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When Archaeological Research Services (ARS) realised they were paying for a full resource management platform but only using the timesheet functionality, with their multi-year license contract set to renew they turned to Bravand with a clear brief: help us build our own lean, fit-for-purpose timesheet application.
The Client
Archaeological Research Services (ARS) is one of the UK’s leading commercial archaeology consultancies. With teams frequently working in the field across the country, they rely heavily on efficient time tracking to manage project performance and ensure accurate reporting and invoicing.
The Challenge
ARS had been relying on a feature-heavy out of box SaaS tool they only partially used. With their license set to expire, they saw an opportunity to save money and streamline workflows by replacing it with a bespoke MVP.
- The annual subscription fee was significant, and the contract ran over five years.
- The current SaaS tool was bigger and heavier than ARS needed, so they weren't getting ROI
- Re-assigning a license from a past user to a new user resulted in the loss of the past user's data (for multi-year projects, this was a big issue)
The new application needed to:
- Support three user roles: Admins, PMs, and Team Members
- Enable project and task creation, assignment, and timesheet logging
- Provide reporting for planned vs. actual time
- Work offline for field teams
Our Approach
We ran sprints across three key phases:
- Discovery and Scoping: User journeys, stakeholder interviews, service mapping, and early technical architecture. Getting the groundwork right was essential for a tight timeline.
- Design: We approached design with a user-first mindset, essential for a tool that needs to be intuitive and reliable in low-connectivity field environments. The UX and UI team collaborated on wireframes, components, templates, and rapid user testing to ensure accessibility and usability from the get-go.
- Build and Launch: A full Progressive Web App (PWA) build in Angular, complete with front / back-end development, secure hosting setup, analytics, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), and staff training. We delivered a lightweight, robust MVP with offline functionality for remote fieldwork.
The Outcome
With a one-off cost lower than their previous annual licence, ARS now has a fit-for-purpose timesheet system with no unnecessary extras, that works better - and belongs entirely to them.
By building their own bespoke system, ARS will:
- Avoid ongoing licensing fees
- Reduce complexity for users
- Gain a tool designed around their actual processes
- Have the flexibility to evolve the system post-MVP
This project is a great example of what Bravand does best: simplifying complexity and making digital work smarter, not heavier.
Insights and lessons learned
"We took ARS's requirements from idea to MVP in just 12 weeks. And that brought with it its own challenges.
There was an immovable deadline (renewal of SaaS platform 5-year contract), and when we worked the timeline out, we realised we had to get moving the next week to get the MVP live in time.
That rush to get started meant we spent a bit less time on discovery and scoping than we should, which tripped us up when we got into the project.
Moral of the story (as if we didn't know...), never scrimp on discovery and scoping!" - Ross Musgrove, Director @ Bravand
Thinking of building your own tools?
We've multiple projects and conversations ongoing with SME's that want to build something that works for them, rather than pay over the odds for something off-the-shelf that doesn't.
If you’re stuck with bloated software that only does half the job, we can help. Whether it’s a streamlined MVP or a full custom platform, we specialise in fast, focused digital solutions that deliver.
Get in touch - we’d love to hear what’s slowing you down and explore how we can help.
☎️ Give us a bell: 0331 630 1105
📧 Or for electronic mailings, it's: hello@bravand.com
(And, if not, if you stumble across someone that might need our help, pls point them in our direction...).
