// LABS
We build apps, software and websites, and we look after them once they are live.
TechTonic Labs is the part of the company that builds software. We are based in Centurion, Gauteng, and we work with small businesses, growing companies and founders across South Africa. We take a project from the first idea through design, development, testing and launch, and we continue to run it afterwards, including the hosting and DevOps. Labs is also our innovation hub, where we develop our own ideas and products.
How we work
We look after the software we build, and that responsibility shapes how we build it. We keep designs simple, write tests as we go and record the decisions that matter, so that later changes are straightforward for us and for anyone who works on the system after us.
We call this approach Simplicity by Design: choosing the simplest solution that solves the problem. It is usually quicker to build, cheaper to run and easier to change. If a request goes beyond what we believe you need, we will tell you and explain our reasons.
You deal directly with the engineers doing the work rather than through an intermediary. Our engineers are graded by skill, not by years of experience, and our lean structure keeps our costs, and therefore yours, down. Once your software is live, we can run it for you, including the hosting, the DevOps and the release pipeline that delivers each change.
Starting a project with Discovery Week
For most new projects we recommend beginning with Discovery Week, a short, fixed first engagement. By the end of it you have an agreed scope, a clickable prototype you can use on your phone and an estimate you can plan around.
It is the most economical way to establish what you need before committing to a full build. It also gives both of us the opportunity to judge whether we are the right team for the project.
Our own ideas and products
Labs is also our innovation hub. Between client projects we develop and test our own product ideas. Not every idea will progress beyond the early stages, and we accept that as a normal part of the process.
Working on our own products teaches us the same lessons our clients learn: launch with a small first version, listen to the people using it, and avoid building features nobody has asked for. That experience informs the advice we give on every client project.
// FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do you only work with businesses in Gauteng?
No. We are based in Centurion and are happy to meet in person around Gauteng, but we work with clients across South Africa. Most of the regular project work takes place on video calls and shared screens.
We are a small business. Are we too small for you?
Most likely not. Labs was set up for small businesses, growing companies and founders, and our way of working is designed around clients of that size.
What is the difference between Labs and TechTonic Labs Consulting?
Labs builds software for you and looks after it. Consulting places our engineers within your own team, working on your projects under your direction. If you want software built and handed over in working order, Labs is the right choice.
What if I only have an early idea?
That is a reasonable place to start. Discovery Week is designed to turn an early idea into an agreed scope, a prototype and an estimate.