Custom software
Custom software for real operations in Colombia
We build custom software for Colombian companies and institutions whose operation already works but whose records are scattered across spreadsheets, paper, WhatsApp or an old system. We learn the whole operation, build in phases, migrate your history and verify it against the source, and keep running the system in production.
What is custom software, and when does it make sense?
It is a system built around the way your operation actually works, instead of bending your operation to fit a commercial product. It makes sense when what makes your operation different is exactly what standard software can't handle.
It makes sense when:
- Several areas record the same thing separately and the data gets retyped at every step.
- You have years of history in a system nobody can maintain, and you can't lose it.
- Your forms, reports or regulators require documents no product ships with.
- The system has to talk to what you already have: databases, invoicing, spreadsheets, WhatsApp.
It doesn't make sense when:
- Your need is standard and a commercial product covers it well (general accounting or payroll, for example).
- There is no operation or data yet: the process comes first.
- The only thing that matters is the lowest hourly rate.
If you're weighing a commercial ERP against your own, our guide Custom ERP or SaaS: how to decide in Colombia may help.
How much does custom software cost in Colombia?
It depends on scope: modules, users, integrations, the volume of data to migrate and the support you need afterwards. That's why we don't quote blind. We start with a Diagnostic from COP $4,000,000, depending on the scale and complexity of the operation, credited against the build if you continue with us.
The Diagnostic delivers:
- A map of your whole operation, area by area.
- The system architecture.
- A phased plan, pilot first.
- A firm quote for the build.
Ongoing operations are billed monthly and defined in the same quote.
How do we work?
In three phases: a Diagnostic with a firm quote, a phased build with an early pilot, and ongoing operations of the system in production.
| Phase | What happens | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic | We step into the operation, gather your forms and documents, and deliver the map, the architecture and the firm quote. | Depends on the scale of the operation. |
| Phased build | An early working pilot so you see something real before investing further; then module by module. | Typically 4 to 8 weeks to production. |
| Ongoing operations | Monitoring, restore-tested backups, support, changes and continued development; a standby server for critical systems. | Monthly. |
What happens to the data you already have?
It arrives complete. We read the full dump of the previous system, run a process that can be repeated, reconcile table by table against the source, and the old system is switched off only when the numbers match. At FUNCUAN that meant more than 100,000 animal records, more than 100,000 clinical histories and more than 500,000 files.
What do we build?
- Healthcare: clinical records, hospitalization, official forms and reports to regulators, and patient service over WhatsApp for clinics, IPS and hospitals. See Healthcare →
- Industry: traceability from production to invoice, inventory kept as a sum of movements, dispatch, receivables and machinery on a single record. See Industry →
- In any operation: integrations with what you already have, portals for customers or suppliers, reports that run on their own, and AI with visible rules.
Custom software, a commercial ERP or a cloud product: which one fits?
It depends on how close your operation is to the standard. This table compares the three options on what matters most when deciding.
| Criterion | Cloud product (SaaS) | Configured commercial ERP | Custom software with Know-How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fits your process | You adapt to the product. | Partly, through configuration and modules. | The system is designed from your forms and your operation. |
| History from your previous system | Rarely migrated in full. | Partial migration, depending on the vendor. | Full migration, reconciled against the source. |
| Who runs it afterwards | The vendor, the same for everyone. | You or an integrator. | We do, with monitoring and tested backups. |
| Who owns the code and data | The vendor (your data is yours under the contract). | The manufacturer's license. | You: code, data and documentation. |
| How you pay | Per-user subscription. | License, implementation and support. | Diagnostic, a firm-quoted build and monthly operations. |
| When it fits | Standard processes. | Large operations close to the standard. | Your own processes, several areas and years of history. |
Systems in production
- FUNCUAN (high-volume veterinary clinical operation, Barranquilla): a complete clinical platform and the migration of its legacy system in 7 weeks. See case →
- Génesis 11:6 (metabolic health clinic): patient capture with an AI assistant with medical rules and 24/7 WhatsApp. See case →
- Team Alord (land sales with a credit portfolio): a custom ERP that replaced the spreadsheets. See case →
Frequently asked questions
How is custom software different from an ERP like Odoo or Siigo?
A commercial ERP handles the standard well and asks your operation to fit its model. Custom software starts from how you work: your forms, your areas and your rules. Many companies combine both: they keep accounting in the commercial product and build custom what makes them different.
Is the software owned by my company?
Yes. The code, the data and the documentation are yours. If you ever decide to work with another team, everything goes with you.
Can you work with my IT team or my current vendor?
Yes. We almost always start by integrating with what already works, and the new system runs alongside the old one for the first months. Your IT team has access to the documentation and the architecture from the Diagnostic onwards.
Where does my data live?
On dedicated infrastructure from providers certified under ISO/IEC 27001, or in an account in your company's name if your policy requires it. We sign confidentiality and data processing agreements (Colombia's Law 1581) before we see your information. See Security.
Do you work with companies outside Barranquilla?
Yes. We're based in Barranquilla and work over video calls and email with operations in other cities. What we do need is access to your real data and someone on your team available for questions.
Tell us how your operation works
In 30 minutes we'll tell you whether a custom system makes sense for your operation and what the Diagnostic would include.