What Does Web & Software Development Cover?
Web and software development covers everything that is designed, built and maintained to run in a browser or on a server for a business. Alive Inc. groups it into seven services, each with its own page:
- Website design and development
- Web application development
- Custom web application development
- Enterprise software development
- E-commerce development
- CMS development
- CRM development
Custom software for other platforms, SaaS products and CRM products are covered under our specialized platform and emerging technology services.
Which Service Fits Your Project?
Start with what the people using your system need to do. The answer usually points to one service.
Visitors read and enquire
- You need to present your business, explain services and collect enquiries. A website is usually enough; content, speed and search-friendly structure matter most.
Users sign in and manage records
- You need portals, dashboards or workflows behind a login. That is a web application; roles, permissions and data drive the design.
Your process is specific to you
- No existing tool models your rules, approvals or user journeys. A custom web application is designed from scratch around them.
Many departments and systems must connect
- Large, integrated operations with complex access rules call for enterprise software.
You sell products online
- Catalog, checkout, payments and order operations are the core of an e-commerce build.
Non-developers update content often
- A content management system lets your team publish without developer help.
You manage customers and leads
- CRM development configures, extends and integrates a CRM around your sales process.
Many projects combine two: for example a marketing website first, then a customer portal on the same foundations.
Website, Web Application or Custom Software: What Is the Difference?
These terms are often used loosely. In practice they describe different amounts of logic behind the screen.
Website
- Mostly one-way: visitors read, search and enquire. Content is the main asset.
Web application
- Two-way: users sign in, create and change records, and complete tasks. Data and rules are the main asset.
Custom software
- Built for one organization on any platform: web, mobile or back-office, often connecting several systems.
Website Design & Development
Business, corporate, startup and content websites built to be fast, easy to update and structured so search engines and AI assistants can understand them.
Best when you need to:
- Introduce a business or product
- Rank for services and locations
- Capture and route enquiries
- Publish articles and resources
Web Application Development
Portals, dashboards and browser-based business software for users who sign in and work with data.
Best when you need to:
- Give customers or partners a secure portal
- Replace paperwork with online workflows
- Show live information on dashboards
Custom Web Application Development
Bespoke web applications for workflows that spreadsheets and stretched tools cannot handle, designed from your rules, roles and data.
Best when you need to:
- Replace spreadsheets and manual approvals
- Model pricing, scheduling or approval rules that are unique to you
- Connect several tools into one system
Enterprise Software Development
Large, integrated systems for organizations with many users, departments, locations and existing platforms.
Best when you need to:
- Integrate ERP, HR, accounting and legacy systems
- Apply detailed access control and approvals
- Modernize older software step by step
E-commerce Development
Online stores with product catalogs, checkout, payments, shipping and order operations, from single stores to multi-vendor models.
Best when you need to:
- Launch or rebuild an online store
- Connect the store to inventory and accounting
- Support complex pricing or B2B ordering
CMS Development
Content platforms your team can manage without developers, with editing tools, roles and publishing workflows.
Best when you need to:
- Publish frequently across many pages
- Let several editors work with approvals
- Manage multiple sites or languages
CRM Development
Custom CRM implementation, customization and integration so sales and support work from one record of each customer.
Best when you need to:
- Adapt an existing CRM to your process
- Connect the CRM to your website and tools
- Add automation and reporting
If you want to build a CRM as a product or a fully bespoke platform, see CRM Software Development.
Choosing a Technology Stack
The technology should fit your team, hosting budget and long-term maintenance, not follow a trend. We recommend a stack during discovery and document why.
Commonly used technologies include:
- Laravel and PHP
- Node.js
- React and Vue.js
- WordPress for content-led sites
- MySQL and PostgreSQL
- REST APIs
You will not be locked to one developer: standard, documented technology is easier to hand over and maintain.
Web and Mobile Together
Web and mobile apps can share the same back end and APIs, so records, users and rules stay consistent across both. Many teams launch the web platform first and add a mobile app once the workflow is proven.
How You Can Work With Us
Choose the engagement that fits how much of the work you want to run yourself.
Fixed-scope project
- We take a defined scope from discovery to launch, with milestones you can review.
Dedicated team
- A team of developers works as an extension of yours on an ongoing product.
Staff augmentation
- Individual developers join your existing team to add capacity or a missing skill.
Questions to Answer Before You Start
A short brief speeds up an accurate estimate. It helps to know:
- Who will use the system, and what is each person trying to do?
- What does the current process look like, and where does it break?
- Which existing tools must it connect to?
- What must be live first, and what can wait?
- Do you need web only, or web and mobile?
- Who will maintain it after launch?
