Our Services
Windows Software Development
Sometimes a “one size fits all” off-the-shelf software solution just doesn’t meet your specific needs or evolve in line with your business. Based on your requirements we can build bespoke Windows based applications to automate or facilitate your business processes, streamline your workflow and reduce your operational costs. We work hard throughout the systems development life cycle to make sure that we understand your business in detail and deliver a functional solution which meets your unique needs, on budget and on time! We are always available to maintain and support the software we develop as your business grows and new needs and requirements arise. We design solutions with adaptability, expandability and futureproofing in mind in order to ensure a continued return on investment!
Microsoft SQL Server Database Design and Administration
At the heart of every business system is a database. With decades of experience in Microsoft SQL Server we can design, implement and administer any size database. Additionally, we can optimize existing databases which are not performing up to your needs. We can also create Windows or Web based front-ends for your databases, enabling secure, fast and efficient access to your data from the office or remotely. We can advise on data backup, data protection and disaster recovery strategies. We can extract complex business reports from your database using Structured Query Language (SQL) or develop report management systems to allow you to query the data yourself and generate ad-hoc reports in a user-friendly way, without the need for in-house database expertise.
Database Conversion and Upgrade
Many databases start off small with only one or two users but soon outgrow the technology that is used to manage them with more and more users needing concurrent access to the data, users needing to access the data remotely and so on. Additionally, security and privacy concerns may arise as the user base grows. If you have an existing desktop database which is not scaling and is performing poorly (for example a Microsoft Access database or even an Excel spreadsheet) we can upgrade it to a more efficient and secure client-server model which uses Microsoft SQL Server as it’s back-end and a user-friendly Windows or Web based front-end.
Data Migration
We can quickly and seamlessly convert and migrate data between different systems. For example, from Access, Excel, CSV or legacy database management system to Microsoft SQL Server. We can even extract data or metadata from Word or other documents or files and store it in a structured database ready for querying and custom report generation.
Systems Integration
IT infrastructures are often heterogenous environments with different systems needing to communicate with each other. We can integrate our bespoke Windows applications with your existing systems, for example accounting systems such as Sage, your CRM system or a legacy system. We can also build “middleware” to allow your existing systems to communicate with each other and share data even if they were not designed to do so.
Web Development
We have been developing data driven Web applications and websites since the early days of the Internet and we can handle any size project in this field. Be it a simple website with a “contact us” form or a complex e-commerce website which integrates with your stock control, accounting and CRM systems, we can do it! We can also advise on hosting, security and operational aspects for your website.
Training
With our extensive experience in delivering Microsoft Official Curriculum courses we can train your developers or office staff in any of the Microsoft development technologies such as .NET, VBA and SQL Server. We can also provide end-user training in desktop productivity applications such as Microsoft Office. We have a wealth of experience in developing custom training materials such as user manuals or SCORM compliant e-learning portals.
IT Consultancy
We can provide consultancy services and advice on business process automation, risk management, systems implementation, systems migration, user training and enterprise security. We understand that technology is not an end in itself but a tool to assist you in your business goals. With this in mind, we provide one-off or on-going advisory services to ensure that your IT strategy always aligns with your business process strategies.
Blockchain Consultancy
"Blockchain" is one of the buzz words to emerge in IT in the past few years. While this is an exciting technology there is also a lot of hype around it. A blockchain is not a replacement for a traditional database, in fact in most scenarios it is grossly inefficient compared to a centralised database. There are however niche cases where a blockchain might be useful in business. If you are curious about whether this technology can help your business we can provide advice in this area.
About Us
Lead developer and company director Saul Sette graduated in Business Computing in 1994 at City University, London. After building a solid experience as a software developer specialising in Microsoft Visual Basic, VBA and Microsoft SQL Server he obtained his Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) certification in 1998, making him one of the first MCSDs in the UK. Shortly after he became a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) and spent several years delivering Microsoft Official Curriculum courses at Microsoft Certified Technical Education Centres as well as carrying out contract-based development work through a Microsoft Certified Partner company and developing a SCORM compliant e-learning system. Corporate clients included Cathay Pacific, HSBC, ING, Visa, Phones4U, Reuters, Barclays Bank, Lloyds, HMV and Panasonic. He has since worked on designing and implementing bespoke databases, Windows applications and Web based applications for small to medium enterprise clients in a variety of industries including e-commerce, e-learning, IT training, event management, internet gaming, inventory management, data mining and accounting.
If there is one thing we have learnt in all our years of experience, it's that IT systems often over complicate the running of a business due to developers’ poor understanding of business processes. At Unison Solutions we have a thorough understanding of both business and technology. We believe this is vital for developing software that not only “works” but also effectively assists your business processes and simplifies your life. That’s why our motto is “making IT easier”!
Frequently Asked Questions
This depends on the type of project, if your project is clearly defined from the outset with an agreed set of deliverables, we can offer fixed pricing for the project as a whole to give you peace of mind with budgeting.
Some projects are ongoing, or the requirements may not be entirely definable at the outset, in these situations we can provide an estimate and charge an hourly rate starting at £50 per hour, depending on the type of development work required. Invoices for hours worked are issued at pre-agreed time intervals (typically monthly).
How is development work priced?
Please contact us for a free consultation. We will go over your requirements and provide an estimate together with a plan for "next steps" to get the project started. There is no obligation to use our services after the free consultation, but we are sure that you will find our advice and experience useful.
We have a potential project, how do we get started before we commit to it?
Our key expertise is in Microsoft technologies, including Windows Server, Internet Information Server (IIS), VB .NET, ASP .NET, VBA, Access, Excel and SQL Server, as well as generic Web technologies such as HTML, XML, JSON and JavaScript.
Our decades of experience with Microsoft technologies ensures that we always provide the best service possible.
Which technologies do you use?
Yes! The first step of the software development life cycle is to gather and formalise your specific requirements. Before development begins we always ensure that we produce a clear and detailed specification document. This can be signed off to ensure that all parties are clear right from the outset as to what the deliverables are. Where appropriate we can create prototypes to illustrate aspects such as the proposed user interface before resources are committed to full development. Our systems analysts have a strong understanding of both business and technology, this ensures we fully understand your requirements.
We don't have a formal requirements specification for our potential project, can you assist with this?
Of course, we can provide the deliverables for the Web application to your chosen hosting provider and assist with deployment.
We can also advise if you wish to host the application yourself.
Can you help with hosting our Web application?
For fixed-price projects support is included during development, testing and deployment, until the client is satisfied that the requirements set out in the specification document have been met. After this we switch to a "best-efforts" support level, unless a support Service Level Agreement (SLA) is purchased for a monthly fee.
For projects where we charge an hourly rate support is included in the rate.
Do you offer support after the software has been deployed?
We are based in London, United Kingdom but we have clients all over the world. These days most development work can be carried out remotely, so your geographical location is not a barrier.
Which geographical areas do you cover?
Contact Us
Address:
1105 Falcon Wharf
34 Lombard Road
London
SW11 3RY
United Kingdom
Email:
info@unisonsolutions.co.uk