For as long as I’ve been building websites, I’ve also been building applications, custom dashboards, internal tools, automations. Small systems designed to solve very specific problems. The kind of things clients often don’t see, but rely on every day. Historically though, those builds never really became part of Blackdog Media’s business model. Not because the capability wasn’t there, but because the time cost was.
Building robust, secure software used to mean large teams, long timelines, and budgets that only bigger organisations could justify. For most small businesses, charities, and growing teams, it simply wasn’t realistic.
In recent years, that’s changed.
The shift that made it possible
Over the past couple of years, AI has moved from novelty to something genuinely useful, if handled properly. The important bit is properly.
We don’t use AI to blindly generate apps or ship unchecked code. Instead, we use it in a supervised, controlled way. Think of it as a highly capable assistant that accelerates work, while decisions, architecture, and responsibility stay firmly human.
This shift means:
- Less time spent on boilerplate and repetition
- Faster iteration and prototyping
- More focus on logic, UX, and real-world edge cases
- The ability to build and maintain systems that would previously have been cost-prohibitive
Crucially, this is done without compromising on security or standards.
Security, ownership, and control still matter. That’s why we don’t just go to tools like Loveable or Replit, give it a one shot prompt and be done with it. One of the biggest misconceptions about AI-built software is that it’s somehow flimsy or unsafe. That only happens when it’s used carelessly.
Every system we build still follows proper engineering principles:
- Clear data ownership
- Secure authentication and access control
- Encryption at rest and in transit
- Infrastructure that aligns with modern standards like SOC 2 where required
- No vendor lock-in where possible
- Full transparency over where data lives and who can access it
AI helps speed things up, but it does not replace responsibility and the knowledge needed to write good, lean, secure code. My clients still own their data. They still understand how their systems work, and they’re not trapped inside third-party platforms they can’t escape from.
What does this means for you?
Because the time overhead has dropped so dramatically, I can now offer custom software and SaaS-style tools at a fraction of the traditional agency cost. A recent custom database project we build for a small local charity, doing amazing work, would have cost £200k-£250k was built for a fraction of that cost.
That means clients can get:
- Bespoke tools built around your specific needs instead of trying to make your workflow fit in some generic software
- Lightweight SaaS products tailored to their organisation
- Systems that evolve as their needs change, not ones they outgrow in a year
- Spend once, don’t get tied in to expensive subscriptions
In many cases, these tools sit alongside a website or platform rather than replacing it.
Looking ahead
We’re still building websites, we still love that aspect of our work. That isn’t going anywhere.
But increasingly, we’re also building systems, tools, and apps that sit behind the scenes and make organisations work better.
For clients, that means access to sophisticated capability without enterprise-level budgets. For Blackdog Media, it means owning our tools, evolving faster, and delivering more long-term value.
If you’re curious about what this could look like for your organisation, or you want to explore a small, focused SaaS idea together, we’re always happy to chat.
