Backend Systems & APIs That Power Your Product
ZA Technologies builds robust backend systems and APIs that support millions of transactions. From REST and GraphQL APIs to microservices architecture and real-time systems, we architect backends that scale, perform and stay secure under load. Every system is built with comprehensive logging, monitoring and disaster recovery from day one. We build the invisible infrastructure that powers great products.
Backend Systems & API Services We Offer
Every engagement is staffed by a senior backend architect backed by platform engineers and database specialists, ensuring your backend is architecturally sound, performant and maintainable.
01.
REST & GraphQL API Development
Design and build RESTful and GraphQL APIs that power web and mobile applications. Versioning, caching, rate limiting and documentation all included. APIs designed for speed and flexibility.
- RESTful API design
- GraphQL schema design
- API versioning and deprecation
02.
Microservices Architecture
Build scalable microservices architectures where each service owns its data and business logic. Scale services independently based on demand. Reduce coupling and improve deployment velocity.
- Service decomposition
- Service discovery and routing
- Inter-service communication patterns
03.
Third-Party Integrations
Integrate with Stripe, Twilio, Salesforce, Slack, SendGrid and hundreds of other APIs. Custom integrations with legacy systems. Webhooks for real-time event handling.
- Payment and billing systems
- Communication platforms (SMS, email)
- CRM and enterprise systems
04.
Database Design & Optimization
Design normalized relational databases and optimized schemas. Implement caching, indexing and query optimization. Choose between relational, document and time-series databases.
- Schema design and modeling
- Query optimization and indexing
- Database monitoring and tuning
05.
Authentication & Authorization Systems
Implement OAuth2, JWT and session-based authentication. Build fine-grained authorization systems (roles, permissions). Support multi-factor authentication and social login.
- OAuth2 and JWT implementation
- Role-based access control (RBAC)
- Multi-tenant permission systems
06.
Not sure where to start?
Book a free 30-minute discovery call. You’ll leave knowing which design areas will have the highest impact on your product’s success and user satisfaction.
Monolithic vs Microservices vs Serverless Architecture
The honest answer for most startups: monolith works great until it doesn’t; microservices add complexity; serverless is cost-effective but has limitations. We recommend based on your actual needs, not hype.
| Factor | Monolithic | Microservices | Serverless |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Early-stage (startup MVP) | High scale, many teams | Simple functions, variable load |
| Development speed | Fast (one codebase) | Slower (distributed systems) | Fastest (no infrastructure) |
| Operational complexity | Low (single deployment) | High (multiple services) | Low (managed by provider) |
| Cost (small scale) | Low | Higher (more infrastructure) | Very low (pay per invocation) |
| Cost (large scale) | Becomes expensive | Scales efficiently | Can become expensive |
| Scalability | Scales to a point | Scales independently | Auto-scales with traffic |
| Maintenance burden | Increases with scale | Distributed debugging harder | Vendor lock-in risk |
| Our recommendation | Start here; monolith first | When scaling requires it | For specific workloads, not everything |
Our Backend Development Process
A systematic backend development process that moves you from architecture to production in 8 to 12 weeks. You see API documentation and working endpoints every two weeks.
Brand Strategy & Design Direction — Week 1
Visual Design System & Style Guide — Weeks 2-3
High-Fidelity Interface Design — Weeks 3-5
Micro-interactions & Motion Design — Week 5-6
Iteration & Refinement — Weeks 6-7
Design System & Developer Handoff — Week 8
Our Backend Development Tech Stack
Languages & Frameworks
Databases & Caching
Integrations & Services
DevOps & Infrastructure
Backend Systems We Build For
Case Study: 0 → 40,000 Users in 6 Months
A Vancouver health-tech startup came to us with a validated idea and a deadline: launch before their Series A close. We shipped a Flutter app for iOS and Android in 11 weeks — including a HIPAA-ready backend, wearable integration and an in-app AI coach.
Why Companies Choose Us for Backend Development
Testimonials.
Backend Systems & API FAQs
Should we build a monolithic or microservices backend?
Should we use REST or GraphQL?
What technology stack do you recommend?
How much does a web application cost?
Should we use a no-code tool or code custom?
What is a dark mode and should we support it?
How do we know if our interface design is working?
Track metrics like task completion rate, user satisfaction scores and engagement. Conduct usability testing to see if users understand your interface. Measure if design changes impact business metrics like conversion or retention.
How do we evolve our design system over time?
Ready to Build Your Web Application?
Book a free 30-minute scoping call. You’ll leave knowing which design areas will have the highest impact on your product’s success and user satisfaction.