Software & Product Engineering
Custom Application Development
Get the business application your processes actually need — designed around your users, built on a maintainable architecture and delivered in small, working increments you can test early.
Is this for you?
You might need this if…
Your teams run critical work in spreadsheets, email and workarounds because no standard product fits the way you operate.
A system your business depends on was built years ago by one supplier, and every change is now slow, risky and expensive.
You have a clear idea for a new internal or customer-facing application but no development team to build it.
Business units are building their own low-code apps, and nobody is sure which ones are secure, supported or worth scaling.
What we deliver
What it covers
Web and cloud-native applications
We build web applications designed for the cloud from the start, using managed services, automated deployment and built-in monitoring. You get software that scales with demand and is cheaper to run and change.
AI-assisted software development
Our developers use AI coding assistants for code generation, review, tests and documentation, within clear rules on security and code ownership. The result is faster delivery without lowering the quality bar.
Microservices and API-first architecture
We design applications around well-defined APIs and, where it pays off, independently deployable services. Other systems and partners can then connect easily, and parts of the application can change without rebuilding the whole.
Low-code applications
We build and govern applications on platforms such as Power Apps and OutSystems where speed matters more than full customisation. We also set up guardrails so citizen-built apps stay secure and supportable.
Solution architecture and technical leadership
Our architects and tech leads make the key design decisions, set coding standards and keep the build aligned with your enterprise architecture. You get a system that is understood, documented and maintainable after go-live.
Our approach
How we work
01
Discover
Workshops with users and stakeholders to understand the process, the data and the constraints, and to agree what the first release must do.
02
Design
Architecture, user flows and a prioritised backlog, with technology choices that fit your existing landscape and skills.
03
Build
Development in short iterations, with working software demonstrated regularly and feedback built into the next sprint.
04
Launch & evolve
Go-live with monitoring and support in place, followed by continued releases or a clean handover to your own team.
Best practices
What we bring to every engagement
Release something useful early
A small first release in real users’ hands teaches more than months of specification.
Choose boring technology on purpose
Mainstream, well-supported frameworks make the application easier to staff, secure and maintain for years.
Automate tests from the first sprint
Automated unit, integration and end-to-end tests make every later change cheaper and safer.
Secure by design
Threat modelling, dependency scanning and secure coding practices are part of the build, not a review at the end.
Use microservices only where they earn their keep
A well-structured modular application is often simpler and cheaper than a distributed system you don’t yet need.
You own the code
Source code, documentation and pipelines live in your repositories, so you are never locked in to us or any supplier.
Outcomes
What you get
- A working application in production, released in increments
- A documented architecture and technology choices
- Source code and pipelines in your own repositories
- Automated tests and monitoring from day one
- A prioritised backlog for the next releases
- A support model or handover plan for your team
AI-powered
Unleash the power of AI
We offer the possibility of using AI throughout this work: ready-to-use AI tools, or a customised version built for your organisation that can run inside your own infrastructure. In application development, AI assistants draft code, unit tests and documentation and flag issues during code review, while our developers stay responsible for design and quality — and with a private set-up, your code never leaves your environment.
Starter offer
Application Blueprint Sprint
A fixed-scope, three-week engagement that turns an application idea into a validated design, architecture and delivery plan you can build from.
Days 1–3
Frame
Kick-off and workshops with users and owners to define the problem, scope and success criteria.
Days 4–7
Explore
User journeys, key screens and data needs mapped, and a clickable prototype started.
Days 8–12
Architect
Target architecture, technology choices and integration points defined and tested against your landscape.
Days 13–15
Plan
Backlog, release plan and effort estimate presented to decision-makers.
You receive
- A clickable prototype of the key user journeys
- A solution architecture and technology recommendation
- A prioritised backlog for the first release
- A delivery plan with effort estimate and team set-up
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build a custom application?
A focused first release is usually ready within two to four months, depending on scope, integrations and how quickly decisions can be made. We plan for an early, usable version and then extend it in regular releases.
Should we build custom or buy a standard product?
If a standard product covers your needs well, buying is usually cheaper over time, and we will tell you so. Custom development makes sense where your process is a genuine differentiator or no product fits without heavy customisation.
Who will actually do the work?
Altechy puts together the right team from our partner network — developers, architects, designers and testers — and remains your single point of contact and accountable for delivery. We can also work alongside your own developers or existing suppliers.
Who owns the code and what happens after go-live?
You own the source code, documentation and pipelines. After go-live we can continue developing and supporting the application, or hand it over to your own team with documentation and knowledge transfer.
Related services
Application Modernisation Digital Experience Quality Engineering & Testing DevOps & Platform Engineering Integration & APIs Application Management & Support
Let’s build the application your business needs
Book a free 60-minute idea session. We explore your challenges and opportunities with you, and suggest where to start — with no obligation.