Web & app development that connects with your business
A website that sits apart from the rest of your business is a missed opportunity. When your online presence is connected to your back office systems such as your accounting software, your ERP, your stock management, your CRM, it becomes more than a marketing tool. It becomes a working part of your business that generates orders, serves customers and reduces your team’s workload.
At Solweb, we do not build brochure websites. We build web applications, e-commerce platforms, customer portals and internal tools that are designed from the ground up to integrate with your existing systems. Orders placed online appear in your ERP automatically. Product data and pricing are pulled from your live database. Customer accounts, stock levels and order tracking are all available in real time.
This is what sets us apart from a traditional web design agency. We understand both sides of the equation, the front end experience your customers see and the back office systems that power your business.
What we do
Integrated E-commerce platforms
An e-commerce site that is disconnected from your internal systems creates more work, not less. Every order needs to be manually entered into your accounting or manufacturing system. Stock levels have to be updated in multiple places. Customer account information is duplicated across platforms.
We build e-commerce platforms where all of this is automated. Orders placed on your website are created directly in your ERP or accounting system. Product information, pricing and stock availability are pulled from your live data, so your customers always see accurate information. Invoices are generated automatically and customer accounts are synchronised across your website and back-office systems.
Our WebPortal product provides a proven e-commerce foundation specifically designed for businesses that need tight integration with systems like 123insight, Access Dimensions, Sage 50 and Sage 200. For a small setup cost and a fixed monthly subscription, your business could be trading online 24 hours a day with full back office integration.
Customer portals
Not every business needs a public facing e-commerce store. Many of our clients need a secure, branded portal where their existing customers can log in to view account information, check order progress, access pricing, download documents, or place repeat orders.
A well designed customer portal reduces the volume of calls and emails your team handles, gives your customers the self-service access they increasingly expect and strengthens relationships by making it easier to do business with you. We build portals that connect directly to your internal systems, so the information your customers see is always live and accurate.
Dealer & Trade portals
If you sell through a dealer network or have trade accounts with specific pricing structures, a dedicated portal gives your partners a streamlined ordering experience. Dealers can see their specific pricing, check stock availability, place orders, and track deliveries, all through a branded, secure interface that integrates with your ERP and accounting systems.
WebPortal supports multiple storefronts, so you can run a public facing e-commerce site alongside a trade only portal, both drawing from the same product and inventory data but presenting different pricing and access levels.
Web applications & Internal tools
Not all web development is customer facing. We also build internal web applications that give your team browser based access to business tools and data without installing desktop software. Examples include production dashboards, quality control logging systems, despatch management tools, internal reporting portals, and configuration or quoting tools.
Because these are web based, they can be accessed from any device with a browser (desktop, tablet, or mobile) making them particularly useful for teams that work across multiple locations, on the shop floor, or remotely.
Product configurators & Quoting tools
For businesses that sell configurable products or need to generate quotes based on complex specifications, a web-based configurator can transform your sales process. Customers or sales staff select options, the system calculates pricing based on your rules and the result can feed directly into your ERP as an order or quotation.
We have built product and quote configurators for businesses across manufacturing and engineering and these tools consistently reduce quoting time, eliminate pricing errors, and improve the customer experience.
Powered by Web Portal
Web Portal is our proprietary e-commerce platform, purpose built for businesses that need their online store to work seamlessly with their back office systems. Unlike generic e-commerce platforms that treat integration as an afterthought, WebPortal was designed with integration at its core.
Web Portal integrates with 123insight, Access Dimensions, Sage 50 and Sage 200, providing real time data transfer between your website and your accounting or manufacturing systems. Product data, pricing, stock levels, customer accounts and order information all flow automatically between platforms.
Real time integration
Product information, pricing and stock availability are pulled directly from your internal systems. Orders placed online are created automatically in your ERP or accounts package.
Customer account management
Your customers can log in to view their account balance, check order history, track deliveries and see outstanding invoices, all drawn from live data in your accounting system.
Built in CMS
An integrated Content Management System lets you maintain your website content, menu structure, news and gallery without needing developer support for everyday updates.
Marketing suite
Tools to help you promote products, manage campaigns and track customer activity to inform your marketing strategy.
Responsive design
Your store works seamlessly across desktop, tablet and mobile devices, providing an optimal experience however your customers choose to browse.
Multiple storefronts
Run a public e-commerce site alongside a trade portal or dealer ordering system, all powered by the same product data and inventory.
The benefits of integrated web development
Trade 24/7 without adding staff
An integrated e-commerce platform or customer portal takes orders, answers account queries, and provides stock information around the clock. Your customers can do business with you at a time that suits them, without your team needing to be available. Because orders flow directly into your back-office systems, there is no backlog of manual processing waiting for your team every morning.
Eliminate manual order processing
When online orders are automatically created in your ERP or accounting system, the entire order to invoice pipeline is accelerated. No re-keying, no transcription errors, no delays. Your production or fulfilment team can start work immediately and invoices are generated without any manual intervention.
Always accurate information
Because your web application draws data directly from your internal systems, your customers always see accurate pricing, real stock availability, and up to date account information. There are no discrepancies between what your website shows and what your systems actually hold. This accuracy builds customer trust and reduces support queries.
Measure and act on customer behaviour
A web application gives you visibility of how your customers interact with your business online. Which products are they viewing? What are they searching for? Where do they abandon the process? This data helps you make informed decisions about your product range, pricing, and marketing strategy.
Grow without geographical limits
A web based sales channel removes geographical constraints. Whether your customers are across the road or across the country, they can access your products, place orders, and manage their account from anywhere. For businesses looking to expand their reach without opening new premises, an integrated web platform is the most cost effective route to growth.
How we approach web development
Our web development process starts with understanding your business, your customers and your existing systems. We do not begin with design mock ups, we begin by mapping out what needs to happen behind the scenes. Which systems does the web application need to connect to? What data needs to flow in each direction? What does your customer need to be able to do? What does your team need to see?
Once the integration architecture is defined, we design the front end experience around it. The result is a web application that looks professional, works intuitively and is fully connected to your business from day one.
Discovery and requirements
We map your business processes, integration requirements, and user needs to define the scope of the project.
Integration architecture
We define how your web application will connect with your ERP, accounting and other systems, using The Data Bridge®, Accounts Gateway®, or custom API connections.
Design and development
We build your web application using modern, responsive design practices and proven technologies. We maintain regular contact throughout so you can see progress and provide feedback.
Testing
Comprehensive testing of both the front end experience and the back end integrations, including transaction processing, data accuracy and user experience across devices.
Launch and support
We deploy your web application, provide training for your team and offer ongoing support and hosting to keep everything running smoothly.
Web development in action
We have built integrated web applications for businesses across a wide range of sectors, from fully integrated e-commerce stores for manufacturers to secure customer portals for B2B distributors, web based configuration tools for engineering companies and internal management systems accessed from the shop floor.
Online Customer Portal
Discover a tailored solution that revolutionises the way GreenBest engages with its customers through a sleek Online Customer Portal, seamlessly integrated with their MRP system.
Customer Relationship Management System
Solweb were different to other companies we talked to. They were the first company who explained it was possible and they worked really hard to understand what we’re about, how we operate, and how we might develop.
Online Price Portal
We were approached to develop an Online Price Portal which was to be directly integrated with their 123insight data, removing the need to manually administer their Product Catalogue.
Efficient Online Ordering
The flexibility of DataBridge meant we were able to connect to their Sage 50 Database and transfer information relating to customers, sales orders, and their stock, directly up to the website database in real time.
Technologies we use
We build web applications using modern, proven technologies including PHP, JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3 and SQL-based databases. Our applications are built on responsive frameworks that work across all devices and screen sizes. For integration, we use The Data Bridge®, Accounts Gateway® and custom API connections to ensure your web application communicates reliably with your internal systems.
We also have experience with Solweb CMS, our own content management system that provides an easy to use interface for maintaining website content without needing developer involvement for day to day updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you build standard brochure websites?
Our focus is on web applications and e-commerce platforms that integrate with your business systems. If you need a simple brochure website, there are many good agencies that specialise in this. Where we add the most value is when your website needs to do more than display information, when it needs to process orders, serve customer account data, or connect with your ERP and accounting systems.
Can WebPortal integrate with our existing systems?
WebPortal integrates natively with 123insight, Access Dimensions, Sage 50 and Sage 200. For other systems, we can build custom integrations using The Data Bridge® or API connections. If your system has a database or an API, we can connect your web platform to it.
How much does an integrated e-commerce site cost?
Costs depend on the complexity of the site and the integrations required. WebPortal is available for a small setup cost and a fixed monthly subscription, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes. Custom web applications are quoted on a project basis with transparent, fixed pricing wherever possible. We provide a clear breakdown during the proposal stage.
Can we manage our own content?
Yes. All of our web applications include content management capabilities, whether through WebPortal’s built-in CMS or Solweb CMS. Your team can update product information, news, page content, images, and menus without needing to contact us for every change. We provide training to ensure your team is confident managing the site independently.
Will our web application work on mobile devices?
Absolutely. All of our web applications are built with responsive design, meaning they adapt to work on desktop, tablet and mobile screens. This is essential for both customer facing e-commerce sites, where a growing proportion of orders come from mobile devices and internal tools that may be used on tablets on the shop floor or in the warehouse.
Do you provide hosting and ongoing support?
Yes. We offer hosting and ongoing support packages for all of our web applications. This includes server management, security updates, performance monitoring and technical support. As your business grows and your requirements evolve, we are here to extend and adapt your web platform accordingly.
Web application development in Dorset
Based at our offices in Ferndown, Dorset, Solweb has been building integrated web applications and e-commerce platforms for over 25 years. We work with businesses across Bournemouth, Poole, the South Coast and throughout the UK. Whether you need a fully integrated online store, a secure customer portal, or a bespoke web application connected to your ERP, our team has the experience to deliver a solution that genuinely works for your business.
More than a website. A working part of your business.
If you want your online presence to do more than just look good, if you want it to take orders, serve customers and connect with your back office systems, we should talk. Get in touch to discuss how an integrated web application could transform the way you do business online.