Insights

Planning and buying

Is custom software worth it? A practical checklist

Off-the-shelf tools are usually the right answer. Here is how to tell when they are not.

17 October 2026 · 3 min read Planning and buying

Custom software vs off-the-shelf: how to decide

A practical way to choose between buying software and building it, with the questions that matter, the hidden costs on both sides and a simple scorecard.

15 October 2026 · 3 min read Business technology

Seven signs your spreadsheet has become a system

Spreadsheets are brilliant until they quietly become something the business depends on. Here is how to spot it.

11 October 2026 · 3 min read Planning and buying

How to choose a software development company (and what to ask them)

The questions worth asking, the signs of a good partner, and the warning signs, so you can compare software developers fairly and avoid expensive surprises.

9 October 2026 · 3 min read Planning and buying

What to prepare before you talk to a software developer

You do not need a specification. A few honest answers will make the first conversation far more useful.

5 October 2026 · 3 min read Planning and buying

What affects the cost of custom software

Why quotes for the same project vary so much, the seven things that really drive cost, and how to get fair comparisons without cutting corners.

3 October 2026 · 3 min read Security and data

Security basics every business system should have

Good security is mostly good habits applied consistently. Here are the basics worth asking about.

29 September 2026 · 3 min read Planning and buying

What happens in a software discovery phase

A discovery phase is the cheapest way to avoid the most expensive mistakes. Here is what it involves, what you get, and how to prepare.

26 September 2026 · 3 min read School technology

Why we are researching schools before we build further

ScoilFlow is in development. Before we decide what comes next, we are asking the people who run schools.

23 September 2026 · 3 min read