Replace spreadsheets, duplicated admin and awkward software workarounds with a custom system built for your business
I build secure web apps, portals, scheduling systems and integrations for SMEs that have outgrown spreadsheets or off-the-shelf SaaS.
New Media Aid gives you direct access to a UK-based senior developer with 26+ years of experience building and maintaining business-critical systems. Modern AI-assisted tooling helps speed up delivery, while senior experience keeps the architecture, security and long-term maintainability under control.
When does bespoke software become better value than SaaS?
SaaS products are often an excellent choice for small businesses. However, as organisations grow, user numbers increase and processes become more specialised, subscription costs and workarounds can start to add up.
Modern AI-assisted development tools such as ChatGPT and Anthropic Claude can significantly reduce the time needed to design, build and test custom software. This makes bespoke systems far more achievable for SMEs than they were only a few years ago.
Typical SaaS Example
Growing contractor or service business
- 25 users
- ~£25 per user/month*
- ~£7,500 per year
- ~£37,500 over 5 years
Larger Teams
Operations, supervisors and management
- 40 users
- ~£30 per user/month*
- ~£14,400 per year
- ~£72,000 over 5 years
Bespoke Alternative
Built around your exact workflow
- Projects often start from £10k–£15k
- No per-user licence fees
- Only the features you actually need
- 100% tailored to your business
*Illustrative examples only. Actual SaaS pricing and bespoke development costs vary depending on requirements, user numbers and functionality.
Compare SaaS vs Bespoke
Discover when a bespoke system may offer better long-term value, greater flexibility and a closer fit to your business processes.
Read the comparisonCommon problems I help SMEs solve
Most enquiries start with an operational bottleneck rather than a neat technical brief. These are the kinds of problems where bespoke software can quickly become worthwhile.
Too many spreadsheets
Replace fragile Excel processes with a secure, centralised system that is easier to control, audit and maintain.
Duplicated admin
Reduce re-keying, chasing, manual checks and repeated data entry across different tools and departments.
Software that nearly fits
Move away from generic SaaS workarounds when your processes, approvals or reporting needs are more specific.
Planning and scheduling issues
Create job, staff, vehicle and resource planning systems that match how your teams actually work.
Poor reporting visibility
Turn scattered operational data into dashboards, exports and management reports that can be trusted.
Disconnected systems
Connect websites, databases, portals, payment providers, email, SMS and third-party APIs into one cleaner workflow.
When SaaS stops fitting, bespoke becomes the smarter choice
Many SMEs start with SaaS because it is quick and accessible. Over time, cracks appear: processes do not quite fit, reporting becomes painful, and staff rely on spreadsheets to fill the gaps.
The result is a fragile ecosystem of subscriptions, exports, manual checks and duplicated data — all adding cost, risk and frustration.
Bespoke software flips this around. Instead of forcing your business to adapt to generic tools, the software is designed to match your workflows, approvals, compliance requirements and edge cases exactly.
Bespoke often makes sense if…
- You are paying for multiple SaaS tools and integrations
- Spreadsheets are “holding things together”
- Reporting requires exports and manual rework
- Your processes are unique, operationally complex or compliance-heavy
- You need tighter control over data, permissions and security
What we build
From small workflow tools to full internal business platforms, the aim is the same: reduce manual effort, improve visibility and make day-to-day operations easier to manage.
Web-based business systems
Internal platforms, portals and dashboards built with .NET and SQL Server, designed for performance, clarity and long-term maintainability.
- Customer and staff portals
- Job management systems
- Quote and invoice workflows
- Reporting dashboards
- Asset and equipment tracking
- Legacy system modernisation
Mobile, field and integration tools
Practical tools for staff on the move, plus integrations that remove duplication between your website, database and third-party services.
- Android field apps
- Inspection and compliance forms
- Stripe payment integrations
- SMS and email automation
- API integrations
- Offline-first data capture
Best fit for established SMEs
I am usually most useful when a business already has a working process, but that process has become too manual, too fragile or too difficult to scale.
Why bespoke software is viable again
Historically, bespoke software was often seen as slow and expensive. A lot of development time was spent on repetitive engineering: scaffolding screens, boilerplate code, plumbing, tests and documentation.
Modern AI-assisted development tools have changed that. They reduce the mechanical overhead, but the real advantage comes when those tools are used by an experienced senior developer who can still make the important decisions properly.
AI accelerates delivery. Experience ensures the system is designed correctly, secure by default, and maintainable for the long term.
Faster delivery
AI-assisted coding accelerates development without sacrificing architecture, quality or security.
Exact fit
Workflows, permissions and automation are designed around your business — not generic assumptions.
Security first
Least-privilege access, audit trails, hardened APIs and modern security patterns built in from day one.
Clean integration
One joined-up system across web, mobile, databases and third-party services — no fragile exports.
Not sure if bespoke beats your current setup?
Tell me what you are trying to fix. If you outline your current tools, spreadsheets and pain points, I can give you a straight answer on whether bespoke software makes sense — and what a realistic migration path would look like.