Building a web application in Tunisia: from scope to launch

Whether it is a customer portal, an internal tool or a SaaS product, a successful web project starts long before the first line of code. Here is the approach we follow, and the questions to ask yourself at each step.

1. Define a realistic scope

List the users and what they need to do, then rank the features: essential at launch, useful later, nice to have. A focused first version delivered quickly beats an exhaustive specification that never ships.

2. Design before you build

User journeys, mock-ups and a clickable prototype let you validate usability with real users and fix things cheaply. It is also the moment to settle the technical architecture.

3. Choose technology that will last

We favour TypeScript, React and Next.js for the interface, with an API-first design: the application exposes a documented API that can serve a mobile app or a partner tomorrow. Whatever stack you choose, ask who will be able to maintain the code in three years.

4. Plan for three languages and RTL from the start

In Tunisia an application often serves French and Arabic speakers. Arabic is written right to left: layout, icons, forms and PDF documents must adapt. Planned from the design stage it is simple; added at the end it is a project of its own.

5. Integrate payments and local services

Online payment through local gateways and bank cards, SMS or WhatsApp notifications, a connection to the ERP or accounting: identify these integrations early, because they drive the schedule.

6. Security and performance

• strong authentication, with two factors for sensitive accounts;
• role-based access rights;
• tested backups and an audit log;
• load times measured (Core Web Vitals) on mobile and an average network.

7. Launch and keep it alive

Automated deployment, monitoring with alerts, regular fixes and improvements: a web application is never “finished”. Plan a maintenance budget from the start.

What drives the budget

• the number of user profiles and permission rules;
• integrations: payment, ERP, messaging, third-party services;
• the number of languages and Arabic support;
• the admin back office and reports;
• the complexity of the design and animations;
• hosting, monitoring and maintenance after launch.

Questions to ask a provider

• Who owns the source code, and where is it stored?
• Who hosts the application, and who has access to the servers?
• Which automated tests are planned?
• How often will we see a demo?
• What documentation will be delivered?
• What does support after launch include, and at what price?

Our method

Our projects move through phases: discovery and analysis, design, development and testing in short sprints with a demo every sprint, then deployment and follow-up. Discover our web and mobile apps and custom software, or tell us about your project.