Frequently Asked Questions

A website is primarily informational — it displays content for visitors to read. A custom web application is interactive software that lets users perform tasks, manage data, automate workflows, and process transactions. Think of it as the difference between a brochure and a tool. Onliware specialises in building web applications that replace manual processes and multiple SaaS subscriptions.

Templates create generic experiences identical to your competitors, load slowly due to bloated code, and limit your ability to customise functionality. They also rely on third-party plugins that introduce security vulnerabilities. A bespoke platform is faster, more secure, fully tailored to your business processes, and becomes a digital asset you own outright.

Custom web application development in Ireland typically ranges from €5,000 for focused single-purpose applications to €30,000+ for comprehensive enterprise platforms with complex integrations. Onliware provides detailed, transparent quotes after a free discovery call where we assess your specific requirements and scope.

A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a website that behaves like a native mobile app. It can be installed on phones, works offline, sends push notifications, and loads instantly. If your customers primarily interact with your business on mobile devices, a PWA dramatically improves engagement without the friction of app store downloads.

Most custom web applications are delivered within 6 to 12 weeks depending on complexity. Onliware uses agile development with weekly progress demos, so you see working software from the very first sprint. Complex enterprise platforms with multiple integrations may require 12 to 16 weeks.

AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) ensures your business appears in AI-powered search results from tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Bing Copilot. While traditional SEO focuses on ranking in link-based search results, AEO structures your content with schemas and direct answers so AI engines cite your business as an authority.

Onliware is based in Wexford and serves businesses across all of Ireland. We have clients in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford, Limerick, Kilkenny, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Kerry, Clare, Belfast, Tipperary, Sligo, and Drogheda. Our remote-first workflow ensures consistent quality regardless of location.

We primarily build with Next.js and React for web applications, React Native for cross-platform mobile apps, Node.js and Python for backend services, and PostgreSQL for databases. We also leverage TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, Supabase, Docker, and AWS for infrastructure. Every choice is driven by performance, security, and scalability.

Absolutely. One of our clients, Nebula Agency, replaced three separate SaaS subscriptions with a single custom platform we built, cutting their admin time in half. A unified bespoke system eliminates data silos, reduces monthly costs, and provides exactly the features your business needs without paying for ones it doesn't.

We partner with businesses of all sizes, from ambitious startups needing a scalable MVP to established enterprises requiring complex digital transformation. Our engineering principles remain the same whether you need a simple Google Workspace setup or a full custom web application.

Yes. While our roots are in Wexford, we operate entirely remotely and successfully collaborate with businesses across the UK and internationally. Our digital-first workflow, including async communication and detailed project boards, ensures seamless delivery regardless of location.

Yes, we frequently audit and rescue existing digital projects. We will review your current codebase to determine if it can be salvaged and improved, or if a rebuild is more cost-effective in the long run. We focus on stabilizing, securing, and scaling your digital assets.

Absolutely. We offer flexible post-launch support and maintenance retainers to ensure your platform remains secure, performant, and up-to-date. We proactively monitor performance and are always available for feature iterations as your business evolves.

Any business whose operations have outgrown spreadsheets, generic SaaS tools, or template websites benefits from custom web applications. This includes companies needing internal dashboards, customer portals, booking systems, CRM platforms, inventory management, or any workflow automation that off-the-shelf software cannot adequately handle.

Custom web applications have a dramatically smaller attack surface because they contain only the code your business needs — no vulnerable third-party plugins, no outdated frameworks, and no shared hosting environments. We implement role-based access control, input validation, encryption, and regular security audits as standard.

Yes. We build custom APIs that connect your web application to any third-party service including payment gateways, CRMs, accounting software, email platforms, and logistics providers. Seamless integration eliminates manual data entry and keeps all your systems synchronised in real time.

Yes, completely. Every line of code we write is your intellectual property. You receive full source code access, documentation, and deployment credentials. There are no licence fees, no vendor lock-in, and you are free to host, modify, or extend the application as you see fit.

We follow an agile methodology: discovery and scoping, UX/UI design, iterative development with weekly demos, quality assurance testing, deployment, and post-launch support. You are involved at every stage with full visibility into progress through shared project boards and regular video calls.

For most businesses, cross-platform development using React Native is the best choice. It delivers native performance on both iOS and Android from a single codebase, halving development time and cost. We recommend native development only when your app requires deep hardware integration or extremely specialised platform features.

Mobile app development costs range from €8,000 for a focused single-purpose app to €30,000+ for complex applications with backend systems, real-time features, and third-party integrations. We provide detailed estimates after understanding your specific requirements during a free discovery call.

Yes. We handle the entire process including app store asset creation, submission, review process management, and launch. We also optimise your listing for App Store search (ASO) to maximise discoverability once published.

Yes. Mobile apps require regular updates for OS compatibility, security patches, and feature enhancements. We offer flexible maintenance packages that keep your app performant, secure, and aligned with the latest iOS and Android guidelines.

A PWA is a web application that feels like a native app — installable, offline-capable, and fast. A native app is built specifically for iOS or Android and distributed through app stores. PWAs are faster and cheaper to build; native apps offer deeper hardware access. We help you choose the right approach.

Modern websites are built as web applications using frameworks like Next.js rather than WordPress or page builders. They are server-rendered for instant load times, score 100 on Lighthouse, include structured data for AI search engines, and provide interactive, app-like experiences rather than static pages.

Google Lighthouse measures website performance, accessibility, SEO, and best practices on a 0-100 scale. A score of 100 means your site is technically perfect. Higher scores directly correlate with better search rankings, lower bounce rates, and higher conversion rates. Every Onliware website targets a perfect 100.

We implement comprehensive JSON-LD structured data, FAQPage schemas, direct-answer content formatting, and semantic HTML hierarchy. This structured approach helps AI engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews understand, cite, and recommend your business content.

Yes. We frequently migrate businesses from WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and other template platforms to high-performance Next.js applications. The migration preserves your content and SEO equity while dramatically improving speed, security, and functionality.

Full-stack development covers the entire technology layer: frontend interfaces users interact with, backend servers processing business logic, databases storing your data, and infrastructure hosting everything reliably. Onliware handles all layers in-house, ensuring seamless integration and eliminating the friction of coordinating multiple vendors.

When separate teams build your frontend, backend, and infrastructure, critical details get lost in handoffs. A single full-stack team ensures architectural decisions are coherent, performance is optimised end-to-end, and there is one point of accountability for your entire platform.

We deploy on edge-optimised platforms like Vercel and AWS, with PostgreSQL databases hosted on Supabase or AWS RDS. We use CDN distribution, serverless functions, and container orchestration to ensure your application is fast, resilient, and cost-effective at any scale.

Yes. Our architecture for the Fleadh Cheoil platform handled 500,000 concurrent visitors with zero downtime. We achieve this through edge caching, static generation, database connection pooling, and serverless architecture that scales automatically based on demand.

An API (Application Programming Interface) allows different software systems to communicate automatically. If your CRM, website, mobile app, or accounting software need to share data, APIs make that happen instantly and securely without manual data entry or CSV exports.

We build both. REST APIs are ideal for straightforward integrations with predictable data requirements. GraphQL APIs excel when clients need flexible, efficient data queries. We recommend the best approach based on your specific use case and performance requirements.

We implement multiple security layers including OAuth 2.0 authentication, JWT token management, rate limiting, input validation, CORS policies, and encrypted transport via HTTPS. Every API endpoint is designed with the principle of least privilege and undergoes thorough security testing.

Yes. We integrate with payment processors (Stripe, PayPal), accounting platforms (Xero, QuickBooks), CRMs (HubSpot, Salesforce), communication tools (Twilio, SendGrid), and virtually any service that exposes an API. Custom integrations eliminate manual workflows between your systems.

Your database is the foundation of your application. A well-designed database ensures fast query performance, data integrity, and scalability as your business grows. A poorly designed one causes slow applications, data inconsistencies, and eventual system failures that are expensive to fix.

We primarily use PostgreSQL (SQL) for applications requiring strict data integrity, complex relationships, and transactional consistency. We use MongoDB (NoSQL) when flexibility and horizontal scaling are priorities. Many projects benefit from a hybrid approach using both database types.

Yes. We perform database audits that identify slow queries, missing indexes, inefficient schema design, and resource bottlenecks. Our optimisation work typically results in dramatic performance improvements — often reducing query times from seconds to milliseconds.

We manage data migrations carefully with comprehensive testing, rollback procedures, and zero-downtime deployment strategies. Whether you are moving from spreadsheets, legacy databases, or other platforms, we ensure every record is transferred accurately and securely.