- A custom project goes through four phases: analysis, first version, full development with testing, handover with documentation.
- Before building, the vendor puts in writing what the software will do, who will use it, what it costs and how long it takes.
- The first version is tested by the people who will use the software, and that is when changing your mind costs least.
- At handover the company receives the code, the accounts, the documentation and a clear agreement on support.
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The four phases
Each phase ends with something the company sees and approves.
- Analysis: the vendor looks at today’s work, systems and data, then writes down what the software will do and at what price.
- First version: a working part, tested by the people who will use it, on real or sample data.
- Development and testing: the remaining features, the connections to CRM and ERP, tests on the difficult cases.
- Handover: code, accounts and documentation to the company, then launch and support as agreed.
What the company has to do
You need a contact who knows the work and answers questions within days, not weeks. You need someone to try the first version and say what is wrong. Almost every delay starts here: questions stay open and the vendor guesses.
How long it takes and how to tell it is going well
At Yempik a working first version usually takes 2-4 weeks and a production project 4-8 weeks; systems that span several departments are delivered in phases.
A reliable vendor shows a first version early, warns you before a request raises the price, and keeps the code in a repository the company can access from day one.
More questions
Fixed price or time and materials?
A fixed price protects the buyer when the scope is clear. When it is not, start with a short first phase with its own price to clarify it, then quote the rest.
What if we change our minds halfway through?
The change is written down, the vendor says what it costs and how it moves the timeline, and the company decides. That is why the first version comes early: changing there is cheap.
Answer edited by Raffaele Zarrelli, co-founder of Yempik, written with Claude. Prices, timelines and cases are the ones Yempik publishes; this page was last updated on 8 November 2026.
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