Example projects

What this work looks like in practice

Illustrative examples of problems we solve and how we would approach them — the typical situation, what we would build, and what to expect.

These are illustrative examples, not client case studies. Each one describes a common situation and how we would approach it. The businesses are hypothetical, and figures describe typical ranges rather than measured results from a specific engagement. Real outcomes depend on scope and context — we’re happy to walk through what’s realistic for yours.

Professional services

Consolidating three per-seat tools into one self-hosted platform

Platform customization · CRM · Client portal

The typical situation

Picture a consulting firm of around 50 people running a CRM, a project-management tool, and a time-tracking app — all priced per seat, none connected. At typical list prices that can pass a few thousand dollars a month, and it rises with every hire. Client data lives in three places, and staff re-enter it between them.

How we would approach it

Deploy a self-hosted, customized open-source CRM such as Twenty, with a client portal and project tracking built in, on the firm’s own cloud account. Connect it to the accounting system so invoicing no longer needs manual entry.

What to expect

Per-seat license fees go away and are replaced by hosting, which for a deployment like this is typically in the low hundreds of dollars a month. The bigger gain is usually operational: one system of record, no duplicate data entry, and a single view of pipeline and active work.

The takeaway

The cost of several disconnected per-seat tools compounds faster than any one bill suggests — and the hidden cost is the manual work people do to connect them.

Compare: Twenty vs Salesforce →

E-commerce

Moving a direct-to-consumer brand to a custom headless storefront

Custom software · E-commerce · Headless storefront

The typical situation

Consider a DTC brand on Shopify Plus paying the platform subscription, several app subscriptions for features it needs, and — if it uses a third-party payment gateway — an extra per-transaction fee. Its checkout can’t handle the bundle and subscription configurations customers keep asking for.

How we would approach it

Build a headless storefront on an open-source commerce engine such as Medusa, with a custom checkout for bundles and subscription tiers and a wholesale portal for B2B accounts, all in one codebase. Build the frontend for Core Web Vitals from the start.

What to expect

Platform and app subscriptions are replaced by hosting and maintenance, with no revenue-based platform fee. Just as important, the brand can offer checkout options its old platform couldn’t. This makes sense at meaningful revenue with ongoing development capacity — smaller brands are usually better served staying on Shopify.

The takeaway

Revenue-linked platform fees feel small early and grow with you. Custom checkout has two levers — lower platform cost and configurations that can lift order value — so evaluate both.

Compare: Medusa vs Shopify Plus →

Healthcare

Replacing paper intake and disconnected scheduling at a multi-location clinic

Custom software · Healthcare · Workflow automation

The typical situation

Imagine a clinic group with several locations still using paper intake forms and a scheduling tool that doesn’t connect to its EHR. Front-desk staff re-key patient details, make reminder calls by hand, and errors creep in.

How we would approach it

Build a HIPAA-conscious digital intake system integrated with the EHR, so patients complete forms before they arrive and the data flows in automatically. Replace the scheduling tool with a self-hosted, white-labeled Cal.com instance with automated reminders.

What to expect

Intake moves ahead of the visit, so front-desk time per patient falls and re-keying errors largely disappear. Reminder calls become automated messages. How much time is saved depends on visit volume and on the EHR’s integration options — which is why we scope the integration first.

The takeaway

In clinical settings the return is usually staff time, not software cost. Intake touches every visit at every location, so small savings compound quickly.

Read: Custom Software for Healthcare →

Agency

Giving a marketing agency’s clients one place to see their work

Business app · Client portal · Agency tools

The typical situation

A digital agency of around 20 people manages clients across a project tool, shared drives, email, and chat. Clients often don’t know where things stand, documents live in several places, and status questions eat into the team’s week.

How we would approach it

Build a branded client portal on the agency’s own domain with project timelines, document management, deliverable approvals, and messaging. Each client gets its own space, synced with the agency’s internal project tool so status is always current.

What to expect

Clients check status, find files, and approve deliverables themselves, so "where are things?" emails drop. A polished portal also makes the agency’s delivery process visible, which can help in new-business pitches.

The takeaway

A portal solves a visibility problem, but the bigger win is what visibility does to the relationship: fewer anxious questions and more confident feedback.

See: Custom client portal development →

B2B SaaS

Untangling a SaaS product into a clean API so partners can integrate

API design · Custom software · Systems integration

The typical situation

A B2B SaaS product grew quickly and its business logic is tangled into the frontend. Every partner integration request turns into a large, unpredictable project, so promising partnerships stall.

How we would approach it

Extract the core logic into a documented, versioned REST API with proper authentication. The existing frontend becomes one consumer of that API, and the documentation is good enough for partners’ own engineers to build integrations with support.

What to expect

Integrations become scoped, repeatable work instead of one-off rewrites, and the internal team can build new product surfaces without touching core logic.

The takeaway

API-first is a business decision, not just an architectural one: a clean API is what lets a product become a platform, and it costs far less to build early than to retrofit.

Read: API-First Architecture →

Start a conversation

Every project starts with a 30-minute call to understand your situation. We'll tell you honestly whether custom software is the right answer — and if it is, we'll send a fixed-price estimate with defined deliverables.

Get a fixed estimate →info@appextechnology.com

We respond to all project inquiries within one business day.

FAQ

How we work

How do you price a custom software project?+

We scope each project to a fixed price before development starts. After an initial call to understand the requirement, we send a written estimate with defined deliverables, timeline, and cost — no open-ended hourly billing. Payment is milestone-based.

How long does a typical project take?+

Most focused builds take 3–8 weeks. A single integration or automation is 1–3 weeks. A full platform or client portal is 6–12 weeks. The timeline depends on scope and integrations, both of which are fixed at the estimate stage.

Do you work with businesses that have no internal technical team?+

Yes — we are set up for exactly that. We handle architecture, build, deployment, documentation, and handover so your team can operate the system without ongoing developer dependency. We offer maintenance retainers for clients who want continued support.

What happens after the project ships?+

You receive all source code, documentation, and deployment access. You own everything outright. For self-hosted platforms, we offer an optional maintenance retainer covering updates, backups, monitoring, and support.

Can you take over a project that's already in progress?+

Yes — whether to finish a stalled project, refactor a fragile system, or add a major feature. The first step is always a codebase review so we can give you an honest assessment and a fixed estimate.

Have a project worth building?

Tell us what you’re trying to make. We reply within one business day with a clear next step — not a sales sequence.

Start a project info@appextechnology.com