Custom Software Development
Software built for
Software built for
European enterprise
We have been delivering mission-critical custom software development since 2004. Enterprise applications, mobile solutions, AI-integrated systems, and digital identity platforms for clients across Portugal and Europe.
What is Caixa Mágica Software?
Caixa Mágica Software is a custom software development company based in Lisbon, Portugal, founded in 2004, with 20+ years of experience and 100+ delivered projects. It builds enterprise applications, mobile solutions, AI-integrated systems, and digital identity platforms for European clients, with nearshore teams available for Germany, the UK, and other EU markets.
Services
Custom software development services
Over two decades, our custom software development teams have delivered for some of the most demanding environments in Europe from national identity infrastructure to enterprise platforms processing millions of transactions daily.
Enterprise and mobile software
Our custom software development practice covers the full spectrum of enterprise needs. Back-office systems, workflow automation, and business process management platforms are built for stability and auditability. In addition, we deliver native and cross-platform mobile applications for Android and iOS choosing between React Native, Flutter, Kotlin and Swift based on what the project actually needs, not what is currently popular.
Digital identity, AI, and cloud architecture
Beyond application development, our work includes digital identity systems at national scale, most notably the Portuguese Citizen Card middleware, used by the entire Portuguese population. Furthermore, we build AI-integrated software with our AI Lab, cloud-native architectures designed for long-term maintainability and system integration work connecting legacy infrastructure to modern systems. Each of these areas requires a different engineering approach; as a result, we treat them as distinct disciplines rather than variations of the same service.
01
Enterprise Applications
Complex back-office systems, workflow automation and business process management platforms built for stability and auditability. We have delivered enterprise software for telecoms operators, energy companies, and public institutions where the engineering has to be right the first time.
02
Mobile Solutions
Native and cross-platform applications for Android and iOS in React Native, Flutter, Kotlin, and Swift. The approach is always chosen based on performance requirements, team constraints and the user experience the product demands.
03
Digital Identity & Security
We built the middleware for the Portuguese Citizen Card, national identity infrastructure deployed to the entire Portuguese population and the national Covid Pass system for INCM. Few software companies in Europe have this delivery record at national scale.
04
AI-Integrated Systems
Software that incorporates machine learning, NLP, and decision automation as a core architectural component built alongside our AI Lab from the start, not added as an afterthought. AI is treated as a first-class engineering concern throughout the project lifecycle.
05
Cloud-Native Architecture
Enterprise software that scales, deployable on Azure or AWS, designed without vendor lock-in from day one. Microservices, containers, infrastructure-as-code and event-driven patterns are standard not premium additions.
06
System Integration
Connecting legacy infrastructure to modern systems — APIs, middleware, data pipelines and event-driven architectures. Many of our most valuable engagements involve organisations with years of business-critical systems that no longer communicate cleanly.
Process
How our custom software development process works
Agile delivery from day two
We work in agile sprints with real deliverables at the end of each cycle. As a result, clients see working software from week two, not a deck of slides that promises something months away. Throughout the project, you have direct access to the engineers doing the work, not account managers relaying messages.
Long-term software partnership
Custom software development rarely ends at launch. Consequently, post-delivery support, maintenance contracts and ongoing development are standard parts of how we work with long-term clients. Furthermore, fixed-price models misalign incentives — the supplier optimises for scope completion rather than business outcomes. Our sprint model keeps both sides focused on what actually matters.
01
Discovery — 2 to 4 weeks
We map requirements, audit existing systems, define the architecture, and agree a realistic timeline. The most expensive problems in software development are the ones nobody spotted at the start — this phase exists to find them before they cost anything.
02
Sprint delivery
Agile sprints with working software at the end of each cycle. You see progress, give feedback and adjust priorities as the project evolves. You are never locked into a scope that stopped fitting your situation three months ago.
03
QA and compliance
Automated testing is built in from the start. For regulated environments, banking, insurance, government, we additionally integrate Qualigentic, our AI QA platform, to produce DORA, Solvency II and PSD2-compliant audit evidence.
04
Deployment and support
We manage deployment and remain available after go-live. For critical systems we offer SLA-backed support contracts. For teams taking ownership of the codebase, we provide thorough documentation and a structured handover.
Technology
Technology stack for software development
These are the technologies our engineers use in production, not a marketing list. The stack is chosen per project based on performance requirements, client infrastructure and long-term maintainability.
A full-stack engineering team
Our custom software development team covers frontend, backend, mobile, cloud and AI disciplines in-house. As a result, there is no handoff friction between specialists, the same team that designs the architecture builds and delivers it. Moreover, we work across all major cloud providers and deployment environments, including on-premise for clients with strict data residency requirements.
Frontend
Backend
Mobile
Cloud & DevOps
Content Management
AI & ML
Trusted by
EDP
NOS
Worten
Dolby
BearingPoint
Ministério da Justiça
INCM
Ordem dos Advogados
FAQ
Custom software development — frequently asked questions
The questions we hear most from clients in Portugal, Germany, and the UK before starting a project.
How long does a custom software development project take?
A typical MVP takes 3–6 months. Enterprise custom software development projects run 6–18 months depending on scope. In either case, every project starts with a 2–4 week discovery phase to define requirements, architecture, and timeline. Clients see working deliverables from the second sprint onward — not progress reports and Gantt charts.
Does Caixa Mágica work with international clients?
Yes. We work with clients across Europe, with a strong track record in Germany and the UK alongside Portugal. The team communicates in English, Portuguese, and German. Moreover, we operate in the CET timezone, which overlaps fully with both DACH and UK business hours — real-time collaboration works without scheduling workarounds.
What is the difference between a project engagement and nearshore services?
A project engagement means we own the full delivery — from requirements definition through to deployment and handover. Nearshore services, on the other hand, provide dedicated developers who integrate into your existing team structure and work within your own processes. Both models are available, and it is common for clients to start with a project engagement and move to a retained nearshore team for ongoing custom software development.
What industries does Caixa Mágica serve?
Public sector, financial services, telecoms, energy, and retail. Our public sector work — the Citizen Card middleware for the Ministry of Justice and the national Covid Pass system for INCM — demonstrates our ability to operate at national scale under strict compliance requirements. In addition, our commercial work for EDP, NOS, Worten, Dolby, and BearingPoint applies the same engineering rigour to enterprise environments.
How does Caixa Mágica handle software quality and testing?
All custom software development projects include automated testing built in from the start — not added at the end. For clients in regulated environments — banking, insurance, government — we additionally integrate Qualigentic, our proprietary AI QA platform, which generates test scripts directly from requirements and produces audit-grade compliance evidence for DORA, Solvency II, and PSD2.
Do you offer on-premise or private cloud deployment?
Yes. For clients with strict data residency requirements — standard in public sector and increasingly common in financial services — we support on-premise and private cloud deployments. This includes our Qualigentic platform, where on-premise installations use self-hosted open-source models and no data leaves the client's infrastructure under any condition.
How do we start a project?
The first step is a 30-minute call to understand your requirements, timeline, and constraints. From there, we run a discovery phase to define scope, architecture, and a realistic delivery plan. You can book directly via our contact page or reach us at comercial@caixamagica.pt — we respond within one business day.