Questions, answered.
Straight answers to the questions clients ask us most about software, security, AI, networks and hardware. All in one place.
01
Software Development
- What kinds of software does Nycto build?
- Web applications, mobile apps for iOS and Android, desktop software for Windows, macOS and Linux, SaaS products, e-commerce and online ordering, plus the APIs and integrations that connect them.
- Should we build a mobile app, a web app or both?
- Start with where your users are and what the app must do. A web app reaches everyone without an install; a mobile app earns its keep with daily use, notifications, offline work or the camera. Plenty of businesses launch on the web first and add mobile once usage proves it.
- How long does a software project take?
- Most of our projects go live in two to four weeks. Larger systems get a working MVP within eight weeks, then grow in short release cycles.
- Do you build 3D and interactive web experiences?
- Yes. We built a real-time 3D product configurator for Cliffs UK and an interactive 3D web experience for Join Force Valve Impex. Both run straight in the browser, no plugins.
- Can you take over software someone else built?
- Usually, yes. We start with a short review of the code and hosting, tell you straight what we found, then recommend fix-and-stabilise or a rebuild, with the reasoning for each.
02
Cybersecurity
- What is the difference between an audit and a penetration test?
- An audit checks how your systems are built and configured against good practice. A penetration test actively tries to break in. Most businesses get the best value from an audit first, then a test on the parts that matter most.
- Will testing disrupt our live systems?
- No surprises. Testing is scoped and scheduled with you, with agreed hours and a clear stop condition. Anything that could affect uptime runs on a staging copy or in a quiet window you choose.
- Do you help with GDPR?
- Yes, on the technical side: data mapping, encryption, access control, retention and the security measures Article 32 asks for. We work alongside your legal advisers, not instead of them.
03
AI & Automation
- Do we need AI, or just automation?
- Often just automation. If a step follows a rule, plain automation is cheaper and more reliable. If it needs reading, judgement or language, that's where AI earns its place. We'll tell you which is which before anything gets built.
- What happens to our data?
- It stays yours. We design for your data to stay in your systems, use AI models under terms that don't train on it, and document exactly what goes where, which matters a lot for EU clients under GDPR.
- How quickly can we see results?
- Most automations go live in two to four weeks, and we aim to kill the first manual step in the very first cycle, so you feel the difference before the project is even finished.
04
Hardware
- Do you also build the software the hardware needs?
- Yes, and that's usually the whole point. We deliver the firmware, the integration and the app around the device as one project, from one team.
- How long does a hardware project take?
- Prototypes usually follow the same two-to-four-week rhythm as our software work. Production runs depend on component lead times, which we flag at the scoping stage.
- Can you work from an existing design?
- Yes. We review it, test it and tell you exactly what it needs, which is often a lot less than a full redesign.
05
Networking
- Can you work with our existing hardware?
- Usually, yes. We audit what's already there, then tell you what can stay, what needs reconfiguring and what genuinely has to go, with the reason for each.
- Do you provide 24/7 support?
- Yes, where your network needs it. We agree the level of cover with you based on how critical your systems are, and put it in writing.
- Can you manage infrastructure remotely for clients in other countries?
- Yes. Cloud infrastructure and most network management happens remotely, and we already work with clients in the UK, the USA and beyond, across time zones.
06
Web applications
- What is the difference between a website and a web application?
- A website mostly shows information. A web application lets people get things done, like logging in, ordering, managing records or running a workflow, and usually has a database and user accounts behind it.
- Can a web application work on phones?
- Yes. A well-built web app adapts to any screen and works in the phone's browser, and it can be made installable as a progressive web app.
07
Mobile apps (iOS & Android)
- Can one app work on both iPhone and Android?
- Yes. A cross-platform framework produces both from one codebase, which is the usual choice for business apps.
- Do you publish the app to the App Store and Google Play?
- Yes. Submission, review and release updates are all part of the project.
- Should we build a mobile app or a web app first?
- If people will use it daily, offline, with notifications or device features, go mobile. Otherwise a web app is usually quicker to launch, and a mobile app can follow on the same back end.
08
Desktop applications
- Can a desktop app work offline and sync later?
- Yes, and it's one of the best reasons to build one. Work carries on offline and syncs to your central system as soon as the connection comes back.
- Can one desktop app run on Windows and Mac?
- Usually, yes. Cross-platform desktop frameworks produce Windows, macOS and Linux versions from one codebase.
09
Custom business software
- Is custom software worth it for a small business?
- When your process is what makes you different, or when manual work between tools eats hours every week, it usually is. Our guide on custom versus off-the-shelf software walks you through the decision.
10
SaaS products
- How long does it take to build a SaaS MVP?
- For larger scopes we commit to a working MVP within eight weeks, and a tightly focused first version can be faster.
- What is multi-tenancy?
- One application serving many customers, with each customer's data kept separate. It's the standard way SaaS products are built.
11
E-commerce & online ordering
- Should we use a hosted store platform or build custom?
- If a hosted platform fits your products and process, use it. Go custom when your ordering flow, pricing or fulfilment is specific enough that the platform needs constant workarounds.
12
APIs & integrations
- What is an API?
- An application programming interface: an agreed way for one piece of software to ask another for data or actions. It's what makes integrations possible.
13
MVP development
- What is an MVP?
- A minimum viable product: the smallest version of your product that does its core job for real users. It launches first, then grows based on how people actually use it.
- How fast can you build an MVP?
- For larger scopes we commit to a working MVP within eight weeks, and most of our projects overall go live in two to four weeks.
14
Restaurants & food businesses
- Can one system handle dine-in, takeaway and delivery orders together?
- Yes, and that's the whole point. Every order type lands in the same kitchen queue, and your reports cover all of them.
- Does it work for a group of restaurants, not just one?
- Yes. The system we built for Ammijee's Kitchen runs a single restaurant or a whole group from one screen.
- Do customers need to install an app to order?
- No. Ordering works right in the phone's browser, which removes the biggest reason first-time customers give up.
15
Retail
- Can a custom POS system connect to our existing accounting software?
- Usually, yes. Most accounting and e-commerce platforms have an interface built for exactly this, and we confirm which ones during scoping.
- Do you set up the in-store network and hardware too?
- We can. Nycto covers networking and hardware as well, so your tills, the network they run on and the software can all come from one team.
16
Manufacturers & industrial suppliers
- Does a 3D product experience need a plugin or an app?
- No. It runs in a normal web browser on desktop and mobile.
- Can you work from our existing CAD models?
- In most cases, yes. We optimise them for the web first, because engineering files are far heavier than a browser needs.
17
Product brands & custom products
- What is a 3D product configurator?
- A tool on your website that shows a product in 3D and updates it live as the customer picks options like colour, material, size or logo, then sends the finished design into the order.
- Does a configurator work on phones?
- It should, and ours do. We optimise the 3D models so they load quickly and run smoothly in mobile browsers.
18
Studios, agencies & operations-heavy businesses
- Should we build a custom operations platform or adapt an off-the-shelf one?
- If an off-the-shelf tool covers your workflow with light setup, use it. A custom platform pays off when your process is what sets you apart, or when the workarounds between tools have become a daily cost. Our guide on custom versus off-the-shelf software walks through the decision.
- Can you automate steps inside the tools we already use?
- Often, yes. Where your tools have an interface, we can automate between them before, or instead of, replacing anything.
19
Organisations & internal teams
- Why build a custom ticketing system instead of buying one?
- Buy one if it fits. Custom makes sense when your request types, approval rules or data-handling needs are specific enough that a generic tool needs constant workarounds.
20
How long does it take to build a web application?
- Can a web application be built in two weeks?
- A focused one can, when the workflow is clear and there are only a few integrations. Most of Nycto's projects go live in two to four weeks.
- What is an MVP?
- A minimum viable product: the smallest version of your system that does its core job for real users. It launches first, then grows based on how people actually use it.
21
Custom software vs off-the-shelf
- Is custom software more expensive than off-the-shelf?
- Upfront, usually. Over a few years it can cost less if it replaces several subscriptions and the manual work between them. Compare the hours lost to workarounds, not just licence fees.
- Who owns custom software once it is built?
- That's set in the contract. Clients commonly own the code and data built for them, so check this before any project starts.
22
Penetration test vs vulnerability scan
- Is a vulnerability scan enough?
- On its own, rarely. Scans catch known weaknesses in software and settings, but not flaws in how your own application works. Pair regular scans with a periodic penetration test.
- How often should a business have a penetration test?
- At least once a year, and every time you launch a new system or make a significant change to an existing one.
23
Which business processes to automate first
- Do I need AI to automate my business?
- Often not. Most repetitive work follows clear rules and is better handled by ordinary automation. Add AI where the inputs are messy, like emails and documents.
- What should not be automated?
- Processes that are rare, still changing, or need fresh judgement every time. Automating an unsettled process just locks its problems in.
24
Freelancer, agency, in-house or studio?
- Is it cheaper to hire a freelancer than an agency?
- Usually, for small and well-defined work. For bigger systems, factor in continuity, testing, security and support after launch, which one freelancer may not be able to cover.
- What is a multi-discipline technology studio?
- A team that covers several technical disciplines, for example software development, security, automation, networking and hardware, so systems that span them are designed and delivered by one accountable team.
25
What is a 3D product configurator?
- Does a 3D configurator slow down a website?
- It doesn't have to. The models are compressed and only load on the page that needs them, so the rest of your site stays fast.
- Can a configurator be added to an existing online store?
- Usually, yes. The configurator can pass the chosen design straight into your existing cart or order system.