Frequently Asked Questions

A 30–45 minute conversation - usually with one of our senior engineers and a delivery lead. We map your current software subscriptions, what you actually use them for, where the pain is, and whether a bespoke replacement makes financial and operational sense. We'll tell you honestly if it doesn't. No hard sell. No generic proposal at the end. Just a clear picture of your options.

It depends on the scope, but most of the projects we deliver fall between 8 and 14 weeks. A focused CRM or ATS replacement typically takes 8–10 weeks. A more complex ERP or operational platform is usually 12–16 weeks. We scope everything precisely before we start so you know the timeline before you commit.

Our rule of thumb is that the build cost is approximately equivalent to one year of your current subscription fees for the tools we're replacing. So if you're paying £60,000 a year for your CRM, you'd typically be looking at a similar figure to build the bespoke alternative - which you then own outright with no ongoing licence fee. Every project is scoped individually, and we'll give you a fixed price before we start.

Yes - completely and permanently. The code, the data, the IP - all yours from day one. We hand over full documentation and provide a knowledge transfer so your team can maintain and extend it independently if you choose. You're never locked in to Tribes, just as you won't be locked in to a vendor anymore.

Data migration is included as part of every build. We work with you to extract your existing data from the current platform, clean and structure it correctly, and migrate it into the new system before go-live. You don't lose anything. In most cases clients end up with cleaner, better-structured data than they had before.

Yes. We rarely replace everything - some tools are worth keeping, particularly specialist platforms, regulated systems, or tools your business is deeply embedded in. We'll identify which ones to replace and which to integrate with, and build the connections between them as part of the project. We also build AI agent layers that automate the processes between systems that stay.

We are ISO27001 certified - meaning our processes, controls, and delivery practices meet the globally recognised standard for information security management. Every build includes security review, access controls, and data protection measures appropriate to the sector. For regulated sectors like financial services and healthcare, we involve compliance considerations from day one of scoping.

We offer ongoing support and maintenance as part of every engagement. If something breaks, we fix it. We also offer a structured maintenance arrangement - typically at 15% of the build cost per year - which covers updates, minor iterations, and support. You're never left with a system and no one to call.

standard API integration moves data between two systems on a schedule or trigger — it's relatively passive. An AI agent actively monitors for conditions, makes decisions based on rules you define, and takes actions across multiple systems in sequence - without a person involved. The difference in practice is the difference between "data syncs every hour" and "when a candidate accepts an offer, generate the contract, send it for e-signature, notify HR, and create the new starter record - automatically."

No. AI agents are designed to work with the tools you already have. If you're not ready to replace your CRM or ERP, we can still build an agent layer that connects your existing systems, automates the manual processes between them, and gives you significantly more value from tools you've already paid for. The two approaches - replacement and automation - work together, not instead of each other.

Most agent builds are significantly faster than full platform replacements. A focused automation - connecting two or three existing tools and automating a specific workflow - typically takes 4–6 weeks. More complex multi-system agent layers take longer, but we'll scope it precisely before we start.

That's exactly what our free automation assessment is for. We map your current tools, identify the manual processes between them, and quantify the time and cost of leaving them as they are. Most businesses are surprised by how much team time goes into bridging software gaps - and how quickly agents pay for themselves.

A few things. First, we lead with the business case - we'll tell you honestly whether bespoke makes financial sense for your situation before you commit to anything. Second, every engineer we work with is vetted through DevCheck® - our proprietary assessment process that scores developers across real-world signals, not just interviews. Third, we use AI-accelerated engineering throughout our delivery - which means we move significantly faster than traditional development without cutting corners on quality or governance. And fourth, everything we build is owned by you outright. No lock-in. No ongoing fees. No dependency on us.

DevCheck® is Tribes' proprietary developer vetting system - developed with the University of Salford. Every engineer we work with goes through a multi-stage assessment covering technical ability, code quality, communication, and real-world experience. Each developer is scored from 1 to 1,000. It means when we assign an engineer to your project, you're not taking a gamble - you're getting someone we've assessed thoroughly and stand behind completely.

Yes. ISO27001 is the internationally recognised standard for information security management. It covers how we handle data, how we manage access controls, how we respond to incidents, and how we govern our delivery processes. For clients in regulated sectors - financial services, healthcare, legal - it's a prerequisite. For everyone else, it's a signal that we take security seriously at every level.

We work across Engineering & Manufacturing, Logistics & Field Operations, Financial Services & FinTech, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Property & Construction, Leisure & Hospitality, HR & Recruitment, Professional Services, Media & Entertainment, and Marketing Agencies. If your sector isn't listed, get in touch - the principles of what we do apply broadly.

es. We're based in Manchester but deliver globally. We have a network of over 1000 DevCheck® vetted developers across multiple countries, and we've delivered projects for clients across Europe, North America, and beyond. Time zone and geography have never been a barrier.

We offer both fixed-price and time and materials (T&M) engagements depending on what suits your project and how you like to work.

Fixed-price works well when the scope is clear - you know exactly what you're getting and what it costs before we start. No surprises.

T&M works well for longer-running programmes, evolving products, or where you want a permanent managed team embedded in your business for the long term. We build and manage dedicated teams around your specific needs - the right engineers, the right skills, scaling up or down as your requirements change.

For ongoing support and iteration after an initial build, we also offer structured retainer arrangements. Whatever model makes most sense for your situation, we'll be straight with you about which one we'd recommend.

Two ways. If you want to see the numbers first, use our free SaaS savings calculator - it takes 30 seconds and gives you an estimated 5-year saving before you speak to anyone. If you'd rather just have a conversation, book a free stack assessment - 30 minutes, no hard sell, and you'll come away with a clear picture of your options either way.