Frequently asked questions

Barefoot Bytes is a South African software development company. We build custom web and mobile apps, AI and automation solutions, manufacturing software (MES, OEE and digital SOPs) and business systems such as ERP and CRM. We also provide hosting, domains and business email, and developers on demand.

We are headquartered in Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. We work with clients across South Africa, including Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Gqeberha, and internationally. Most work is done remotely, with on-site visits when a project needs them.

Yes. We work remotely with clients outside South Africa. South African time (SAST, UTC+2) overlaps well with the UK and Europe.

We have built software for healthcare, manufacturing, retail and e-commerce, education and consumer apps. Our process works for any industry, because we start by learning how your business operates.

Every project is quoted individually. Typical budgets range from under R50,000 for a small website or prototype to over R500,000 for large platforms. After a free consultation we send a clear, itemised quote with no hidden costs. Budget bands we work in: Under R50,000, R50,000 to R100,000, R100,000 to R250,000, R250,000 to R500,000, Over R500,000.

A small website or prototype can take a few weeks. Standard apps typically take 1 to 3 months, complex solutions 3 to 6 months and enterprise systems 6 to 12 months. We agree on a timeline with milestones before work starts.

We split projects into small chunks, each with its own statement of work (SOW). For each SOW you pay 50% when work starts and 50% on sign-off, before the next SOW begins. Rented developers and support are billed hourly or on a monthly retainer.

Send us a short project brief through the contact form, email info@barefootbytes.com or call +27 82 520 3276. We will set up a free consultation to discuss your goals and give you a proposal.

We follow four steps: Discover (consultation and proposal), Design (user journeys and clickable prototypes), Build (agile sprints with regular demos) and Launch and support (deployment, monitoring and ongoing improvements).

Yes. We offer ongoing support and maintenance, including bug fixes, security updates, performance improvements, new features and hosting.

You do. Once the project is paid, you own the source code, designs and all project assets.

Yes. We are happy to sign a non-disclosure agreement before you share project details.

Most of our app projects fall between R50,000 and R500,000, depending on features, platforms and integrations. A simple business website or MVP sits at the lower end, while multi-platform apps with custom backends sit higher. We give you a fixed, itemised quote after a free consultation.

For most businesses a cross-platform app built with Flutter or React Native is the best value: one codebase, both app stores, lower cost. We recommend native Swift or Kotlin when you need heavy device features or maximum performance.

Yes. We handle app store listings, screenshots, submission and review, and we can manage updates after launch.

Yes. Once the project is paid, you own the source code and all project assets.

The quickest wins are usually answering common customer questions, extracting data from documents and emails, summarising information and automating repetitive admin. We start with one clear use case, measure the time saved and grow from there.

Yes, if it is set up properly. We design AI solutions to respect POPIA, keep sensitive data out of public models where needed and control who can access what.

Yes. We build computer vision features, for example our POOLSTUFF app reads pool test strips from a photo to recommend treatment.

Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) measures how much of your planned production time is truly productive, combining availability, performance and quality. Tracking it in real time shows exactly where capacity is lost so you can fix the biggest problems first.

In most cases, yes. We connect through existing PLCs and controllers, add low-cost sensors where needed, or start with simple operator input on a tablet.

No. Our manufacturing software integrates with your existing ERP and business systems.

Off-the-shelf software is often cheaper to start but forces you to change how you work and charges per user forever. A custom system fits your process exactly, integrates with your other tools and has no per-seat licence fees. We help you decide honestly which option suits you.

Yes. We regularly integrate with accounting packages, payment providers, e-commerce platforms and existing databases through APIs.

Yes. We plan migrations carefully to avoid downtime and lost email, and we handle the DNS changes for you.

Yes. Your domain is registered in your business name and you stay the owner.

Usually within days, depending on the skills you need. Tell us about the project and we will confirm availability.

Yes. Our developers work in South African time (SAST), which overlaps well with Europe and the UK, and join your communication and project tools.