mustardsoftware.co.uk

What It Is

Mustard Software is a UK-based custom software development and hosting provider focused on helping small and medium-sized businesses move away from Excel, paper forms, email, and disconnected tools. It is not a traditional standardized SaaS product; instead, it builds CRM systems, complete business systems, web apps, mobile apps, monitoring and alerting tools, vehicle inspection systems, inventory/asset/order systems, and legacy system support around each client’s real-world workflows, then hosts, updates, and maintains them on an ongoing subscription basis.

Core Capabilities

Its core value lies in fitting the software to the workflow. Public information indicates that its systems can include contacts, products, inventory, assets, dispatch, email, management reports, data import/export, dashboards, and role-based permissions. Mobile apps can let staff record work, photos, signatures, inspections, and notes in the field, while customers can submit requests, track progress, or approve quotes. It also offers API integrations, email integrations, data migration, spreadsheet conversion, QR code-based asset/time/location management, and takeover of legacy systems such as VB.NET applications.

Pricing and Delivery

Pricing is mainly based on monthly subscriptions: complete custom systems start from £299/month, Web Apps from £29/month, and Mobile Apps from £49/month. The FAQ also mentions that custom software starts from £1000 + VAT, with billing available by project, by hour, or as a combination. Final pricing depends on scope, and the subscription includes hosting, updates, and support. Payments are usually made monthly in advance, with cancellation available on 30 days’ notice. Its delivery approach emphasizes building an initial version quickly, then iterating based on feedback.

Security, Deployment, and Collaboration

Deployment is primarily cloud-hosted and maintained by Mustard. The site mentions use of UK/EU cloud infrastructure, and says cloud databases are hosted in AWS UK data centers with daily backups. Its terms state that customers retain ownership of their business data, and that data is handled in line with UK GDPR. On permissions, it supports multiple users and role-based access, making it suitable for reducing reliance on a single person and lowering the risk of accidental deletion. However, it does not disclose ISO 27001 certification, a detailed SLA, RTO/RPO targets, or support response times.

Pros, Cons, and Best-Fit Users

Its strengths are that it can closely match business processes, integrate old spreadsheets and legacy systems, and include continuous improvement within the subscription. It is well suited to UK micro and small businesses, local services, manufacturing, wholesale, engineering trades, training, security, transport, and other teams with specific workflow pain points. The downsides are that it is not an out-of-the-box product, pricing and timelines are uncertain, and long-term use may create dependency on the developer. For complex requirements, the total cost may exceed that of standard SaaS products.

Access from China and Alternatives

There is no public information on access from China, payment methods, local support, or a Chinese interface, so its accessibility from China should be considered unknown. Chinese companies looking for similar capabilities could compare DingTalk Yida, Jiandaoyun, Mingdao, or Huoban. For more internationally oriented standard SaaS options, Zoho CRM, Airtable, Odoo, Microsoft Power Apps, or Monday.com may be worth considering.