In a company of 30, 50 or 100 people, a big part of the day goes on questions like “where is the latest price list?”, “which form do I use for leave?”, “who has the contract?”. Files sit in shared folders, in email, on colleagues’ computers and in messaging groups. Everything is somewhere, but nobody is sure which version is the latest.

An internal portal, what we call an intranet, brings order to all of this. This guide explains what it is, what it contains, when it is worth it and how to set it up so it does not become one more system nobody opens.

What an intranet is

An intranet is a private website that only the people in your company can see. Each person signs in with their own account, from a computer or a phone, and finds everything they need for their work in one place: documents, procedures, announcements, colleagues’ contact details, requests. It is not a public site and it does not show up on Google.

The difference from a shared folder is that an intranet has structure, search and permissions. Everyone sees what concerns them, and management knows that everyone works with the same, correct information.

When a company needs one

Not every business needs an intranet. It is worth considering when:

• The team has grown past 20-30 people or works from more than one location: offices, warehouses, shops.
• New colleagues take weeks to learn where things are.
• The same questions keep landing on accounts, HR or management.
• Several versions of the same document are in circulation and nobody knows which one applies.
• Announcements get lost in email.

What it can contain

An intranet is built from sections. You do not need all of them on day one. The most common are:

• Documents: organised by department, project or client, with versions and search.
• Procedures and instructions: how an order, an approval or a delivery is handled. Written once, available to everyone.
• Announcements: company news and policy changes, with a view of who has read them.
• Staff directory: who is who, which department, how to reach them.
• Requests and approvals: leave, purchases, expenses, with an approval path instead of paper and phone calls.
• Projects: for project-based companies, one space per project with folders, phases, drawings and a location on the map.
• Training: material for new team members and for every new system the company brings in.

An example from warehousing and distribution

In a company with a warehouse and distribution, the office, warehouse staff, drivers and accounts all work together on the same day. Packing instructions, shift rotas, route changes and safety rules usually live on paper on the wall and in messages on people’s phones. Anyone who was off for a day misses the change.

With an intranet, every shift sees the day’s schedule, the updated instructions and the announcements on a phone or on a screen in the warehouse. Damage or a shortage is reported with a short form and a photo and goes straight to the person in charge. The office no longer has to call every shift about every change.

Off-the-shelf or custom?

There are ready-made platforms, such as Microsoft SharePoint or Google Sites, that can be set up fairly quickly. There is also the custom route, an intranet designed around your own company.

If the company already runs on Microsoft 365 and mainly needs documents and announcements, SharePoint may be enough. When the intranet has to follow your projects, show data from your business software or handle your own approvals, a custom intranet is the better fit.

Connecting to your other systems

An intranet pays off when it is not isolated. It can:

• Pull data from your business software (ERP): clients, projects or stock, without anyone retyping them.
• Show data from your CRM: so everyone sees the same picture of a client. More in our guide to custom CRM.
• Open with your company account: people sign in with the Microsoft or Google account they already have.
• Send notifications: by email or to the phone when something is waiting for approval.

How we start

We start with the people, not the technology. During analysis we record:

• Which departments will use it and what they look for most often.
• Where documents live today and what state they are in.
• Which processes still run on paper, phone or email.
• Who sees what: roles and permissions.
• Which software it needs to connect to.

The first version has a few sections, the ones that solve the biggest problems. Once the team is used to it, we add the next ones. After the analysis you get a written proposal with a clear scope, cost and timeline.

Costly mistakes

• Moving folders over as they are. Move the mess of the shared drive and you get the same mess in a new place.
• No one in charge. Without someone keeping each section up to date, an intranet goes stale within months.
• Hard to use on a phone. People who work outside the office need to find what they want in two taps.
• Everything open to everyone. Payroll, contracts and client data need the right permissions from day one.

Intranet development in Thessaloniki, Kavala and across Greece

D.igital t.hinkings designs and builds internal portals for companies in Thessaloniki, Kavala and across Greece. Because we have worked with business and enterprise systems since 1999, your intranet is designed to work with the tools you already use. Read our guide to custom applications and web apps or tell us what you need.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an intranet cost?

It depends on the sections, the number of users and the links to other software. After the analysis we give you a written proposal with a specific cost.

How long does it take?

A first version with documents, announcements and a staff directory can be ready in a few weeks. Approvals and links to other systems are added step by step.

Is it secure?

Access is only through a personal account over an encrypted connection, and each person sees only what their role allows. A second check on the phone at sign-in can also be added.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes, on computer, tablet and phone. That matters a lot for people in the warehouse, in a shop or on the road.

Who owns the data?

You do. Ownership of the code and the data is set out in the contract.

Every growing business reaches the point where its customers live in many places at once: some in the ERP, some in a salesperson’s spreadsheet, conversations in individual inboxes, quotes in folders on the server. When a colleague leaves, half the history of their customers leaves too. That is what a CRM solves.

The question is which CRM. Off-the-shelf products cover many businesses. When the way you sell and serve is your own, a custom CRM can make the difference. This guide explains when it is worth it, what it is made of and how such a project is organised.

What a CRM is

CRM stands for customer relationship management. In practice it is a system that holds the full picture of every customer: contacts, company, conversations, quotes, orders, requests, documents. The team sees the same information, knows what has happened and what comes next, and management sees where sales stand without asking for reports.

Off-the-shelf or custom?

Ready-made CRMs start fast, have many features and are updated by the vendor. They also have limits. They make you work their way, charge per user every month and, when you need something specific, customisation is expensive or impossible. A custom CRM is designed around your processes. It has only what you need, with the names and steps your team already uses, and grows with the business.

When a custom CRM is worth it

• Your sales process has steps a standard product cannot hold, such as several approval stages or complex quotes.
• You want to take the whole business workflow digital, not just sales: service, contracts, projects, partners.
• You need a tight connection to your ERP and other existing systems.
• You have many users and the monthly fee of a ready-made CRM adds up over the years.
• You want customer data to stay under your own control.

If your business sells in a simple, standard way, an off-the-shelf CRM is usually the right choice, and we will tell you so.

The modules of a CRM

• Contacts and companies: all details and history on one record.
• Sales opportunities: stages from first interest to signature, with value and probability.
• Quotes: built from your price list, with approvals, sending and tracking.
• Tasks and reminders: who does what and when, so no customer is left waiting.
• Service requests: logging, assignment, response times, history.
• Contracts and documents: files organised by customer, with expiry dates and renewals.
• Partners: a portal for resellers, partners or external teams with limited access.
• Reports and indicators: sales by salesperson, region, product and channel, in real time.

Connecting to your other systems

• ERP: customers, items, prices, balances and orders stay in sync. See our ERP, CRM and SAP services.
• Website and forms: every enquiry becomes a contact and a task automatically.
• Email and calendar: conversations are logged on the customer record.
• Marketing: you know which campaign brought each customer and what it was worth. More in our guide to digital marketing.

How a project runs

1. Analysis. We talk with the people who will use it and map how they work today.
2. Design. Screens, roles, permissions, integrations. You see and approve them before code is written.
3. First version. We start with the modules that bring the most benefit, so the team uses it quickly.
4. Data migration. We clean and move customers and history from existing files and systems.
5. Training and handover. On your own data.
6. Growth. Based on real use, we add modules and improvements.

What drives cost and time

• The number of modules and the complexity of the processes.
• Integrations with ERP and other systems.
• The volume and condition of the data to be migrated.
• Roles and access rights.
• Whether a mobile app or an external portal is needed.

After the analysis you receive a written proposal with scope, cost and timeline. Ownership of code and data is set out in the contract.

Costly mistakes

• Everything on day one. A CRM with a hundred features nobody asked for does not get used.
• Designing without the users. If salespeople do not find it useful, they go back to spreadsheets.
• Dirty data. Duplicates and incomplete records damage trust in the new system.
• No integration. A CRM cut off from the ERP doubles the work instead of reducing it.

Custom CRM in Thessaloniki, Kavala and across Greece

D.igital t.hinkings designs and builds modular custom CRM systems for businesses in Thessaloniki, Kavala and throughout Greece. Because we have worked with ERP since 1999 and also run digital marketing, your CRM is designed as part of the whole business, not in isolation. Read our guide to custom applications and web apps too, or tell us what you need.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a custom CRM cost?

It depends on the modules, integrations and data volume. After the analysis we give you a written proposal with a specific cost.

How long does development take?

A first version with the core modules can be ready in a few weeks. A full system with many integrations takes a few months.

Can it connect to our ERP?

In most cases yes, through an API or automated data exchange. We check this during the analysis.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes. The CRM is designed to work on desktop, tablet and phone, for salespeople working outside the office.

Who owns the data?

You do. Ownership of code and data is clearly defined in the contract.

Every business reaches the same point sooner or later. Data is spread across three programs and ten spreadsheets, the same information is typed in by hand two or three times, and nobody is quite sure which number is the right one. Off-the-shelf software covers most of the work, but what it leaves out is usually exactly what makes your business different.

That is where custom applications and web apps come in. In this guide you will see what they are, when they are worth it and when they are not, how they connect with the rest of your IT, and how to run a project so that it stays on time and on budget. It is based on projects we have delivered for businesses in Thessaloniki, Kavala and across Greece.

What is a custom application, and what is a web app

A custom application is software designed for your business: your processes, your team’s roles and the data you already have. You do not bend your work to fit the program. The program is built around you.

A web app is an application that runs in the browser. Nothing needs to be installed on each computer, it opens from the office, from home or from a phone, and everyone works on the same data in real time. Today most custom business applications are built as web apps for exactly these reasons.

A website speaks mainly to your visitors. A web app serves the people who work with you: your team, your partners and your customers, when they need to do something rather than just read.

Off-the-shelf software or a custom application?

Not every business needs custom software. Often the right answer is a good off-the-shelf product, set up properly. Here is how they compare on the points that matter:

In practice the best solution is often a mix: an off-the-shelf ERP or accounting package for the basics, and a custom application around it for what the ERP does not do well.

When a custom application is worth it

In our experience it is worth serious thought when two or more of these are true:

• Your team spends hours every week moving data from one system to another.
• Work depends on spreadsheets that only one person understands.
• You pay for many subscriptions, each covering one piece of the puzzle.
• You need reports your ERP cannot produce.
• You want to give customers or partners access to data without emails and phone calls.
• You have an old application that “still works”, but nobody can maintain it anymore.
• Your process is what sets you apart, and you do not want to squeeze it into generic software.

What it looks like in practice

The most useful custom applications are not the flashiest ones, but the ones that solve real, everyday problems. Some of what we can build:

• A CRM built around you, with modules to match your needs.
  Customers, sales, quotes, contracts, requests, tasks and documents on one platform. We start with what you need today and add modules as the business grows.
• Your entire business workflow, fully digital.
  From the first customer request to the quote, the contract, invoicing and after-sales support, every step is recorded in the same system and flows automatically into the next.
• Digital processes and approvals.
  Requests, approvals, purchasing and internal tasks happen online, with clear roles, notifications and a full history of who did what and when.
• Customer and partner portals.
  Your customers and partners see progress, documents and requests on their own, without emails and phone calls.
• Migration of legacy applications.
  Years of data from an old system are moved to a modern database, so it stays accessible and searchable through a new application.
• Reporting and dashboards.
  All your business data in reports that update themselves, for decisions based on numbers.

The goal is always the same: every process in the business runs digitally, with speed, security and consistency, so work is done the same way by everyone, mistakes go down and management has a clear picture at any moment through reporting.

How a custom application fits with the rest of your IT

A custom application should never become one more data island. That is why we design it as part of your overall IT:

• ERP and accounting.
  It exchanges data with your ERP, so customers, prices and invoices are entered once.
• E-shop and website.
  Orders, requests and forms from your site flow straight into the application.
• Email, calendars and office tools.
  Notifications, appointments and documents connect with the tools you already use.
• Security and backups.
  Roles and permissions per user, encrypted connections, regular backups and GDPR compliance.
• Reporting.
  Application data feeds dashboards, so management sees the picture without asking for it.

This is why a custom application succeeds when it is designed by someone who sees the company’s whole IT, not just the code. You can read more about our approach in IT consulting and ERP and CRM solutions.

The technologies we build web apps with

Technology is chosen to fit the project, not the other way round. The criteria are always the same: stability, security, easy maintenance and open, widely used technologies. In our projects we usually work with:

• Laravel for applications with complex logic and many user roles, and Filament for fast, clean admin interfaces.
• PostgreSQL and Supabase for reliable databases, user authentication and APIs.
• WordPress when the application is closely tied to content and a website.
• Modern frontend tools for fast screens that work equally well on desktop, tablet and phone.

How a project runs, step by step

1. Analysis.
   We map how you work today, who will use the application and exactly what it has to solve. Most of the project’s success is decided here.
2. Prototype.
   Before any code is written, you see the key screens and try the flow. Changes at this stage cost very little.
3. First release.
   We build what brings immediate results first, so your team starts using it early.
4. Data migration and integrations.
   We bring in existing data and connect the application to your ERP, e-shop and other systems.
5. Training and launch.
   The application enters daily work, with training and guides for each role.
6. Support and growth.
   We monitor usage, fix issues and add features in small, predictable steps.

What drives cost and timeline

There is no list price for a custom application, because every project is different. The factors that affect cost and time the most are:

• the number of user roles and their permissions
• how many systems need to be connected, and whether they have a modern API
• the amount and quality of the data to be migrated
• whether customers or partners outside the company need access
• the requirements for reports, notifications and automation

That is why we always suggest starting with a short analysis. At the end you get a written proposal with a clear scope, cost and timeline, and you decide with the full picture.

Costly mistakes to avoid

• Starting to code before the analysis.
  Whatever is not clarified at the start is paid for twice at the end.
• Wanting everything in the first release.
  A smaller application that goes into use early teaches you more than a perfect plan on paper.
• Leaving out the people who will use it.
  If the team does not feel it is theirs, they will go back to spreadsheets.
• Leaving rights unclear from the start.
  The contract should state what applies to the code, how you access your data and how maintenance works.
• Forgetting maintenance.
  Security updates and backups are part of the project, not an optional extra.

Custom applications in Thessaloniki and Kavala

D.igital t.hinkings designs and develops custom applications and web apps for businesses in Thessaloniki, Kavala and throughout Greece. Because we work across IT, ERP and digital marketing, your application is not designed in isolation, but as part of a business that has to run smoothly from the back office to the customer.

See all our services or tell us what you need. A first conversation is enough to see whether a custom application is the right fit for you.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to build a custom application?

It depends on the scope. A focused first release can be ready in a few weeks, while a platform with many roles and integrations takes a few months. After the analysis you get a specific timeline.

Can it connect to the ERP I already use?

In most cases yes, through an API, file exchange or a direct database connection. We look at this in the first analysis, so there are no surprises later.

Who owns the code and the data?

This is set out in the contract for each project. We discuss it from the start, so it is clear what applies to the code, access to your data and ongoing maintenance.

Does the application work on mobile?

Yes. The web apps we build adapt to desktop, tablet and phone, with no app store installation needed.

Can I start small?

Yes, and that is what we recommend. We start with the problem that costs you the most, and the application grows with your business.

D.igital t.hinkings works from Thessaloniki and Kavala, the two ends of a region with a strong mix of trade, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism and services. Our clients are across Greece and abroad, but being close to the businesses of Northern Greece shapes how we work: we know the market, we can be on site when it matters, and we speak the same language as the people running these companies.

What we do

• IT consulting: decisions on systems, suppliers and investments, with a plan that fits the business.
• ERP, CRM and SAP: selection, migration, integration and support, including custom CRM built around how you work.
• IT support, networks and security: ongoing support, backups and protection, remote or on site.
• Data analysis: dashboards and reports that show what is happening in the business.
• Digital marketing: SEO, Google Ads, Meta Ads and social media, with measurement tied to real enquiries and sales.
• Websites, e-shops, branding and rebranding: from corporate identity to the site that carries it.
• Custom applications and web apps: when off-the-shelf software is not enough.

Why IT and marketing together

Most businesses buy IT from one supplier and marketing from another. The result is a website that brings enquiries nobody follows up, or a CRM full of data that marketing never uses. We work on both sides, so the whole path from the first search to the invoice is designed as one.

Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is the commercial centre of Northern Greece, with a dense mix of trading companies, industry, services and a fast-growing tech scene. Here we support businesses with IT consulting, ERP and CRM projects, custom applications and digital marketing, with meetings in person whenever a project needs them.

Kavala

Kavala and Eastern Macedonia combine trade and agriculture with a strong tourism season. Alongside IT support and systems work, we help local businesses with websites, Google visibility and advertising that brings customers from Greece and abroad.

Across Greece and abroad

Most of our work can be done remotely, securely and without delays, so location is never a barrier. We work with businesses throughout Greece and with clients outside the country, in Greek and in English.

27 years in business IT

Our founder, Konstantinos Ch. Eleftheriadis, has worked in business IT since 1999, from SAP in an industrial group to digital operations for business groups today. If you are a business in Thessaloniki, Kavala or anywhere else and want a partner who understands both technology and the market, get in touch.

Frequently asked questions

Do you only work with businesses in Thessaloniki and Kavala?

No. We are based there, but we work with businesses across Greece and abroad, mostly remotely.

Can you visit our premises?

Yes, when a project needs it. In Thessaloniki and Kavala this happens quickly, and we travel elsewhere when required.

Do you work in English?

Yes. We work in Greek and English with clients and partners.

When people say branding, most think of a logo. But the logo is only the signature. Branding is the whole: what you say about your business, how you say it, how everything you put out looks and, above all, what stays in a customer’s mind when they think of you.

A good corporate identity is not a matter of taste. It is a tool: it makes the business recognisable, builds trust before you have even met, and lets you charge properly for what you offer.

What a corporate identity is made of

• Market position: who you serve, what you solve and why someone should choose you over the competitor next door.
• Name and message: a short, clear description of what you do that everyone in the business says the same way.
• Logo in all its versions: colour, mono, horizontal, an icon for social media and mobile.
• Colours and typefaces with clear rules that work on screen and in print.
• Photography and imagery: the kind of pictures that express you and what to avoid.
• Tone of voice: how you write on the site, in emails, on social media.
• Brand manual: one document that brings it all together so every partner works to the same rules.

How we work

1. Discovery and research. We talk with management, look at competitors and listen to how customers describe you.
2. Strategy. We define position, audience and message. This step is often skipped, which is why many logos look nice but say nothing.
3. Design. Proposals for logo, colours and typography, tested on real applications: site, business card, post, signage.
4. Manual. We write down the rules in plain language with examples.
5. Roll-out. We carry the identity onto your site, social media, print and team templates.

Branding and digital presence

Most customers will meet you first on a screen. So the identity must be designed for digital from the start: a logo that reads as a tiny icon, colours that work on dark and light backgrounds, typefaces with proper Greek characters. All of it consistent with your website, your social media posts and your ads.

Costly mistakes

• A logo without strategy. Pretty but generic, it could belong to anyone.
• An identity that stays in a file. If it is not applied everywhere consistently, it builds no recognition.
• Copying fashion. What is trendy this year will look dated in two.
• Unlicensed fonts or fonts without proper Greek support, which cause trouble later.

Branding in Thessaloniki, Kavala and across Greece

At D.igital t.hinkings we design corporate identities for businesses that want to look as serious as they are, and apply them consistently across site, social media and advertising. If your business already has an identity that no longer fits, read our guide to rebranding. For a first conversation, send us a message.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a logo and branding?

A logo is a mark. Branding is the whole identity: message, visuals, tone and the customer’s experience at every contact with the business.

How long does a full branding project take?

Usually a few weeks, depending on scope and the number of applications needed.

Does a small business need branding?

Yes, at a scale that fits. A clean logo, two colours, one typeface and consistency everywhere already make a big difference.

A tourist property lives on two things: being found by guests and sending them home happy. Technology now plays a far bigger role in both than it did a few years ago, from the first search on a phone to the Wi-Fi in the room and the review a guest writes on the way out.

We have worked with accommodation and hospitality businesses in Northern Greece for years. This is what we see making the difference.

Direct bookings instead of commissions

The big booking platforms bring guests but keep a significant commission on every booking. Every guest who books on your own site is pure margin. For that you need:

• A fast site that works perfectly on mobile, with photos that show reality, not exaggeration.
• A booking engine on the site, with live availability and secure payment.
• A channel manager, so availability updates automatically across all platforms and double bookings never happen.
• Content in several languages, matching where your guests come from.

Be found on Google

Your Google Business Profile is often the first thing a guest sees. Up-to-date photos, correct details and a reply to every review, good or bad. Together with a site that has proper SEO for your area, you can appear where guests are searching without paying for every click.

Social media and advertising

Hospitality sells through images. Instagram and Facebook show the place, the area and the atmosphere. Targeted ads, aimed at specific countries and seasons, bring bookings in the months you need them most. And past guests, reached with a simple newsletter, become your cheapest new customers.

The IT behind hospitality

• Wi-Fi that works everywhere, separated from the business network for security. Guests mention it in reviews more than you might think.
• A property management system (PMS) for bookings, arrivals, billing and housekeeping.
• Connection to accounting and myDATA, so invoicing is not done by hand.
• Data protection for guest details, as GDPR requires.
• Fast support in peak season, because in August nobody can wait.

Reviews and guest experience

After booking, a message with useful arrival information. After departure, a thank you and a link to leave a review. Small automated steps that lift your rating, and a better rating brings new bookings.

Where to start

If you can only do one thing, start with a booking-ready website and your Google Business Profile. That is where most direct bookings are won. At D.igital t.hinkings we cover everything from the website and digital marketing to networks and IT support, so you have one partner for all of it. Talk to us before next season.

Frequently asked questions

Is a booking engine worth it for a small property?

Yes. Even a few direct bookings a year usually cover its cost, since you save the platform commission.

Should we leave the booking platforms?

No. Platforms bring new guests. The goal is to raise your share of direct bookings, not to replace them.

When should preparation for the season start?

Ideally in winter. Changes to the site and SEO need time to pay off before bookings begin.

Businesses change. They grow, enter new markets, add services, change ownership. At some point the image built years ago no longer fits. That is when rebranding comes up.

A rebrand can give a business new momentum. Done in a hurry, it can also confuse customers and knock the website down in Google. Here is how we approach it.

When you need a rebrand

• The business changed, the image did not. You went from a small office to a company with several departments, but the logo and site still show the old picture.
• You serve a different audience. Larger clients, foreign markets, a new sector.
• Merger or acquisition. Two identities need to become one, or sit under a shared umbrella.
• Confusion with competitors. Similar name, similar colours, and customers mix you up.
• The identity fails on digital. A logo unreadable on a phone, colours that disappear on screen.

Rebrand or refresh?

You do not always need to start from zero. If the name and logo are already recognised, a refresh is often enough: cleaner design, modern typography, updated colours, a new site. A full rebrand, with a new name or a completely new identity, makes sense when the old image is really holding you back.

The steps

1. Take stock of what exists and what is worth keeping. Whatever customers already recognise is an asset.
2. New strategy and message: who you are today and who you are talking to.
3. Design the new identity and a manual with the rules, as described in our article on branding.
4. Transition plan: what changes first, what follows, how customers and partners are told.
5. Announcement that explains why, so the change reads as progress and not disruption.

The digital part that gets forgotten

This is where the most expensive mistakes happen. A rebrand usually brings a new site, sometimes a new domain. If the move is not planned, rankings built over years can disappear. To prevent that:

• 301 redirects from every old page to its new equivalent, so Google and visitors find their way.
• Google Search Console updates, and a change of address if the domain changes.
• Google Business Profile with the new name, logo and photos, without creating a second profile.
• Social media: rename existing accounts and update images, so followers are not lost.
• Email and signatures, document templates, quotes, invoices.
• Directory listings and partners, so name, address and phone match everywhere.

We do this part often: we have moved sites from one platform to another while keeping every old address alive through redirects, so nothing Google already knew was lost.

One partner for the whole rebrand

A rebrand touches design, website, SEO, social media and often internal systems. When different people handle each piece, something always falls through the cracks. At D.igital t.hinkings we cover all of it, from the website and online branding to digital marketing, for businesses in Thessaloniki, Kavala and across Greece. Talk to us before you start.

Frequently asked questions

Will we lose Google rankings after a rebrand?

Not if it is done properly. With 301 redirects for every old page and correct Search Console updates, rankings carry over to the new site.

Do we have to change our name?

Only if the current name limits you or confuses customers. Most of the time the name stays and the image around it changes.

How long does a rebrand take?

From a few weeks for a refresh to several months for a full change with a new site and every channel moved over.

An IT consultant does not come to fix the printer. They come when a decision has to be made that will follow you for years: which ERP, cloud or your own server, custom application or off-the-shelf software, how everything will connect. Decisions that cost far more than the advice if they go wrong.

What an IT consultant does

• Maps the current situation: systems, data, licences, costs, risks.
• Turns business goals into technical choices. Management says “we want to open a second store”, the consultant says what that means for network, ERP, tills and security.
• Writes specifications and helps choose suppliers, so offers can be compared properly.
• Oversees delivery and checks that what is delivered matches what was agreed.
• Plans for the long term, so each new investment fits the previous ones.

Consultant or technician?

A technician solves problems. A consultant decides with you which problems are worth solving and in what order. You need both, but they are different roles. A business with only technical support often runs after problems. A business with a consultant gets ahead of them.

When you need one

• Before changing your ERP or order system.
• When considering a custom application and wanting to know if it is worth it.
• When IT costs keep rising and nobody is sure why.
• When the business grows, opens new locations or enters a new market.
• When you have to meet security requirements from law, customers or insurers.
• When you have many suppliers and nobody seeing the whole picture.

How to choose

1. Experience in real businesses, not just certificates. Ask what they have delivered.
2. Independence. A consultant who profits from selling a specific product will rarely tell you that you do not need it.
3. Plain language. If they cannot explain an option without jargon, you cannot decide well.
4. A view of the whole business. IT affects sales, marketing, warehouse and finance. The consultant should see all of it.

IT consulting from D.igital t.hinkings

Our founder, Konstantinos Ch. Eleftheriadis, has worked in business IT since 1999: SAP systems in an industrial group, ERP, infrastructure, data analysis, and today digital operations for business groups. That experience is the basis of the IT consulting we offer to businesses in Thessaloniki, Kavala and across Greece. If you have a decision ahead of you, tell us and we will talk it through.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an IT consultant cost?

It depends on scope: a specific study, or an ongoing relationship with regular meetings. The cost is usually small compared to the investment it helps you get right.

Is it only for large companies?

No. A smaller business about to invest in an ERP, CRM or new website also gains from an independent view before committing.

Can the consultant also handle the implementation?

Yes, if you want. Many businesses prefer one partner from design to delivery, so nothing gets lost in between.

Digital marketing has so many parts that it is easy to get lost. Website, SEO, Google Ads, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, newsletters, video. Each supplier recommends what they know best, and the business ends up paying for many small things that do not connect.

We start the other way round: from the customer you want to attract and how they search.

The order we recommend

1. The foundation: website and tracking

Every channel leads somewhere, usually to your website. If the site is slow, confusing or broken on mobile, every euro spent on ads is wasted. Tracking is set up together with the site: what visitors do, where they come from, how many send an enquiry or buy. Without it, every decision is a guess.

2. Be found when they search: SEO and Google Business Profile

Someone searching Google for what you sell is ready to buy. SEO brings those visitors without paying per click, but it takes time. For local searches, such as a service in Thessaloniki or Kavala, the Google Business Profile matters as much as the website.

3. Results from week one: Google Ads

While SEO builds up, Google Ads puts you in front of people searching right now. With proper targeting, negative keywords and conversion tracking, you know exactly what each enquiry or sale costs.

4. Be remembered: social media

Social media builds recognition and trust, and with ads it reaches people who are not looking for you yet. We wrote in detail about social media management.

5. Bring them back: email and CRM

Your cheapest customer is the one you already have. A newsletter with substance and a CRM that remembers who bought what bring repeat sales at minimal cost.

What we measure

Visits, likes and impressions show activity, not results. What really counts is:

• How many enquiries, calls or sales each channel brought.
• What each one cost.
• How many became customers, which you only see when marketing is connected to the CRM.

Why digital marketing needs IT

An enquiry from the website that lands in an inbox and is forgotten is money lost. Marketing pays off when it is connected to the business systems: enquiries go straight into the CRM, the salesperson is notified, the sale is recorded and you can see which campaign it came from. Because at D.igital t.hinkings we do both, we see the whole customer journey, from the first search to the invoice.

Digital marketing in Thessaloniki, Kavala and across Greece

We run digital marketing for businesses in Northern Greece and nationwide: strategy, SEO, Google Ads, Meta Ads, social media and measurement, with Google and Meta certifications. If you want to see what your marketing brings today and what it could bring, get in touch.

Frequently asked questions

Where should a business with a small budget start?

With a proper website, a Google Business Profile and tracking. Then one ad channel that matches how your customers search.

SEO or Google Ads?

Ideally both. Google Ads brings results immediately, SEO builds steady visibility without cost per click over time.

When do the first results show?

With ads, within the first weeks. With SEO, usually within a few months, depending on competition.

A website is often a customer’s first introduction to your business. An e-shop is a store that never closes. In both cases, the decisions you make before building starts largely decide whether it brings results or becomes a nice shop window nobody visits.

Purpose first

What do you want the visitor to do? Call, request a quote, buy, book an appointment? Each page is designed around that action. A site that tries to say everything to everyone ends up convincing no one.

Which platform

• WordPress: flexible, with a huge range of options, ideal for company sites and blogs. With WooCommerce it becomes an e-shop.
• Hosted platforms such as Wix or Shopify: quick to start, but less control and a monthly fee. Moving to another platform later needs careful work.
• Custom development: when needs go beyond a classic site, such as a customer portal or complex integrations. See our guide to custom applications and web apps.

What matters is that the site belongs to you: domain, content, admin access.

What you do not see but matters

• Speed. Every second of waiting drives visitors away, especially on mobile.
• Mobile first. Most visitors will see your site on a small screen.
• SEO from day one. Page structure, titles, descriptions, structured data. Far easier to get right at the start than to fix later. More in our article on SEO.
• Security and updates, SSL certificate, backups.
• GDPR: privacy policy, cookie consent, proper handling of forms.

For e-shops in particular

• Payments: cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, bank transfer, cash on delivery, depending on your audience.
• Shipping: courier integration, automatic rates, customer notifications.
• ERP integration: stock, prices and orders sync automatically, so you never sell what you do not have or retype orders.
• Invoicing: correct documents and reporting to the Greek tax platform myDATA.
• Photos and descriptions that answer the customer’s questions before they ask.

After launch

A website is not finished the day it goes live. It needs updates, fresh content, performance monitoring and improvements based on what visitors do. Always ask what maintenance includes and who will do it.

Websites and e-shops from D.igital t.hinkings

We design and build websites, e-shops and online branding for businesses in Thessaloniki, Kavala and across Greece, with ERP and CRM integration where needed. If you are planning a new site or a move from another platform, tell us what you have in mind.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to build a website?

A company site usually takes a few weeks. An e-shop with ERP integration takes longer, depending on the number of products and integrations.

Can we move our site from Wix without losing Google rankings?

Yes. With proper redirects from every old page to the new one, rankings are preserved.

Will we be able to edit text and photos ourselves?

Yes. We set up the site so your team can update content easily, without technical knowledge.