Lifeguard
Essential Designs was able to create a cutting edge application that will save lives, they always say "Anything can be done" and are definitely able to deliver on that promise.
Jeff Hardy, Founder
Burnaby
Software Developers
We build custom software and web-based applications for Burnaby businesses that need better systems, clearer workflows, and reliable tools.
From simple internal portals to complex data-driven platforms, our team plans, designs, develops, tests, and supports software built around your operations.
★★★★★ 5.0 average rating from 100+ reviews
Google
5.0 ★★★★★
46 reviews
Clutch
5.0 ★★★★★
34 reviews
DesignRush
5.0 ★★★★★
30 reviews
Trusted by 100+ businesses worldwide
From startups to enterprise teams
AI Automation
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Our Clients
Making hundreds of businesses
better, big or small.
Teck Resources
We've been engaged with Essential Designs for several years now and we've found that the value they deliver is significantly above everyone else that we deal with.
Rick Twaddle, SBA
Schneider Electric
We are a company present in more than 150 countries. I was very happy with their efficiency. They were responsive and happy to make any changes that we required.
Kirill Kudymov, Product Manager
Handld
I had a lot of trust in them, everyone knew their job, and they worked very efficiently. The trust and communication skills were what distinguished them from their competitors.
Cristen Phipps, Owner
Process
The Essential Software Development Process
A structured, collaborative approach for turning software ideas into useful applications without losing sight of budget, timeline, quality, or users.
01
Planning
We define goals, users, requirements, workflows, constraints, and priorities so the project starts with a clear direction.
02
Wireframing
We map screens, user flows, and key interactions before visual design or code so everyone can validate the experience early.
03
Design
We create the interface and clickable experience so stakeholders can review how the software will look and function.
04
Development
Our developers build the application in focused stages, sharing progress regularly and adapting as new details emerge.
05
Testing
We run QA across features, integrations, devices, roles, and edge cases to reduce risk before release.
06
Deployment
We guide hosting, launch, handoff, support, and future improvements so the product can keep working as your business grows.
Have a software project in mind? Let's scope it out together.
Whether you need a new application, a replacement for spreadsheets, or help improving an existing system, we can help identify the next step.
Book a Software Consultation
Selected Work
See the kind of apps and platforms we build.
A quick look at real mobile apps, web platforms, SaaS portals, and business systems from the Essential Designs portfolio.
Emerson Electric
Mobile AppModernized field operations app with dashboards, alerts, reporting, and low-data workflows.
Field operations modernization
Teck Resources
Web AppResponsive EHSC application for on-site safety checks and reporting.
Enterprise safety software
Lifeguard
Mobile AppGroundbreaking safe-consumption platform with emergency response workflows.
Life-saving mobile app
Good Roads
Web PlatformVendor database and technical-services portal for government procurement workflows.
Procurement SaaS portal
Honeywell
Web AppGlobal license-key management software for a complex enterprise workflow.
License management system
All Skin
Mobile AppPersonalized skincare app using product data, surveys, and routine analysis.
Personalized product matching
How We Help Burnaby Businesses Build Better Software
Requirements & Planning
We define goals, users, workflows, and technical needs before development starts, giving your Burnaby software project a clear roadmap.
Custom Software Development
We design and build web applications, dashboards, portals, and internal tools around the way your business actually operates.
QA, Testing & Launch
We test features, integrations, permissions, performance, and usability so your software is ready for real teams and customers.
Support & Iteration
After launch, we improve features, resolve issues, modernize systems, and keep your application aligned with business needs.
The Essentials of Great Software Development
Successful software development starts with understanding the business problem, not just writing code. We work with Burnaby companies to define what the product needs to do, who will use it, and how it should fit into daily operations.
Some projects need a customer-facing application. Others need internal tools, workflow automation, reporting dashboards, integrations, or a rebuild of an older system that no longer supports the business properly.
Our role is to help you choose the right level of solution. We avoid overcomplicating small problems, and we avoid underbuilding systems that need to support serious operations, data, and users.
Because our team handles planning, design, development, QA, and support, we keep the full product lifecycle connected from first conversation through launch and iteration.
The result is a roadmap that is easier to understand, easier to build, and easier to improve after launch.
Planning, design, development, QA, and support in one practical roadmap.
Digital products work best when they are built around real users and real business needs. We help teams make the right decisions early, then build with the flexibility to improve over time.
