Frequently asked questions

O Lab is a development studio. We design and build electronic devices (circuits, circuit boards, firmware, enclosures, prototypes and small-batch production), write custom software and create online stores. One team and one point of contact cover the whole path from idea to launch.

It depends on what you need, so we give a written quote after a short conversation instead of a guess. The price is shaped by complexity, the number of features or components, how much has to be designed from scratch and the timeline. A small, well-defined job costs far less than a complex product — tell us what you have in mind and we will tell you honestly what it takes.

You describe the idea; we ask questions and send a quote with a timeline; once you approve it we work in stages and show you results along the way; at the end we test, launch and hand everything over. The full step-by-step process is described on this page.

Yes. Schematics, PCB files, firmware and software source code, designs and accounts are handed over to you, so you are never locked in to us.

Yes. We work remotely with clients in different countries and time zones and communicate in English by WhatsApp, Telegram or video call, so distance is not a problem.

Of course. If your idea is confidential, we are happy to sign an NDA before you share the details.

Just a short description of what you want to make and who it is for. Sketches, links to similar products, a rough budget and desired dates help, but they are not required — we will ask for whatever is missing.

Payment terms are agreed in the quote. Work is normally split into stages so you pay as results are delivered, and the details are written down before we start.

Costs range from a simple board to a complex multi-board product, so there is no single number. The main factors are the complexity of the circuit and the number of PCB layers, the processor and radio modules, whether firmware and an enclosure are included, how many prototype rounds are needed and the compliance requirements. We review your idea and give a fixed quote for a defined scope.

A simple board can reach a working prototype in a few weeks; a complex device usually takes longer. Timing depends on complexity, the number of prototype iterations and the lead time of components and manufacturing. For example, one of our industrial Ethernet switches went from concept to a batch-ready design in four weeks. Mass production adds its own lead time on top.

Yes. Many clients start with a sentence and a rough sketch. We assess feasibility, choose the architecture and components, and take the idea through schematic, PCB layout, firmware and enclosure to a working prototype.

The full package: schematics, PCB layout and Gerber files, bill of materials (BOM), firmware source code, enclosure files, test procedures and assembly documentation — everything a factory or another engineer needs to continue.

A prototype proves that the design works and is made in a few units. A pilot batch (typically tens to hundreds of units) checks that the product can be manufactured consistently and reveals production issues. Mass production is the full run, where the cost per unit is lowest. We help prepare and control all three stages.

Yes, we organise production with manufacturers in China — PCB fabrication, assembly, testing, packaging and shipping — and check quality before shipment. Minimum quantities depend on the product and the factory: prototypes can be a handful of units and small pilot batches are possible. Tell us the volume you have in mind and we will plan around it.

We work with common platforms such as ESP32 and STM32, and with wireless (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 802.15.4), cameras, audio, power electronics and industrial networking, using KiCad and Altium. If you prefer a particular chip, we can build around it.

Yes. We can review an existing design, find weak points, reduce cost or add features, and prepare it for production. Send us the files or describe the problems you are seeing.

Certification is carried out by accredited test laboratories. We design the product with the requirements in mind, prepare the documentation and the device for testing, and can support you through the process.

It depends on the scope: the number of features, the platforms (web, iOS, Android), integrations and design complexity. We recommend starting with a small first version that solves the main problem; we give a fixed quote for it and plan the next stages together.

A focused first version (MVP) typically takes from several weeks to a few months, depending on the scope. Bigger systems are built in stages so you can start using the product earlier.

If an existing product already does 90% of what you need, use it: it is cheaper and faster. Custom software makes sense when your process is unique, when you need integrations that ready-made tools do not offer, or when you want full control. We will tell you honestly if you do not need custom development.

Start where your users are. A web app works on every device and is the fastest way to launch; a native mobile app is worth it when you need device features such as the camera, Bluetooth or push notifications. Often the best path is web first, mobile later.

Yes. The source code, designs and accounts are transferred to you, so you can host the product anywhere and work with any developer later.

Yes. We fix issues, update the product and develop new features after launch, either as needed or under an agreed support arrangement.

Yes — this is a strength of ours. We build companion apps, cloud back-ends and tools for devices, including IoT and wearables, and can handle both the firmware and the software side.

The cost depends on the platform, the number of products and custom features, design work and integrations. A simple store on a ready-made platform costs much less than a fully custom one. We give a fixed quote once we know your catalogue and requirements.

A store on a ready-made platform with a clean design can launch in a few weeks; a custom store with integrations takes longer. The biggest variable is usually how quickly the product content — descriptions, photos, prices — is ready.

Ready-made platforms are faster and cheaper to start and are enough for most shops. A custom store makes sense for unusual catalogues, complex pricing or deep integrations. We will recommend the option that fits your business and budget, not the most expensive one.

Your product list with descriptions, prices and photos, your brand materials (logo, colours) if you have them, the legal information for your business and a payment account. If something is missing, we will help you get it ready.

Yes. We connect payment providers, shipping and delivery services, and tools such as accounting, inventory and CRM, so orders flow without manual work.

We build the technical foundations of search optimisation: fast pages, a clean structure, proper product markup and metadata. Nobody can honestly promise a ranking, but a well-built store gives you a solid start, and we can advise on content and growth.

Yes. We can migrate products, customers and orders and keep your existing page addresses where possible so you do not lose search traffic.

Yes. Price monitoring collects prices from websites, Telegram channels, files and APIs, matches them to your products (model, memory, colour, SIM), applies your markup rules and updates the store. If a source stops responding, you get an alert.

Yes. Orders, payments and requests can go to amoCRM or Bitrix24 as deals and tasks, and 1C can exchange prices, stock and orders with the store.

It is an assistant that answers customers' questions from your catalogue — stock, price, delivery to their city — and passes the order to a human manager to confirm. It never changes prices.

No. The admin panel lets you edit prices in bulk, arrange the collections on the home page, set delivery rates and promo codes, and give every employee only the access they need.