Choosing the right software partner is an important decision.
Whether you’re exploring a new idea, modernizing an existing system, or trying to determine if custom software is the right fit, we’re here to help.
Below are answers to some of the most common questions we receive.
That’s completely normal.
Many successful projects begin with a challenge, frustration, or opportunity rather than a detailed specification.
Part of our process is helping you understand your options, evaluate possible solutions, and determine the best path forward.
The answer depends on your goals, processes, existing systems, and long-term plans.
In some situations, custom software is the best solution. In others, existing software may be a better fit.
Our goal is to help you make an informed decision rather than push a specific approach.
We’ll discuss your business, challenges, goals, existing systems, and ideas.
You don’t need technical knowledge or a detailed project plan before reaching out.
The goal of the conversation is simply to determine whether software may help solve your challenge.
Learn more about how we work.
Every project is different.
Factors such as complexity, integrations, user requirements, reporting needs, and timelines all influence cost.
We provide general pricing guidance on our pricing page and can often provide a preliminary budget range after an initial consultation.
Yes.
When requirements are clearly defined, fixed-price engagements may be appropriate.
Yes.
Many clients prefer hourly engagements when requirements may evolve over time or when ongoing development and support are needed.
In many cases, yes.
After learning about your project, we can often provide a preliminary budget range and discuss possible approaches.
Software projects are highly customized.
The complexity of the solution, integrations, reporting requirements, user experience, security needs, and business goals all impact the final investment.
We develop a wide range of software solutions, including:
In many cases, yes.
Our experience spans manufacturing, agriculture, government, professional services, distribution, and many other industries.
Over the past 30 years, we’ve worked with more than 40 programming languages and 15 database technologies across a wide variety of industries and platforms.
Our experience includes technologies such as:
Languages & Development
Mobile Development
Databases
Rather than forcing projects into a specific technology stack, we focus on selecting the technologies that best support your business goals and long-term success.
Absolutely.
Many projects involve improving, integrating, modernizing, or extending existing systems rather than replacing them entirely.
We develop applications for:
We can build native applications or cross-platform solutions depending on the needs of the project.
Tornado has experience with technologies such as Xamarin, Swift, Java, Objective-C, and C#.
Yes.
Many mobile applications integrate with databases, ERP systems, customer portals, reporting platforms, and other business software.
That’s okay.
Many successful projects begin with an idea rather than a detailed specification.
Part of our process is helping you determine what’s possible and identify the best path forward. Schedule a call to get started.
No.
Many older systems continue to provide significant value and can often be improved, modernized, integrated, or enhanced without a complete replacement.
Learn more about Legacy Software Modernization here.
Yes.
One of our strengths is helping organizations continue receiving value from older systems. Because we’ve worked with dozens of technologies over the past three decades, we’re often able to support, modernize, integrate, or extend software that other firms may be reluctant to touch.
Often, yes.
Integration is frequently one of the most cost-effective ways to extend the value of existing software investments.
We’ve helped organizations connect a wide variety of business systems including:
Our goal is to eliminate duplicate data entry, improve visibility, and help information flow more efficiently throughout your organization.
Learn more by visiting our Systems and Integrations page.
Yes.
We regularly help organizations integrate software applications, databases, ERP systems, customer portals, and reporting platforms.
Yes.
We’ve helped organizations improve the flow of information between ERP systems and other critical business applications.
We evaluate your current processes, challenges, and goals to determine where automation may provide meaningful value.
Schedule a call to get started.
Yes.
We help organizations transform business data into meaningful insights through custom reporting and dashboard solutions.
Learn more here.
Often, yes.
Many reporting solutions combine information from multiple data sources into a single view.
Absolutely.
Automated reporting can reduce manual work and provide more timely access to business information.
We’ve developed reporting and dashboard solutions that help organizations:
Many of our dashboard projects combine information from ERP systems, operational databases, manufacturing systems, and custom applications into a single reporting environment.
Project timelines vary based on complexity, scope, and requirements.
Some projects can be completed in weeks, while larger initiatives may take several months.
We’ll discuss timeline expectations during the discovery process.
Yes.
Many organizations choose a phased approach that allows them to start seeing value sooner while spreading investment over time.
Many clients continue working with us long after deployment.
We provide ongoing support, maintenance, troubleshooting, modernization, and enhancement services.
Yes.
Many of our client relationships span years or even decades.
Often, yes.
We’ll evaluate the existing system and determine whether we’re a good fit to support and improve it moving forward.
Yes. We’ve developed solutions involving:
Yes.
Our project experience includes livestock management applications and software designed to help organizations manage operational data more effectively.
Absolutely.
We’ve helped entrepreneurs evaluate ideas, develop MVPs, launch new products, and create entirely new revenue streams through custom software and mobile applications.
To learn more about the industries and clients we partner with, visit our Client Success page.
We believe software development should be collaborative, transparent, and focused on solving real business problems.
We focus on understanding your goals before recommending solutions and work hard to help clients understand their options throughout the process.
We’ve been helping organizations solve software challenges for 30 years and have completed more than 1,000 projects across a wide variety of industries.
Tap here to learn more about us.
Yes.
While we’re based in Northeast Ohio, we’ve worked with clients in 37 states across the United States.
Every project is different, and every business has unique challenges.
If you don’t see your question here, we’d be happy to talk.
