Case study · Sign making
BEL Signs: from WORMS to WORMS 2
Rebuilding an 18-year-old workshop system without losing a single quote, job or customer.
- Client
- BEL Signs, Sussex
- Business
- Sign maker
- Users
- 5–10 staff
- Replaced
- WORMS, in use since 2008
The story
A system that fitted the workshop for 18 years
In 2008, BEL Signs ran its quotes and jobs from a slow Access database on a single machine. Inferred’s founder, then an independent developer, replaced it with WORMS (Works Order Management Software), a web-based system for quotes, works orders and job sheets.
WORMS fitted the workshop so well that it stayed in daily use for 18 years. By 2026 its technology had aged: sign-in didn’t check passwords and there were no user roles. BEL asked us to rebuild it without changing the way the workshop works.
“Having worked with Inferred to update our Works Management System to a much more modern and intuitive system, I would happily recommend them to anyone.”
Our approach
Rebuilt around the way the workshop already worked
Started from the old system
We mapped every screen and table of WORMS before agreeing the new rules with BEL.
Rebuilt, not patched
New, modern foundations, with the Q and W numbers, familiar screens and customer folders staff already knew.
Delivered in small steps
A first working version within days, then changes driven by BEL’s staff using it.
What it does for BEL
From quote to installation, in one place
- Quote to job in one step. Branded quote letters with revisions, and an accepted quote becomes a job without retyping.
- Everyone can see where a job is. A stage tracker with owners, handovers and blockers through to collection, delivery or installation, plus a calendar of jobs due and staff holidays.
- The shop floor gets complete job sheets, without prices. An incomplete sheet can’t be sent through.
- Paperwork files itself. Documents go to each customer’s folder on the office server, and replies to emails sent from the system reach the right person.
- BEL runs it themselves. Their admins manage users, roles and custom fields, with a log of every change. They even chose the name: WORMS 2.
Before and after
What changed, and what stayed the same
| Area | Before: WORMS | After: WORMS 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Signing in | Name match, password not checked | Password or PIN, with admin and staff roles |
| Fulfilment | A single despatch step | Tracked collection, delivery or installation |
| Job tracking | A status list | Stage tracker, handovers, owners and a calendar |
| Making changes | Needed a developer | Managed by BEL’s own admins |
| Audit trail | None | Activity log and a history on every job |
| Testing | None | 216 automated checks across the whole workflow |
The result: a modern, secure system that works the way the workshop does, with every job since 2008 to hand.
Your turn
Running your business on an old database or a pile of spreadsheets?
A proper conversation is free. Business systems start from £1,495, at a fixed price, and you own the code.
PDF case study
BEL Signs: from WORMS to WORMS 2
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