Answers
Everything we have written down an answer to.
280 questions, each linking to the page that answers it. If yours is not here, it is a good question to open a call with.
Choosing a partner
For anyone comparing us against other firms.
- What does Brihat Infotech actually do?FAQ
- How big is the team, and is that big enough for our programme?FAQ
- How do you compare to a large systems integrator?FAQ
- Why should we build custom rather than buy a product?FAQ
- Can we speak to a reference client?FAQ
- What happens if the engagement is not a fit?FAQ
- Do you work with startups?FAQ
- Do you work with clients outside India?FAQ
Commercials and contracts
Money, models and the clauses that get tested.
- What does a typical engagement cost?FAQ
- Why won't you quote before discovery?FAQ
- What engagement models do you offer?FAQ
- How is payment structured?FAQ
- What happens when scope changes?FAQ
- Is there a minimum commitment?FAQ
- Can we switch models mid-engagement?FAQ
- Do you charge for the first call?FAQ
- What are your payment terms?FAQ
Technology and delivery
Stack, architecture, and how the work actually happens.
- What technology stack do you use?FAQ
- Will you work with our existing systems?FAQ
- How often will we see working software?FAQ
- Can we start with a proof of concept?FAQ
- Do you do AI, or is that a marketing line?FAQ
- Who writes the tests?FAQ
- What about performance and scale?FAQ
- Can our own developers work alongside your team?FAQ
- Do you do mobile apps?FAQ
Security and compliance
The questions your risk and procurement functions will ask.
Working together
What the engagement feels like week to week.
After go-live
Support, ownership and how you leave.
About a specific service
Asked on the page for the practice that does the work.
- How long does an AI strategy engagement take?AI Strategy & Roadmap
- Do we need clean data before starting?AI Strategy & Roadmap
- Will you execute the roadmap too?AI Strategy & Roadmap
- What does the roadmap actually contain?AI Strategy & Roadmap
- Who should be in the room?AI Strategy & Roadmap
- Our documents are confidential. How does that work?Custom AI & LLM Development
- How accurate are RAG systems really?Custom AI & LLM Development
- What happens when models improve or prices drop?Custom AI & LLM Development
- Can it run entirely on our own infrastructure?Custom AI & LLM Development
- How long before something is actually usable?Custom AI & LLM Development
- What processes are good first candidates for agents?AI Agents & Autonomous Workflows
- What if an agent makes a mistake?AI Agents & Autonomous Workflows
- Agents vs RPA — what's the difference?AI Agents & Autonomous Workflows
- How do you keep an agent inside its authority?AI Agents & Autonomous Workflows
- What drives the running cost of an agent?AI Agents & Autonomous Workflows
- How much historical data do we need?ML & Predictive Intelligence
- How do you handle model explainability for regulators?ML & Predictive Intelligence
- How do you avoid data leakage in training?ML & Predictive Intelligence
- What accuracy should we expect?ML & Predictive Intelligence
- Our environment is dusty/badly lit/noisy. Will it still work?Computer Vision & Speech
- Can it run without sending video to the cloud?Computer Vision & Speech
- How much labelled data do you need?Computer Vision & Speech
- What hardware runs this at the edge?Computer Vision & Speech
- We already have AI features live. Can you add MLOps after the fact?MLOps & AI Infrastructure
- How much can cost optimisation actually save?MLOps & AI Infrastructure
- Self-hosted or managed platform?MLOps & AI Infrastructure
- How do you upgrade a model without breaking what works?MLOps & AI Infrastructure
- How do you keep custom builds from becoming unmaintainable?Custom Software Engineering
- What size projects do you take?Custom Software Engineering
- What technologies do you build on?Custom Software Engineering
- Who owns the code and the documentation?Custom Software Engineering
- What happens after go-live?Custom Software Engineering
- What's your flagship product engagement?Enterprise Product Development
- Can you work alongside our internal product team?Enterprise Product Development
- How is this different from an MVP agency?Enterprise Product Development
- How quickly does the first release land?Enterprise Product Development
- How long does a custom ERP take?Custom ERP Solutions
- We're mid-way through a failed ERP implementation. Can you rescue it?Custom ERP Solutions
- Which modules does a custom ERP usually include?Custom ERP Solutions
- What actually drives the cost of a custom ERP?Custom ERP Solutions
- Can it run alongside Tally or our existing accounting system?Custom ERP Solutions
- Who owns the source code?Custom ERP Solutions
- Why not Salesforce or Zoho?Custom CRM Solutions
- Can you migrate our existing CRM data?Custom CRM Solutions
- Can it integrate with our ERP and telephony?Custom CRM Solutions
- Does it work for field sales without signal?Custom CRM Solutions
- How much of a CRM should be custom?Custom CRM Solutions
- What are the options for modernising a legacy system?Legacy Modernization
- Which approach do you usually recommend?Legacy Modernization
- The people who understood the old system are gone. Is that fatal?Legacy Modernization
- How long does modernization take?Legacy Modernization
- Our vendors don't offer APIs. Options?Systems Integration & APIs
- Do you use an iPaaS or build custom?Systems Integration & APIs
- Do you build event-driven integrations and webhooks?Systems Integration & APIs
- How do you handle rate limits, retries and downstream outages?Systems Integration & APIs
- What about legacy file-based interfaces like SFTP and CSV?Systems Integration & APIs
- We have an internal tool clients want to buy. Is it SaaS-able?SaaS Engineering
- Do you also operate the SaaS after launch?SaaS Engineering
- Single-tenant or multi-tenant — how do you decide?SaaS Engineering
- How do you handle per-customer customisation without forking?SaaS Engineering
- Can you get us SOC 2 or ISO 27001 ready?SaaS Engineering
- On-premise to cloud, or cloud to cloud — do you do both?Cloud Architecture & Migration
- How disruptive is migration to running operations?Cloud Architecture & Migration
- Which cloud do you recommend?Cloud Architecture & Migration
- How do you avoid a surprise cloud bill?Cloud Architecture & Migration
- Our data is a mess. Where do we even start?Data Engineering & Analytics
- Do we need a big-name warehouse, or will Postgres do?Data Engineering & Analytics
- Batch or streaming?Data Engineering & Analytics
- Do we need a data lake, a warehouse, or a lakehouse?Data Engineering & Analytics
- We're a small team. Isn't SRE overkill?DevOps & Reliability
- Can you fix our deployment process without a full replatform?DevOps & Reliability
- How do you measure reliability?DevOps & Reliability
- Do we need Kubernetes?DevOps & Reliability
- Will you support infrastructure another vendor built?Managed Cloud Support
- What do your SLAs look like?Managed Cloud Support
- What is covered, and what is not?Managed Cloud Support
- How does handover from another vendor work?Managed Cloud Support
- Do you do one-off penetration tests?Security & Compliance
- Can you get us enterprise-sales ready on security questionnaires?Security & Compliance
- What standards do you build to?Security & Compliance
- How do you handle a vulnerability found in production?Security & Compliance
- Do you build marketing websites?Web Platforms
- How do you handle SEO on a JavaScript application?Web Platforms
- Which CMS do you use?Web Platforms
- Native or cross-platform — what do you recommend?Mobile Applications
- Our field areas have terrible connectivity. Can apps really work?Mobile Applications
- How do you handle app store review and updates?Mobile Applications
- Can we distribute internally without the public stores?Mobile Applications
- Can you redesign an existing system without rebuilding it?UX/UI & Product Design
- How do you test with real users when they are on a plant floor or in the field?UX/UI & Product Design
- Do we get the design files?UX/UI & Product Design
- How long does discovery take, and what does it cost?Product Discovery & Requirements
- Are we obligated to build with Brihat afterwards?Product Discovery & Requirements
- What do we actually get at the end?Product Discovery & Requirements
- Can discovery run while our current vendor is still in place?Product Discovery & Requirements
- How is this different from Big-4 transformation consulting?Digital Transformation Consulting
- How do you measure whether transformation worked?Digital Transformation Consulting
- Who has to own this inside our organisation?Digital Transformation Consulting
- How many hours does a fractional CTO engagement involve?CTO-as-a-Service
- Is there a conflict of interest if Brihat also builds for us?CTO-as-a-Service
- What does a fractional CTO do in the first month?CTO-as-a-Service
- How does the engagement end?CTO-as-a-Service
- How fast can you turn a due diligence around?Technology Due Diligence
- Do you sign NDAs and work inside data rooms?Technology Due Diligence
- What counts as a red flag?Technology Due Diligence
- Can you review a vendor before we sign?Technology Due Diligence
- How large is a typical pod?Dedicated Development Pods
- Do they work our hours?Dedicated Development Pods
- Who owns the code?Dedicated Development Pods
- How is a pod different from staff augmentation?Dedicated Development Pods
- What if the pod is not performing?Dedicated Development Pods
- How quickly can someone start?Team Augmentation
- Can we convert them to a permanent hire?Team Augmentation
- Do you supply whole teams this way?Team Augmentation
- Is this the same as staff augmentation?Team Augmentation
- How is this different from an offshore development centre?Team Augmentation
- What is the minimum size for a centre?Offshore Delivery Centre
- Where would the team sit?Offshore Delivery Centre
- How is data residency handled?Offshore Delivery Centre
- How does an ODC compare with staff augmentation or BOT?Offshore Delivery Centre
- What about IP and confidentiality across a border?Offshore Delivery Centre
- Can you work on a system with no tests at all?Dedicated QA & Test Automation
- Do you replace our QA team?Dedicated QA & Test Automation
- How do you stop the suite becoming flaky?Dedicated QA & Test Automation
- Where should automation start on a system with no tests?Dedicated QA & Test Automation
- How do you keep the suite from becoming a maintenance burden?Dedicated QA & Test Automation
- What does the transfer actually cost?Build-Operate-Transfer
- How long is the operate phase?Build-Operate-Transfer
- What if the team does not want to transfer?Build-Operate-Transfer
- Do we need an Indian entity from the beginning?Build-Operate-Transfer
- When does BOT make more sense than an ODC?Build-Operate-Transfer
About a sector
Regulation, legacy estates and what changes by industry.
- Can you meet PSU and regulated-entity security requirements?BFSI & Fintech
- Do you build UPI/payment integrations?BFSI & Fintech
- Do you build loan origination and loan management systems?BFSI & Fintech
- Can you integrate with credit bureaus and CKYC?BFSI & Fintech
- How do you handle AML and sanctions screening?BFSI & Fintech
- How do you handle patient data privacy?Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Can you integrate with our existing HIS?Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Do you work with HL7 and FHIR?Healthcare & Life Sciences
- What is the difference between an HIS, an EMR and an EHR?Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Can you build ABDM-compliant software?Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Our processes are unusual — multi-stage job work, scrap credit, heat tracking. Can software match that?Manufacturing & Industry 4.0
- What results have manufacturers seen?Manufacturing & Industry 4.0
- Do you build an MES, or integrate with one?Manufacturing & Industry 4.0
- Can it handle multi-level BOMs, substitutions and yield?Manufacturing & Industry 4.0
- How does maintenance fit alongside production?Manufacturing & Industry 4.0
- Can you fix performance on our existing commerce stack?Retail & E-commerce
- Do you build a PIM or integrate an existing one?Retail & E-commerce
- Can you connect our WMS to the order management system?Retail & E-commerce
- Do you handle marketplace integrations?Retail & E-commerce
- Our fleet uses mixed GPS vendors. Is that a problem?Logistics & Supply Chain
- Do you build a TMS or integrate with one?Logistics & Supply Chain
- How do you handle electronic proof of delivery?Logistics & Supply Chain
- Can you support 3PL operations with multiple clients?Logistics & Supply Chain
- Do you integrate with RERA compliance workflows?Real Estate & Infrastructure
- Do you build CRM for real estate sales?Real Estate & Infrastructure
- Can you handle leasing and rent rolls, not just sales?Real Estate & Infrastructure
- How does this fit with our facilities or CAFM system?Real Estate & Infrastructure
- How do you achieve field adoption where previous apps failed?Energy & Utilities
- Do you integrate with SCADA and AMI head-end systems?Energy & Utilities
- Can you build an EAM, or integrate with SAP PM?Energy & Utilities
- How do you handle outage management?Energy & Utilities
- Can this work alongside our existing academic/LMS software?Education
- Do you build examination and result processing?Education
- Can this work alongside Moodle, Canvas or our existing LMS?Education
- Do you support NEP 2020 requirements like the Academic Bank of Credits?Education
- Do you participate in tenders and GeM procurement?Government & PSU
- Can you integrate DigiLocker, API Setu and Aadhaar?Government & PSU
- What does STQC certification involve?Government & PSU
- Do you deploy on MeitY-empanelled cloud or on-premise?Government & PSU
- Can you integrate with our PMS/channel managers?Media & Hospitality
- Do you build subscription and paywall systems?Media & Hospitality
- Can you manage a large media library and its rights?Media & Hospitality
- How do you handle OTA rate parity and channel sync?Media & Hospitality
Deciding between options
Comparisons between the options, weighed on their actual trade-offs.
- Custom ERP or SAP or similar?Custom ERP vs SAP
- Is a custom ERP riskier than SAP?Custom ERP vs SAP
- What about support in five years?Custom ERP vs SAP
- Can we do both?Custom ERP vs SAP
- Build or Buy?Build vs buy
- What about buying and customising?Build vs buy
- How do we decide without months of analysis?Build vs buy
- Can we start by buying and build later?Build vs buy
- Offshore / dedicated team or In-house hiring?Offshore team vs in-house hiring
- Is offshore just cheaper labour?Offshore team vs in-house hiring
- How do we stop it becoming a black box?Offshore team vs in-house hiring
- Can an offshore team become ours later?Offshore team vs in-house hiring
Leaving a system
What it costs to stay, and when staying is right.
- Should we move off Tally?Migrating from Tally to a custom ERP
- Do we have to stop using Tally?Migrating from Tally to a custom ERP
- What happens to years of historical data?Migrating from Tally to a custom ERP
- How long before we see anything working?Migrating from Tally to a custom ERP
- Our Tally is heavily customised with TDL. Does that transfer?Migrating from Tally to a custom ERP
- Should we move off Excel and spreadsheets?Replacing the spreadsheets that run the business
- Is this not what Power Apps or a no-code tool is for?Replacing the spreadsheets that run the business
- How do we avoid rebuilding the same mess in a new system?Replacing the spreadsheets that run the business
- What does this typically cost?Replacing the spreadsheets that run the business
- Should we move off SAP ECC?SAP ECC: upgrade, replace, or build around
- Are you an SAP implementation partner?SAP ECC: upgrade, replace, or build around
- Can you work alongside our SAP partner?SAP ECC: upgrade, replace, or build around
- What is the surround-and-modernise approach in practice?SAP ECC: upgrade, replace, or build around
- Should we move off Legacy HIS?Replacing a hospital information system nobody supports
- Can this run while the existing HIS stays live?Replacing a hospital information system nobody supports
- How is ABDM handled?Replacing a hospital information system nobody supports
- What about data migration from an abandoned vendor's system?Replacing a hospital information system nobody supports
Connecting to a system that is staying
How each one exposes data, and what reliably goes wrong.
- Can you integrate with Core banking?Integrating with Finacle, Flexcube and BaNCS
- Have you worked with these specific cores?Integrating with Finacle, Flexcube and BaNCS
- Can you work with our core vendor's team?Integrating with Finacle, Flexcube and BaNCS
- How do you handle data residency and RBI outsourcing directions?Integrating with Finacle, Flexcube and BaNCS
- Can you integrate with NPCI rails?UPI, NACH and IMPS integration
- Do we need our own NPCI membership?UPI, NACH and IMPS integration
- How long does a UPI integration take?UPI, NACH and IMPS integration
- Can you work with our existing PSP?UPI, NACH and IMPS integration
- Can you integrate with Tally?Integrating a platform with Tally
- Does this work with TallyPrime and older Tally.ERP 9?Integrating a platform with Tally
- Can it work if Tally is on a desktop in the accounts room?Integrating a platform with Tally
- Should we integrate or just move off Tally?Integrating a platform with Tally
- Can you integrate with SCADA and PLC?Connecting plant systems to enterprise software
- Will this affect production?Connecting plant systems to enterprise software
- Do you write back to PLCs?Connecting plant systems to enterprise software
- Our equipment is old and does not support OPC UA. Is that fatal?Connecting plant systems to enterprise software
About our products
The 11 products we build and support ourselves.
- What is Brihat EHS?Brihat EHS
- What is Brihat Communication Systems?Brihat Communication Systems
- What is Brihat Books?Brihat Books
- What is Brihat Email Service?Brihat Email Service
- What is Brihat Life OS?Brihat Life OS
- What is Brihat PeopleDesk?Brihat PeopleDesk
- What is Brihat PMT?Brihat PMT
- What is ZeroTrack?ZeroTrack
- What is MacPulse?MacPulse
- What is BrihatFinance?BrihatFinance
- What is Brihat AI Company Manager?Brihat AI Company Manager
Next step
Your question is not on the list.
That is usually the interesting one. Send it over, or bring it to a discovery call — an engineer answers, not a salesperson.
- No sales deck
- An engineer on the call, not an account manager
- NDA before you share anything