Blog

The Grizzlyware Blog

Clear, practical guidance on custom software, integration, and automation for small and medium-sized enterprises.

28 articles
envelope icons on screen

Security · 13th October 2026

The ASOS hack started with a fake ‘trusted contact’. Would you spot one?

Most of us can spot a scam from a stranger. But it’s harder when it’s a normal-looking request from someone we know. Here’s one simple rule that protects your business.

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weak link

Security · 7th October 2026

Your online shop’s plugins could be its weakest link

Every plugin on your shop is made by a different company, updated on its own schedule, with its own access to your shop. Here’s a free check you can do today.

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padlock and keyboard keys

Security · 1st October 2026

Cyber security for small businesses: nine things that cost nothing

Good cyber security for a small business doesn’t have to mean spending money. Most of what catches people out – reused passwords, forgotten accounts, untested backups- can be sorted out in an afternoon. Here are nine things you can do this month that cost nothing.

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PHP elephant and laptop

Maintenance · 25th September 2026

Five things to check on your website before the end of the year

PHP 8.2 reaches end of life on 31 December 2026, and after that no security patches will be available for it. Here are five things to check on your website before the year is out, from your PHP version to whether anyone has tested your backups lately.

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padlock

AI · 27th August 2026

Can you put customer data into an AI tool?

Four practical things to check before an AI tool touches your customer records. Settings and permissions, explained for UK small businesses.

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Robot waving

AI, Operational Efficiency · 27th August 2026

Which AI assistant should a small business use?

ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude or Gemini? A vendor-neutral look at how to choose, from a Cornwall software company that doesn’t sell any of them.

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The August test

Operational Efficiency · 12th August 2026

The August test

Peak season exposes the systems that cope fine the rest of the year. How to spot the signs while they’re happening – and what to do before next summer.

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server close up

Operational Efficiency · 6th August 2026

Paying by the minute: when pay-per-use starts costing you more than money

We audit our own systems the same way we audit our clients’. Here’s what the last look turned up, and the four places this kind of thing frequently hides in an SME.

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Robot and human reaching towards each other

Case study, Custom Software, Operational Efficiency · 29th July 2026

AI that saves your staff time without replacing them

How we used AI to remove hours of manual data entry from a client’s process, without replacing the human expertise their customers rely on.

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Cheap Hours app screenshot

Behind the scenes · 20th July 2026

Josh vs the tumble dryer

What do you get when you cross a developer, the Octopus Agile tariff, and three appliances that all count time differently? Josh found out.

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checking social media

Websites · 1st July 2026

Do you still need a website, or is social media enough?

Websites and social pages do different jobs. Here’s a practical guide to when a social page is enough for your small business – and when you need a site.

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What actually happens in a business process audit (and why it’s free)

Custom Software, Operational Efficiency · 24th June 2026

What actually happens in a business process audit (and why it’s free)

What actually happens in a business process audit, what you’ll learn from one, and why we do them free – no jargon, no obligation.

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Calculator and spreadsheets

Custom Software · 16th June 2026

What does custom software cost for a small business – and is it worth it?

A straight answer to what custom software actually costs – what affects the price, rough ranges from past projects, and an honest take on when it isn’t worth building at all.

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Code on screen

CRMs, Operational Efficiency · 8th June 2026

6 ways we ensure consistency in every custom build

No two of our builds are ever the same. Six things always are. Here’s what stays consistent in every piece of custom software we make.

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Build, buy or integrate? How to tell which you really need

Operational Efficiency · 1st June 2026

Build, buy or integrate? How to tell which you really need

New software isn’t one decision, it’s three: buy, integrate, or build – and most people only consider the first. Three honest questions to tell which one you actually need.

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A week every quarter, gone: what a disconnected setup actually looks like

Operational Efficiency · 26th May 2026

A week every quarter, gone: what a disconnected setup actually looks like

When the tools work fine but won’t talk to each other, the time leaks out between them – a real example of what that costs, and how to spot it in your own business.

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Person calculating costs

Operational Efficiency · 19th May 2026

Not just the wages: the real cost of doing things the hard way

Your team’s wages aren’t the biggest bill. Here’s what an operational inefficiency is actually costing you – and why the wages are the smallest part of it.

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co-workers talking in office

Operational Efficiency · 13th May 2026

10 subtle signs your operations are costing you more than you think

Operational problems rarely announce themselves. They settle in as “just the way we do it” and quietly cost you for years – here are ten of the most common signs we see in SMEs.

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The 5PM feeling: where SMEs lose 5-15 hours every week

Operational Efficiency · 5th May 2026

The 5PM feeling: where SMEs lose 5-15 hours every week

You sit down at nine with a clear plan. By five, it hasn’t moved. The day was busy, but the things you meant to do are still waiting.

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How can I use AI in my business?

23rd March 2026

How can I use AI in my business?

AI is everywhere – but it’s not always useful. This article explores where AI genuinely adds value in business, and where it risks adding unnecessary complexity.

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Team working

18th February 2026

Why your team avoids using your software

Low software adoption in SMEs is rarely about resistance. It’s usually a sign the system doesn’t fit real workflows or lacks proper integration. Here’s what team avoidance is really telling you.

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Woman working at desk with laptop and diary

3rd February 2026

When systems stop working: is it the software, or how it fits together?

When systems start feeling messy, replacing them isn’t always the answer. For many SMEs, the real issue isn’t the software itself – it’s poor system integration. Here’s how to tell whether you need a new platform, or simply better-connected tools.

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Stressed man working at desk

22nd January 2026

Is your software the problem? How to find out

If your systems feel inefficient, the problem isn’t always clear. A software audit for SMEs can reveal whether issues stem from poor integration, incorrect setup, or tools that no longer fit your workflow. Here’s how to uncover the real cause.

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Padlock, credit cards and keyboard

13th January 2026

5 security risks small businesses overlook

When people think about cyber security risks for small businesses, they picture major breaches. In reality, the biggest vulnerabilities are often internal – shared logins, weak passwords, poor access control, and untested backups. Here are five risks that quietly expose growing teams.

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Keyboard and padlock

6th January 2026

Why security shouldn’t be an afterthought in your software

When choosing new software, security often comes second to efficiency and cost savings. But cyber security for SMEs isn’t just a technical concern – it’s a business risk. Here’s why treating security as an afterthought can create far greater disruption and expense over time.

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Person at desk with notebook, pen and calculator

4th January 2026

How to reduce admin time in a small business (without creating problems)

Admin tasks quietly consume hours in most small businesses. Effective business automation for SMEs isn’t about adding more tools – it’s about connecting systems and removing duplicate effort. Here’s how to streamline operations without creating new problems.

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e-commerce excellence website developer

26th March 2024

The Bear Necessities: How to deliver excellence through your e-commerce website

Our web development expert’s take on serving up e-commerce excellence for your customers

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Two business women sat around a laptop scrolling through an e-commerce website

13th March 2024

When to call an e-commerce website development agency to level-up your e-commerce operations

If 1/3 of marketing teams will spend budget on website redevelopment this year, what do they know that you don’t?…

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