You run a business in Kelowna or somewhere else in the Okanagan, and you need software built. Maybe it is a booking app, a tool that moves data between two systems, or an automation that takes a slow task off your team. This article is about how working together actually goes, from the first conversation to the way you pay.
We are Atheron Network Labs, the software studio of Atheron Network Inc., based in Kelowna. We are open for projects now.
Meet the way that suits you
We meet in person or online. You choose, and you can mix the two over the course of a project.
In person works well when we need to see how your business runs. Watching your staff take an order, or seeing where a paper form gets retyped into a spreadsheet, often tells us more than a written brief. It also helps when several people need to sketch ideas on the same page.
Online works well for regular check-ins. Nobody has to drive, people in other locations can join, and short reviews stay short.
Many projects start with a meeting in person to understand the problem, then move to online meetings for the steady work of building and reviewing.
Start with the problem, not the app
You do not need a finished plan before you talk to us. It helps more to bring a clear picture of what is not working today. Before a first conversation, it is worth noting:
- The task or process that costs you the most time or causes the most errors
- Who does it now, and what tools they use
- What a good result would look like for you
- Any systems the software must connect to, such as your accounting, booking or inventory tools
- Rules you must follow, for privacy or for your industry
From there, we work out together what to build first, and what can wait.
Get a price range before you meet
Most people want to know what something will cost before they spend time on meetings. Our estimator gives you a price range in minutes, from our current rate card. It shows the build cost, the monthly costs after launch, the effort by role, the number of weeks, and every assumption behind the numbers.
The estimator gives a range, not a quote. A fixed price comes once we have agreed on a defined scope.
Pick a way to work
We offer three ways to work. The right one depends on how settled your plans are and how much ongoing work you expect.
| Way to work | Suits you when |
|---|---|
| Fixed price for a defined scope | You know what you need and want a set cost for it |
| A team by the month | The work is ongoing or the plan will change as you learn |
| A monthly block of hours with a promised response time | You have a live product and need support and steady improvements |
You can also move between them. A common path is a fixed price for a first version, then a monthly block of hours to keep it running and improving.
What we build
We build four kinds of software, for clients in the Okanagan, across Canada, in the United States and worldwide:
- Custom web and mobile apps, for your customers or your own staff
- AI and automation, to take repetitive tasks off your team
- Blockchain and Web3, where a shared record between parties is useful
- APIs, integrations and compliance software, to connect the tools you already use and keep records in order
We also work in five languages. If your customers or your staff do not all speak English, that can shape how the software is written from the start, rather than being added later.
What local does and does not mean
Working with a studio in your region makes some things easier. Meeting face to face is simple to arrange, and we share your time zone.
It does not change the basics. Good software still needs a clear scope, honest estimates and regular reviews. Being nearby is not a reason to skip any of those, and we will not treat it as one.
Next step
If you have a project in mind, start with the estimator to see a current price range and the assumptions behind it. Then get in touch through aton-network.org and tell us whether you would like to meet in person or online.
