Software & AI
Custom software development built around your business
Qovex Studio designs, builds and maintains custom software: web applications, SaaS products, internal tools, customer portals, APIs and integrations. Every product follows a structured development life cycle, with secure architecture, automated tests and CI/CD from the first sprint.
Custom software we build
Software built around how your business works, not the other way round.
Web applications
Browser-based applications with accounts, roles, data and workflows.
SaaS products
Multi-tenant platforms with subscriptions, billing and onboarding.
Internal tools and dashboards
Admin panels, reporting and operations tools that replace spreadsheets.
Customer and partner portals
Self-service portals for orders, documents, bookings and support.
CRM and ERP extensions
Custom modules and connectors for the systems you already run.
Workflow automation
Approvals, notifications and data syncs that remove manual work.
APIs and integrations
REST and GraphQL APIs, webhooks and third-party integrations.
Mobile and cross-platform apps
iOS and Android apps with Flutter or React Native, sharing one back-end.
Legacy modernisation
Old systems rebuilt or migrated step by step without stopping the business.
Architecture designed to scale with you
Architecture decides how fast the product ships today and how cheaply it grows tomorrow. We decide it in discovery and document every choice.
Most products start as a modular monolith: one deployable codebase with clear module boundaries. It ships faster and costs less to run than microservices, and modules split into separate services only when traffic or team size demands it.
APIs are designed first and documented with OpenAPI, so web apps, mobile apps and partners use the same contract. Each architecture decision is recorded in an architecture decision record (ADR), so your team knows why the system works the way it does.
- Domain model and module boundaries
- API-first design with OpenAPI
- Role-based access control
- Event-driven integrations with queues
- Infrastructure as code
- Logs, metrics and traces
Custom software vs off-the-shelf software
Off-the-shelf software is faster to start; custom software fits better and costs less to scale. The table shows the trade-off.
- Fit
- Custom software: Built around your exact process
- Off-the-shelf software: Your process adapts to the product
- Upfront cost
- Custom software: Higher: design and development
- Off-the-shelf software: Lower: setup and subscription
- Long-term cost
- Custom software: No per-seat licences; you own the code
- Off-the-shelf software: Licence fees grow with every user
- Integrations
- Custom software: Any system through APIs
- Off-the-shelf software: Limited to available connectors
- Competitive edge
- Custom software: Workflows competitors cannot buy
- Off-the-shelf software: The same features as your competitors
- Time to start
- Custom software: Weeks to the first release
- Off-the-shelf software: Days to set up
Software architecture options, compared
There are 5 common architecture styles for custom software. The table compares time to first release, scalability, operational simplicity and the stack each one uses.
A modular monolith suits most new products: it reaches users fastest and keeps operations simple. Microservices pay off for large teams and uneven traffic, and serverless suits event-driven workloads with idle periods.
Languages, frameworks and cloud we build with
We choose proven, well-supported technology your future team can hire for.
34 tools
Languages · Back-end · Front-end and mobile · Data · Cloud and DevOps · Observability
Languages
- TypeScriptTyped JavaScript for front-ends and Node.js back-ends.
- PythonAPIs, data processing, automation and AI.
- GoFast, concurrent services and tools.
- PHPLaravel applications and integrations.
- C# and .NETEnterprise applications on Microsoft stacks.
- KotlinAndroid apps and JVM services.
Back-end
- Node.jsJavaScript runtime for APIs and real-time apps.
- NestJSStructured Node.js framework for large back-ends.
- FastAPIHigh-performance Python APIs.
- DjangoPython framework with admin and ORM.
- LaravelPHP framework for business applications.
- Spring BootJava framework for enterprise services.
Front-end and mobile
- ReactInterfaces for web applications.
- Next.jsReact framework for full-stack web apps.
- AngularEnterprise front-end framework.
- FlutteriOS and Android from one codebase.
- React NativeNative mobile apps with React.
- ElectronDesktop apps for Windows and macOS.
Data
- PostgreSQLPrimary relational database.
- MongoDBDocument storage for flexible data.
- RedisCaching, sessions and job queues.
- ElasticsearchFull-text search and analytics.
- Apache KafkaEvent streaming between services.
- RabbitMQMessage queues for background work.
Cloud and DevOps
- AWSCloud infrastructure and managed services.
- Google CloudCloud infrastructure, data and AI services.
- CloudflareEdge compute, CDN and security.
- DockerContainers from laptop to production.
- KubernetesContainer orchestration at scale.
- TerraformInfrastructure as code.
- GitHub ActionsCI/CD pipelines.
Observability
- SentryError tracking and performance monitoring.
- GrafanaDashboards for metrics and logs.
- PrometheusMetrics collection and alerting.
The software development life cycle we follow
We follow the software development life cycle (SDLC) used by enterprise teams, run in 2-week agile sprints, so you see working software at the end of every sprint.
- 01
Discovery and requirements
Stakeholder workshops, user stories and acceptance criteria for every feature.
Product requirements and backlog
- 02
Architecture and technology
Domain model, architecture style, data design and technology choices.
Architecture document and ADRs
- 03
UX and UI design
User flows, wireframes and a tested clickable prototype.
Clickable prototype
- 04
Release planning
Features prioritised with MoSCoW into an MVP and later releases.
Release roadmap
- 05
Development sprints
Two-week sprints with code review, automated tests and continuous integration.
Working software every sprint
- 06
QA and security testing
Unit, integration and end-to-end tests, plus checks against the OWASP Top 10.
Test and security report
- 07
Deployment
CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code and zero-downtime releases.
Production release
- 08
Support and evolution
Monitoring, fixes, updates and new features on a shared roadmap.
Monthly product report
Engineering standards in every project
Quality is built into the process, not inspected at the end.
Code quality
- Code review on every pull request
- Automated tests in CI
- Linting and type checking
- APIs documented with OpenAPI
Security
- OWASP Top 10 checks
- Encryption in transit and at rest
- Role-based, least-privilege access
- Secrets in a vault, never in code
Reliability
- Monitoring and alerting
- Automated backups and restore tests
- Staging that mirrors production
- Zero-downtime deployments
Ownership
- Code in your own repository
- Infrastructure as code
- Architecture and API docs
- Handover and knowledge transfer
Legacy software modernisation without a risky big-bang rewrite
Old systems still run the business, so we replace them piece by piece instead of all at once.
We use the strangler fig pattern: a new API layer sits in front of the legacy system, and features move to the new platform one at a time while both run side by side. Data is migrated and verified in stages, users switch over gradually, and the old system is retired only when nothing depends on it.
Ways to work with us
Choose the engagement model that fits your stage and team.
Discovery sprint
Requirements, architecture and a costed roadmap before you commit.
MVP development
The core features first, released to real users to validate the product.
Fixed-scope project
A defined product delivered against agreed milestones.
Dedicated team
Engineers, a designer and a QA lead working in your sprints.
Team augmentation
Senior developers added to your existing team.
Support and maintenance
Monitoring, fixes and improvements under a service agreement.
What we never do
The shortcuts that turn custom software into expensive technical debt.
Delivery shortcuts we refuse
- Building before requirements are clear
- Skipping tests to hit a date
- Manual deployments to production
- Undocumented architecture decisions
- Big-bang rewrites of working systems
Ownership traps we avoid
- Keeping your code in our repositories
- Proprietary frameworks only we can maintain
- Secrets stored in source code
- Cloud accounts in our name
- Hidden licence costs
Plan your custom software
Tell us what you need to build. We will reply with the right approach, a phased roadmap and an estimate.
Frequently asked questions about Custom Software Development
What is custom software development?
Custom software development is the design, building and maintenance of software made for one organisation’s specific users, processes and integrations, instead of buying a general product off the shelf.
How much does custom software cost?
Custom software cost depends on the number of features, user roles, integrations, platforms and compliance needs. A discovery sprint produces a costed roadmap before you commit to the full build.
How long does custom software development take?
A focused MVP typically takes 3 to 4 months. Larger platforms are released in stages, with working software delivered every 2-week sprint from the start.
When should I choose custom software over off-the-shelf?
Choose custom software when your process is a competitive advantage, when licence fees grow with every user, or when no product integrates with your systems. Off-the-shelf suits standard needs such as email or accounting.
Who owns the source code?
You do. The code lives in your repository, cloud accounts are in your name, and all intellectual property transfers to you.
Which technologies do you use?
We work with TypeScript, Python, Go, PHP and .NET, frameworks such as Node.js, NestJS, Django, Laravel, React and Flutter, and cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud and Cloudflare.
Do you sign an NDA?
Yes. We sign a non-disclosure agreement before discovery, and every team member works under confidentiality terms.
Can you take over an existing codebase?
Yes. We start with a code and architecture audit, fix critical risks first, add tests around the riskiest areas and then continue development.
How do you keep software secure?
We follow the OWASP Top 10, encrypt data in transit and at rest, use role-based access, scan dependencies and keep secrets in a vault.
Can the software integrate with our existing systems?
Yes. We connect CRMs, ERPs, payment providers, accounting tools and internal databases through APIs, webhooks and message queues.
Do you provide support after launch?
Yes. Support covers monitoring, bug fixes, security updates and new features under an agreed service level.