A spec you could hand to anyone
Detailed enough that another developer could quote against it. That keeps us honest on price.
SVC-03 / Custom software and AI
Custom software and AI features for the problems off-the-shelf tools can't solve
Customer portals, booking apps, integrations and automations. We use AI where it earns its place and tell you exactly what it costs to run.
- Builds
- Portals, apps, integrations, automations
- Timeline
- [X] weeks to first release
- Price
- From [€ PRICE]
- AI
- Only where it saves measurable hours
- Data
- EU or UK hosting, GDPR in the spec
- Review
- Every change read by a senior engineer
- Owner
- You. Code, data and accounts
01 / Who it's for
Built for businesses with a problem that's specific to them.
If a tool on the market does it well, we'll point you to it. This is for the rest.
01.1
Customer portals
Customers log in to see orders, documents, bookings or progress, instead of emailing you for an update.
01.2
Connecting systems
Your shop, accounts, CRM and warehouse passing data to each other, so nobody copies numbers between screens.
01.3
Automating admin
The weekly report, the reminder emails and the month-end reconciliation, done on a schedule.
01.4
New products
An app or platform that is the business, built to a spec you can show investors and grow on.
02 / What's included
What's in a DCM custom build.
AI-assisted, engineer-reviewed
AI tools write routine code quickly. A senior engineer designs the system and reviews every change.
Tests on what matters
Automated tests on the parts that handle money, customer data and anything you'd lose sleep over.
AI with a fallback
Every AI feature has a plain fallback and a person in the loop for anything that matters.
Running costs in writing
Hosting and AI usage estimated per month in the spec, with alerts if usage climbs.
A proper handover
Code, accounts, documentation and a runbook. You can take it to another developer without asking us.
03 / Where AI belongs
We add AI when it saves measurable hours. Otherwise we leave it out.
Every AI feature in a spec comes with the job it does, how much time it should save, what it costs per month to run and what happens when it gets something wrong.
03.1
Reading documents
Pulling dates, amounts and names from invoices, forms and contracts into your system. A person checks anything the model isn't sure of.
03.2
Sorting enquiries
Tagging incoming emails and forms by type and urgency, so the right person sees them first.
03.3
Drafting replies
First drafts of routine replies for a person to approve. Nothing goes to a customer unread.
03.4
Searching your own documents
Answers drawn from your manuals, policies or past jobs, with a link to the source so staff can check.
Data stays in the EU or UK where the provider allows it, and we flag anything the EU AI Act asks of you before you sign.
04 / Timeline
A working first release in weeks.
Larger systems are released in stages, so you're using the most valuable part while the rest is built.
Spec
Problem, users, screens, integrations and AI features agreed in writing, with a fixed price.
Prototype
A clickable version of the key screens to test with real users before the full build.
Build
Weekly releases to a preview link. You see progress as working software.
Launch
Go-live, monitoring, training and a runbook. Optional support from the engineer who built it.
05 / Price
Fixed once the spec is signed.
Starting points for planning. Your quote will be specific to your project.
- Integration
- Connecting 2 systems, from [€ PRICE]
- Portal or app
- From [€ PRICE]
- AI feature
- Added to an existing system, from [€ PRICE]
- AI running cost
- Estimated per month in the spec, typically [€ PRICE]
- Support
- Optional, from [€ PRICE] a month
What moves the price
05.1
How many types of user
Customers, staff and admins each need their own screens and permissions.
05.2
Integrations and data
Well-documented systems connect quickly. Older ones need investigation, which we price before we start.
05.3
AI accuracy needed
A feature that drafts for a human to check is cheaper than one trusted to act alone.
06 / Questions
What people ask about custom software and ai.
06.1Does AI write all the code?
No. AI drafts routine code, which is why we're quicker. A senior engineer designs the system, reviews every change and is accountable for what ships.
06.2Is our data sent to AI companies?
Only what a feature needs, through business agreements that don't allow your data to be used for training. The spec lists which provider sees what.
06.3What if the AI gets something wrong?
Every AI feature has a fallback and, for anything that matters, a person approves the result. We test accuracy on your real examples before launch.
06.4Can you build an app for iPhone and Android?
Yes. Most clients are best served by a web app that works on any phone. If you need the app stores, we'll quote that separately and explain why.
06.5Can you take over software another company built?
Often, yes. We review the code first and tell you in writing what state it's in before you commit to anything.
Next step
Here's what it does, what it costs and when you'll have it.
Tell us what's slowing the business down. The engineer who'd build it will reply within 2 working days with a rough price range.