Software Design

AFM have been developing high quality custom (bespoke) software since 1999. Our expertise allows us to create reliable custom software applications cost effectively and on time. By writing applications custom to your requirements we can make your business more efficient and profitable, allowing you to provide a more effective service to your customers.

AFM puts a strong emphasis on reliable, easy to use, good looking interfaces as well as robust underlying systems. We put a high priority on producing very good quality, tested products.

Why commission a tailored software application?

Tailored custom (or "bespoke") software is a software application developed specifically to your custom requirements. Such tailor made software is particularly used when there is no "off the shelf" alternative available. But there are often efficiency benefits in using custom software even when a package is available that seems to fulfil your requirements. With many software packages you can be frustrated when seemingly simple tasks are harder to carry out than they need to be.

Today's Computer Applications

Most computer applications currently in use tend to be designed as 'all things to all people'. They are very good at enabling people to perform a very wide range of tasks. Unfortunately this particular strength can also be a weakness. When trying to create spreadsheets or databases to perform complex tasks the end result is often far more complicated than is practical. In addition, the effort required to get the printed report to look exactly right is usually not cost effective. The ability to try to prevent users entering inaccurate data is also very limited.

Tailor Made Software

With tailor made software you get exactly what your organization requires. Output, such as printed reports, can be designed to look extremely professional. When information is entered it can be thoroughly checked so that as few errors as possible get through undetected.

Easy To Use

Also, tailor made software can be designed to be extremely easy to use because it is developed along side the people who use it. AFM knows the importance of the people who will be using the software day to day being happy with how it operates, and we will work with you to achieve this. AFM user friendly interfaces can fit in with your staff's existing skills which means less time spent on expensive training.

Reliable Support

Ongoing support and development - AFM is committed to long-term relationships with its clients. So you can be confident that we will be there to provide ongoing support and technical help when you need it.

AFM believes that complete honesty with our clients is the only way to build a working relationship. All new software has minor bugs that need to be addressed. If a problem with our software comes to our notice, you can be confident that we will immediately let you know and work with you to achieve a solution.

Quality Control

AFM have developed many in-house procedures to ensure that all the software we produce is developed to the highest standards and tested to be as bug free as possible upon delivery.

Our Guarantee

Unlike many of our competitors AFM guarantee that any program we write will work as specified. Any errors that do slip through are fixed free of charge (at our discretion), under guarantee.

Affordable Software Solutions

Tailored software from AFM is very affordable and in the long-term results in savings from increased efficiency and ease of use. We always try to be flexible when working with our clients and strive to accommodate their requirements as closely as possible.

Designing Custom Software - It is not as difficult as you think!

Most owners or managers will only commission custom software a few times in their professional career. You can be confident that we will take a proactive role in the development as well as paying close attention to your specification. We will work with you to understand the purpose of the project, and then use all our expertise to ensure that you achieve it.

Our experience means we understand the pressures on application development projects large and small. We realise that it is not always possible to document every detail in the initial specification, and that working within a fixed budget can present its own limitations.

Our size means we are flexible enough to cater effectively for the needs of our clients and respond rapidly to their requests.

Analysing the Process

At AFM we aren't just order-takers. We are happy to get actively involved with untangling the systems and procedures within your organisation and helping you implement better systems, whether they are manual, based on packaged software, or bespoke software. We want to make sure that any new IT system isn't simply speeding up a possibly inefficient manual system, but is removing unnecessary steps and is making the best use of software, the internet, and communications technology.

Communication Skills and Business Experience

At AFM we pride ourselves on being able to talk to customers in straight forward language, without using unnecessary jargon. As a result of our team's experience we believe our ability to see the issues from our customer's perspective is one of our key strengths, and sets us apart from our competitors

The Security of Using an Established Business

The single most important requirement when buying any software is that the developer is still trading in the future when you need an essential new feature added or a problem fixed. In the industry we all hear stories of cut price competitors who are actually moonlighting programmers or students, who are here today and gone tomorrow - gone on a world tour, gone to another job, or even gone to prison! Without continued support any software can be a time bomb waiting to go off. AFM take our responsibilities for ongoing support very seriously. And we prefer to charge for the support provided rather than a flat (and often unreasonably high) fee regardless of the actual support you need.