Why this page exists
Sending an enquiry to a software company is an act of some faith. You do not know whether you will get a salesperson, a proposal for something three times what you asked for, or nothing at all.
So here is exactly what happens, so you can decide whether it is worth thirty minutes.
Step one: a reply within a business day
You get a reply from a person, written by someone who has read your brief. It will either ask two or three questions or suggest a time to talk.
If your enquiry describes something we are not the right people for, we will say so and, where we can, point you at someone better suited.
Step two: a thirty-minute call about your process
The call is about how your business currently works, not about our case studies. If you spend thirty minutes listening to us describe previous projects, that call has failed.
- What happens today, step by step
- How often, and who does it
- What goes wrong and what that costs
- Which systems are involved
- What you have already tried
By the end you should have a rough cost range, a rough timeline, and a view on whether the project is worth doing at all.
Step three: a written scope, or an honest no
If there is a project, you get a written scope: what is included, what is not, the assumptions, a phased plan and a fixed price for phase one.
If there is not — the volume does not justify it, the process is not stable, an off-the-shelf product would do it for a tenth of the price — we say so. That happens more often than you might expect.
What we ask from you
- One person who can make decisions, with about half a day a week during the project
- Questions answered within a day or two
- Honesty about the awkward parts — the legacy system, the messy data, the previous attempt
- Attendance at fortnightly demonstrations, with real feedback
Projects where both sides do their part finish earlier and cost less. That is the most consistent pattern we see.
What it costs to find out
The first conversation is free and carries no obligation. A detailed discovery — watching the process, interviewing staff, producing a specification you own and can take anywhere — is chargeable, and typically 5–10% of the expected build.