unique business processes, or proprietary functionality, custom software is often the only viable option. If an existing off-the-shelf solution — such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets — meets 80% or more of your needs, it's worth using it and periodically evaluating how well it continues to serve your requirements as your business grows.

Custom software offers many advantages — the most important being that it's built specifically to meet your exact business needs and designed to grow alongside your organization. Unlike off-the-shelf products that require constant “duct tape” fixes and compromises, custom software becomes an extension of your organization's DNA. It supports your proprietary workflows, unique business processes, and company culture. It speaks your organization's language and fosters pride among employees who see their ideas and feedback reflected directly in the tools they use every day.

There are many types of software platforms, each suited to different needs. One of the most popular is the web application, valued for its universality and ease of implementation across an organization. Native desktop applications are another common type of software, running directly on a PC or Mac. These apps are highly versatile and can leverage operating system features such as graphics processing, Bluetooth, webcams, and more. Mobile applications run on smartphones and tablets. While they may offer more limited functionality, they provide convenient, on-the-go access to key information and tools. Finally, web APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are the “invisible” apps that run in the cloud. Unlike traditional applications, they don't have a user interface — instead, they respond to requests from other software systems, enabling seamless data exchange and integration.

Ideally, you want a software developer with diverse experience and a portfolio that aligns closely with your project goals. It's equally important that the developer takes the time to understand your requirements instead of rushing into premature development. Diverse experience means more than expertise in a single area, such as web design. A capable software developer should possess a broad range of technical and design competencies including: user experience (UX) design, web application development (MVC, ASP.NET, PHP, etc.), programming languages such as C# and VB.NET, front-end technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, and Bootstrap, database design and architecture such as Microsoft Entity Framework, T-SQL and ORM frameworks, and, if relevant, Windows Forms and desktop application development. A seasoned developer also maintains a library of reliable third-party components to accelerate development and avoid reinventing the wheel — for example, using prebuilt data grids, form controls, and interface elements to improve quality and efficiency.

Begin by creating a high-level list of your project's “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves.” Consult with the intended end users and ask them to prepare similar lists based on their specific job functions. You may also want to gather examples of existing applications you admire, highlighting preferred design elements such as look and feel, navigation structure, and workflow. This collaborative approach helps your developer clearly understand your vision and ensures the final product aligns with your goals and user expectations.

Work closely with your developer to create a detailed roadmap outlining development items and timelines. Only after this step can costs be accurately estimated, allowing you to decide whether to scale functionality up or down as needed. To maintain alignment with your vision and minimize the risk of scope drift, schedule regular reviews of small, incremental progress updates. It's also wise to request a semi-functional prototype early in the process so your team can begin visualizing the end product, identifying unanticipated requirements, and refining the overall direction before full development begins.

It doesn't have to be. Before your developer writes a single line of code, make sure you've created a detailed roadmap (as described earlier) and are fully comfortable with the overall plan and estimated cost. Equally important is staying alert to “feature creep,” a common pitfall where non-essential features get added to the core requirements list instead of being deferred for future evaluation. Maintaining discipline in this stage helps keep your project on track, on time, and within budget.

Software should be viewed as a living artifact. While ongoing support and maintenance are not excessively costly, it's important to remember that continuous attention to user support, security monitoring and updates, third-party component maintenance, and periodic enhancements is essential to keep your software healthy, secure, and up to date.

Absolutely not. To maintain the highest level of quality control, we keep all development local. We also believe it's unethical for software companies to charge clients market rates while paying overseas developers a fraction of fair local wages. This practice is unfair to both clients and local professionals, which is why we proudly support and invest in Canadian talent.

In a nutshell, we're batting 1000! We've never failed to deliver or meet expectations on any of our projects. When we say “on time and on budget,” we mean it. In fact, since our founding in 1998, our business has grown entirely through client referrals — a testament to the trust and satisfaction we've earned over the years.

We use a lot of 'common sense' and avoid 'reinventing the wheel' — and we certainly don't believe it's ethical to charge clients for repetitive work that's already been done. Over the years, we've developed a stable, well-tested application and portal framework that clients can leverage to dramatically reduce development time and costs. We also stay grounded when it comes to technology choices. Rather than chasing the latest trends or unproven frameworks, we focus on using reliable, future-supported technologies that deliver lasting value. Unfortunately, many newer frameworks are marketed as “the best option,” even when they're overly complex or ill-suited for most projects. In our view, life's too short for those kinds of games — we prefer practical, dependable solutions that simply work.