Custom
Software
Designing and developing software applications that either make your life easier or help grow your business. We'll help simplify your business processes; saving you time and money, meaning you have time to focus on the things that really matter.
Solving Business Problems with Custom Web and Mobile Software
When you choose us for your project, we start our intensive discovery and consulting phase. After learning all of your business objectives, we will do all of the heavy lifting to help get the custom solution you need off the ground. We have the experience and the know-how to help you get your project deployed as soon as possible.
We help you make the key technology decisions based on our experience, and your specific needs. Let us help you make the right strategy choices for your business.
Selecting an ideal platform or technology stack can be a daunting task. If your project is in the early stages and you don't know what the most optimal choice would be, we can help you make all of the key business and technology decisions to ensure that your solution becomes successful.
Excel Automation
We convert your large and complex Excel workbooks to a robust fully automated solution. Dramatically increasing productivity and profitability.
System Integrations
We integrate cloud services into your IT infrastructure. We work extensively with providers such as Amazon, Microsoft, Sage, Sales Force, DocuSign and more.
Custom Built
We build and deploy end-to-end cloud services, mobile and web applications which are simple, scalable and engaging.
Validation
We develop low-cost, quick product prototypes, or proof of concept, to assess technical risks and perform initial market validation.
Consultancy
We work closely with your team to deliver new custom features or entire products, on time and within budget.
Still running on spreadsheets?
A lot of our custom software work starts with a single Excel workbook that has quietly outgrown itself. If that sounds familiar, our spreadsheets to software page walks through what a custom system replaces it with and how a project typically gets started.
Many clients also begin with an ongoing maintenance relationship and grow into bespoke software once we understand how the business really runs.
Calculate your software ROI.
Enter your team size, hourly cost, and the hours lost to manual, repetitive admin that custom software could absorb. The calculator returns the four numbers that matter: annual recovery, year-one net return, break-even week, and five-year value.
Your business details
What you get back
LiveHours × employees × rate × 52. Build and running costs subtracted.
Illustrative estimate based on your inputs.
The math behind the hours
One worker spending 20 hours a week on manual admin at £35 an hour is 20 × £35 × 52 = £36,400 recovered a year, about £3,033 a month. On a typical build that pays for itself by break-even week 10. Multiply across a team and the case grows quickly.
A worked example (yours is above).
Recent Testimonials
Ben
I've known Danny and his excellent team at IceBox for a number of years and have recommended them to many of our clients. In the last 12 months, we have recommended them to two clients in particular. One business was in manufacturing and the other construction. Both companies had old applications running their businesses, which were slowing productivity. At Clever IT we evaluate each company individually and make recommendations that can save businesses time and money. In both of these instances, we made the introduction to Danny as we felt he could really add value. Following a number of meetings and fact-finding sessions both clients instructed IceBox to design a modern, internet-based, bespoke solution to effectively run their business. Each system was a huge improvement to the old antiquated solutions they were using previously. Both clients are very happy with the end result and appreciated our recommendation. Once again we will continue to strongly recommend IceBox for future projects.
Dave
At Matrixtrade.com, we are in financial services (stock market research) and sought out IceBox after I had met Danny and he had told me he was a keen stock market investor, and so understood what I was trying to do. We wanted to build a subscription website to sell our research and Danny was easily and quickly able to translate my brief into a working application. Our business is growing well and Icebox are accommodating and understanding when the inevitable changes are required.
Mike
After looking around for a company to develop a tailor made spreadsheet for our projects, I decided to use Danny Callan ticked all the boxes, he gave us a very professional service, and price also went above and beyond with what we were looking for would highly recommend the company for the service that they provide thanks, Danny
Ben
I've known Danny and his excellent team at IceBox for a number of years and have recommended them to many of our clients. In the last 12 months, we have recommended them to two clients in particular. One business was in manufacturing and the other construction. Both companies had old applications running their businesses, which were slowing productivity. At Clever IT we evaluate each company individually and make recommendations that can save businesses time and money. In both of these instances, we made the introduction to Danny as we felt he could really add value. Following a number of meetings and fact-finding sessions both clients instructed IceBox to design a modern, internet-based, bespoke solution to effectively run their business. Each system was a huge improvement to the old antiquated solutions they were using previously. Both clients are very happy with the end result and appreciated our recommendation. Once again we will continue to strongly recommend IceBox for future projects.
Mike
After looking around for a company to develop a tailor made spreadsheet for our projects, I decided to use Danny Callan ticked all the boxes, he gave us a very professional service, and price also went above and beyond with what we were looking for would highly recommend the company for the service that they provide thanks, Danny
Dave
At Matrixtrade.com, we are in financial services (stock market research) and sought out IceBox after I had met Danny and he had told me he was a keen stock market investor, and so understood what I was trying to do. We wanted to build a subscription website to sell our research and Danny was easily and quickly able to translate my brief into a working application. Our business is growing well and Icebox are accommodating and understanding when the inevitable changes are required.
Most Popular FAQs
Having to re-enter the same, or similar data into multiple software applications. Speed of response to customers and business needs, where data could be supplied by automatic electronic means. Working on complex excel documents to extract data. Sending regular notifications to your clients manually. Doing tedious calculations on regular intervals to get information out of your business activities.
Of course! Some of our clients want to safeguard their project idea before proceeding with a development company. This is no problem. If you'd like an NDA, we have a good one we can send you.
We can do both. If you like the flexibility and freedom of "do as I say" and "pay as we go" then we can charge by the hour. However, we also offer fixed bid pricing for very well defined projects. If the project brief is exceeded, then we can always re-quote for any late changes. For some clients, we can also offer a hybrid of both hourly and fixed bidding. In general, we do whatever makes the most sense for our client and the project in question.
Our fees are as set out in the Development Proposal and Cost Specification Documents before the start of the project. Invoiced amounts are payable within 15 days of receipt of invoice.
We have a very wide range of experience. However, a combination of commercial necessity and individual preferences has led to some tools and technologies becoming "company favourites". This ranges from Microsoft .NET framework, PHP, #C, Java and SQL. IceBoxDesigns also provides specialist I.T. consultancy in three areas: the migration of existing systems to the Microsoft .NET framework, upsizing of Access databases to server-based operation and on to full web deployment. Lastly the conversion of Microsoft Excel documents to a web based application.
There is no such thing as an average project length. Some of our projects are small, well-defined, and completed in two weeks, others can take nine months or longer. It all depends on the complexity and scope of the project, and whether revisions have been made to the original brief.
Once the project is completed and paid for the software is owned by you. This means you get everything that is necessary to build, maintain, or extend the software, such as "executable" files, source code, scripts, graphics, audio, project files, etc. However, we do like to retain the right to reuse the source code in future projects, provided it does not contain any proprietary or protected information belonging to you.
Are you ready to get started?
Let's Get Cracking
Please contact our team or complete the form below. A representative will contact you shortly.
Let's Talk
We like to understand your business first and see how you use technology. Then we delve into areas of improvement.
Custom To You
Everything we do will be fully custom to you and your organization. As we understand that all businesses are different.
No Project is Too Complex
We love to solve technology problems and get excited about the end product.
We're here to help!
Reach us anytime.
Further reading
Custom Software for Small Businesses - When Spreadsheets Start Holding You Back
If your business runs on a tangle of spreadsheets and disconnected apps, you're paying for it in lost hours and quiet mistakes. Here's when custom software earns its keep, and how to pick the right team to build it.
Custom Software Development in Manchester: What to Look For in a Development Partner
Manchester has one of the most active software development scenes in the UK. Here's what small and medium businesses should look for when choosing a custom development partner, and what good actually looks like.
Why Recycling Centres and Waste Management Businesses Need Custom Software (Not More Spreadsheets)
If your recycling or waste management business is still held together by spreadsheets and software that was never built for your operation, you're making life harder than it needs to be. Here's what moving to a purpose-built system actually looks like.
How Family Offices Can Automate Investment Reporting and Finally Retire the Master Spreadsheet
Past a certain level of portfolio complexity, the family office spreadsheet stops being a productivity tool and starts being a liability. Here's where the model breaks, the five data challenges sitting underneath it, and what it actually takes to automate investment reporting without a painful transition.