II Practice
Custom software
When no off-the-shelf product fits how you actually work, we build the one that does, and we keep it running.
- Starting point
- Functional scoping
- Platforms
- Web · iOS & Android
- Deliverable
- Live application, source code handed over
Custom is not a luxury, it is a trade-off.
Off-the-shelf software is cheaper to buy. It is often far more expensive to live with when it imposes its own processes on a business that does not work that way, and your teams spend their days working around it.
We do not push custom development on principle. Our first question is always whether the market already answers the need. If it does, we say so and help you choose. If it does not, we build, and we hand you the source code.
This is for you if
- Your processes fit none of the products on the market.
- Your teams maintain critical spreadsheets alongside the official tool.
- A vendor charges a premium for every change you request.
- Your existing applications do not talk to each other.
- You need a mobile app for teams working in the field.
From idea to production
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01
Functional scoping
Before a line of code: what the application is for, who uses it, and what happens if it does not exist. We also cost the option of not building it.
- Interviews and observation of real work
- User journeys and business rules
- Comparison against market solutions
- Scope split into deliverable increments
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02
Web applications
Business applications reached from a browser: operations, tracking, steering, client or supplier portals, back-office interfaces.
- Responsive interfaces, usable on mobile
- Authentication and fine-grained permissions
- Dashboards and exports
- Measured accessibility and performance
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03
Mobile applications
iOS and Android apps for field teams: offline data entry, photos, location, synchronisation with your systems.
- Native or cross-platform, chosen on the use case
- Offline operation and synchronisation
- Publication to the App Store and Google Play
- In-house enterprise distribution
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04
Integration & migration
An isolated application is of little use. We connect it to what you already run and migrate your existing data.
- APIs and exchanges with ERP, CRM, payroll
- Migration and cleaning of existing data
- Single sign-on (SSO)
- Logging and auditability
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05
Maintenance & evolution
Software is alive. We handle fixes, security updates and new features, with a commitment to reversibility.
- Fixes and security updates
- Feature work prioritised with you
- Monitoring and backups
- Handover to your teams at any point
Three applications we publish ourselves
We do not only deliver for clients: we design, run and bill our own software. It is the best guarantee that we know what an application actually costs once it is in production.
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01
RentBridge
Getaround ↔ rental website synchronisation
RentBridge automatically connects a Getaround fleet to a WordPress site: real-time availability, no double bookings.
- Continuous two-way synchronisation
- Safeguards against double booking
- Live location, fuel level and engine status
- Automatic import of photos, reviews and insurance data
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02
ArbiTrack
A decision desk for Amazon arbitrage
ArbiTrack answers in one sentence the only question that matters in the aisle: is this product profitable once every fee is deducted?
- In-store product scanning from a phone
- Net margin under French rules: Amazon fees, VAT, social charges, returns
- Keepa data integration
- Searchable deal database
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03
My Afterschool
Tutoring and activity centre management
My Afterschool brings everything that keeps a centre running into a single application: enrolments, scheduling, instructors, payments and the relationship with families.
- Enrolments, re-enrolments and parent portal
- Sessions, rooms, attendance, holidays and camps
- Instructor contracts and pupil tracking
- Invoicing, payments and bank reconciliation
- Branding, modules and languages configurable per centre
What you get along with the software
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01
The code is yours
Sources, technical documentation and deployment procedures are handed over. You can change supplier without starting again.
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02
No hidden lock-in
We favour open, documented technologies and justify every dependency we add.
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03
Short releases
You see a first useful scope working before the full budget is committed.
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04
Security by design
Our cybersecurity practice reviews the applications we produce. It is not an option billed at the end.
What you get
- Functional scoping document and user journeys
- Live application, web and/or mobile
- Source code and technical documentation
- Deployment and backup procedures
- Automated test suites
- Training for users and administrators
Frequently asked questions
Custom or off-the-shelf?
The question is settled by your business, not by a principle. If an existing product covers most of the need, buying and adapting it costs less. Scoping always includes that comparison, and we do sometimes conclude that nothing should be built.
Who owns the code?
You do. Sources, documentation and deployment procedures are part of the deliverables at no extra cost. You remain free to take development in-house or change supplier.
What happens after go-live?
We offer a maintenance contract covering fixes, security updates and new features. It is not mandatory: if your teams take over, we organise the handover.
Do you work alongside our developers?
Yes, and it is often the best arrangement. We can reinforce an existing team, lay foundations it will then own, or act as code reviewers.
Next step
Let us first check that building is the right answer.
Functional scoping settles that question before any budget is committed. Sometimes it concludes that you should buy an existing product, and that is a good outcome.
Or email us contact@yhconsulting.fr