Questions & answers

uttek is the small software business of Rüdiger Ude from Pattensen near Hanover. We build tools that grew out of real day-to-day work: uttek Dispo, Tickets, Call, Customers (CRM), Shop, Jam, Time, Quotes & Invoices and Stock – all self-hosted, with full source code and no subscription. If none of them fits, we also develop custom software.

The software runs on your own server or your own web hosting – not with us. Your data stays with you, and you decide yourself when to change or update anything.

No. You pay once and may use the software indefinitely – founder-friendly: pay once, use forever. 12 months of updates are included in every edition. After that you can extend updates voluntarily for 20 % of the price per year. The software keeps running without an extension, and your download stays in your customer account permanently.

Yes. With uttek Connect, every uttek tool gets built-in interfaces to the others: a uniform REST API with its own key per connection, shared data (customer, job, ticket, order, feedback) and webhooks. In the admin area “Connected uttek tools” you link tools by address and key and check the connection with a test button. Examples: a ticket becomes a Dispo job, CRM customer data in Dispo, Dispo feedback to ticket and CRM, shop order into the CRM. uttek Connect is a uttek standard and is being built into every tool in upcoming versions. Connections to tools that are not yet available follow when they launch.

You get the complete source code. You may adapt it for your own company or have it adapted by a developer of your choice. You may not resell it or pass it on to other companies.

Available are uttek Dispo (field service scheduling), uttek Tickets (ticket system), uttek Call (callback management), uttek Customers (CRM), uttek Shop (online shop), uttek Jam (music community), uttek Time (time tracking), uttek Quotes & Invoices, uttek Stock (inventory management), uttek Mileage Log (tax-office-proof mileage log, also as an add-on module for uttek Dispo), uttek Rota (shift and rota planning), uttek HR (HR management), uttek Community (club website and community/neighbourhood portal) and uttek Media Library (photos, videos and albums) – each in the Basic, Pro and Enterprise editions – as well as uttek Mail & Calendar (email and calendar in one app) in the Private, Family, Business Pro and Business Enterprise editions; all with a live demo without sign-up. On the ideas list is uttek Game; you can sign up to be notified about it. We also develop tailor-made custom software.

Yes. Every available tool has a live demo without sign-up on its product page – uttek Dispo, Tickets, Call, Customers, Shop, Jam, Time, Quotes & Invoices and Stock. That way you see exactly what you get before you buy.

Yes. If standard software does not fit, we develop web applications, interfaces and extensions exactly for your processes – with a free initial consultation, an honest feasibility check and a quote in credits (1 credit = 15 min. = €15) or as a fixed price. Nothing is charged until you accept. You get the complete source code, with no subscription and no lock-in. More on the page “Tailor-made custom software”.

The easiest way is the enquiry form in the shop or an e-mail to ruediger.ude [at] uttek.de. The postal address is in the legal notice.

Yes, for support – for example with texts, translations and software. All content is reviewed by us and remains our responsibility. More on the “AI notice” page (link at the bottom of every page).

uttek Dispo is job scheduling software: it distributes orders to technicians, installers and external contractors, shows everything on a planning board and keeps customers informed about appointments. It runs in the browser – on the PC and on the phone.

For businesses that plan lots of on-site appointments: installation, maintenance, customer service, utilities or network roll-out, for example. The software was born in a large dispatch operation with in-house technicians and external contractors.

One-time: Basic €99, Pro €229, Enterprise €649 (final prices, no VAT under § 19 UStG). Every tier includes 12 months of updates; Pro adds e-mail support, Enterprise adds setup and priority support. “With service” costs an extra €69 / €129 / €329. In the bundle with CRM and ticket system you get everything together from €199. Optional extra: the mobile app for a one-time €33 (Basic), €59 (Pro) or €99 (Enterprise) per company – as many app users as you need, no subscription.

For users, yes: Basic includes up to 5, Pro up to 30 and Enterprise up to 100 users – technicians and staff count as users. You can create as many jobs and service providers as your server can handle. There is no per-seat fee; if you need more users, choose the next tier.

Yes. The product page has a live demo – no login needed: you land directly on the planning board. Every visitor works in their own demo copy (valid for 24 hours), so moving jobs and trying Auto-Dispo is allowed. With one click you load 100 sample records for trade jobs, bakery deliveries or sales meetings, or reset the demo. You can see the whole admin area, but settings are locked in the demo. Via the login page you can also try the technician and contractor views.

Yes. The interface adapts to smartphones. Technicians have their own simplified view of their daily orders. You can add the page to the home screen like an app – no app store needed.

Auto-Dispatch suggests which technician takes which order on which day. It takes postcode areas, capacities, absences and appointments into account. You can review the suggestions and apply them.

Postcode areas can be assigned to each technician or contractor – as primary and as fallback areas. Orders are then preferably given to the responsible technician.

Absences such as holidays or sickness are entered. The planning takes them into account, and stand-ins can be set up for areas who then step in.

The planning board shows technicians and days as a grid. Orders are cards that you can reschedule by drag & drop. You see at once who has how much to do and when.

Caps are upper limits, for example how many orders a technician should handle per day. If a limit is exceeded, the software warns you – but it does not prevent it, so you stay flexible.

These are appointments with a set date, such as a date given by the client (fixed appointment) or a date the customer asked for (preferred appointment). They are prioritised in planning and protected against accidental moves. If one has to be moved after all, this is clearly marked and logged.

Yes. Orders can be imported from a CSV file; a template to download is included. Orders can also be created by hand.

Yes. Each order has a history with time and person. Important actions are also stored in the audit log.

Technicians see their own orders for the day with address, contact person and the necessary order details. From there they can navigate and report back on the order.

After the appointment the technician reports back, for example “done”, “customer not at home” or “follow-up needed” – with a reason and, if desired, photos. Completed orders can be archived as PDF.

Yes. Contractors get their own logins and see only their own orders. This restriction is checked on the server, not just in the display.

Contractor dispatch is the planning view for a contractor: they see all orders and vehicles of their own company in a list and calendar, can accept, schedule and complete orders and write notes. Rescheduling between their own vehicles on the same day works by drag & drop; moving to another day requires confirming that the appointment has been agreed with the customer.

Yes. For certain order types you can specify that they are forwarded to a contractor by e-mail. The status (sent, confirmed, done) is recorded in the order.

No. Everything runs in the phone's browser. If they like, they can add the page as an icon to the home screen.

Yes, items or materials with quantities can be recorded for orders. For stock per location, van stock, minimum stock, purchase orders and stocktakes there is the standalone uttek Stock.

Yes. There are templates for appointment confirmation, reminder or rescheduling with placeholders such as name and time. For SMS an SMS provider (gateway) is connected, for e-mails your mail account.

Yes. Customers can use a personal link to confirm their appointment, choose another time slot or request a call-back – without a password; the link is protected by a secret key.

Yes, if your SMS provider forwards replies, they arrive in the software and can be assigned to the order.

With building blocks you put together workflows – for example which message is sent at which status, or which rules apply. No programming required.

You decide: automatically on a status change or only after a click. That way you stay in control.

Yes. You create your own order fields, arrange them in groups and decide which role sees which field – e.g. technicians, dispatch or contractors.

For example admin, dispatch, technician and contractor. Permissions and menus can be configured per role.

CSV import, e-mail connection (including Microsoft 365), SMS providers and rules that send data via HTTP to other systems. We build further integrations in the Enterprise package, billed by effort.

Yes, for example on utilisation, open orders and feedback. Lists can be exported as CSV.

Yes. Logo, name and colours can be set in the admin area; there is also a dark mode. And because you have the source code, anything beyond that is possible too.

The software can create database backups, and a self-test checks important functions. We also recommend the backups of your hosting provider.

Yes. uttek Tickets is available now in the Basis, Pro and Enterprise editions – with a live demo, no sign-up needed.

Inbox with board, SLAs with business hours, password-free customer portal, knowledge base, canned replies and GDPR tools; from Pro also automations, reports and uttek Connect.

Yes. uttek Customers is available now in the Basis, Pro and Enterprise editions – with a live demo, no sign-up needed.

Yes. uttek Shop is available now in the Basis, Pro and Enterprise editions – with a live demo of shop and admin, no sign-up needed.

uttek Jam is a self-hosted music community platform: members upload song ideas, others record their track in the browser, and everything is mixed together. For bands, choirs, music schools and open communities.

Yes. uttek Jam is available now in the Basis, Pro and Enterprise editions – with a live demo, no sign-up needed.

On the ideas list is uttek Game (GPS treasure hunt). Whether and when it comes also depends on interest – sign up on the product page, it helps us decide. Prices will only be announced at launch. Now available are uttek Mileage Log (as a standalone tool and as an add-on module for uttek Dispo), uttek Rota, uttek HR and uttek Mail & Calendar.

No. We only write to you about the product you signed up for. You first have to confirm the sign-up by e-mail and can unsubscribe at any time.

No. Auto-Dispatch is the highlight of Dispo Pro and is also included in Enterprise; Dispo Basic does not include Auto-Dispatch. Pro offers Auto-Dispatch, end-of-day close, workload bars, "on my way" SMS and email support. Enterprise additionally includes map dispatching, tour map, "sort day" with motorway traffic, vehicle logbook, team chat and day lock. An upgrade only costs the price difference and is activated online, without reinstalling.

Yes, that's exactly what the prices are made for: pay once, use forever – no subscription and no per-user fees. Dispo starts at €99, CRM at €79, the ticket system at €69 and all three bundled from €199. The first year of updates is included, optional afterwards. You only pay for help when you need it: 1 credit = 15 min = €15. The mobile app costs a one-time €33 (Basic), €59 (Pro) or €99 (Enterprise) for the whole company – not per technician, no subscription.

No. The app licence applies per company: a one-time €33 (Basic), €59 (Pro) or €99 (Enterprise) per tool for as many app users as you need – no subscription, no monthly costs. You create the accounts yourself in your own admin – at no extra charge per person.

The app licence costs a one-time €33 (Basic), €59 (Pro) or €99 (Enterprise) per tool and company – no subscription, no expiry, with any number of users you create yourself in your admin. For uttek Dispo it is the technician view for iPhone and Android as an installable web app (no app store). uttek Tickets, uttek Call, uttek Customers (CRM), uttek Shop, uttek Jam, uttek Time, uttek Quotes & Invoices, uttek Stock, uttek Mileage Log, uttek Rota, uttek HR and uttek Mail & Calendar have the app too – with tickets, callbacks, customers, orders, ideas, the time clock, documents and open items, stock and barcode scanning, trips, your own rota or holiday account and requests, emails and events on the go. Special requests (e.g. own logo, custom fields) are implemented once on quotation via service credits (1 credit = 15 min = €15).

No. The app is an installable web app (PWA): open the link, "Add to Home Screen" – done. It runs on iPhone and Android and uses your own server.

The app is a web app for iPhone & Android – installable without an app store. iPhone: open the login page in Safari, tap "Share" (square with arrow) at the bottom, choose "Add to Home Screen", "Add". Android: open the login page in Chrome, tap the menu (⋮) at the top right and choose "Install app" – the "Install app" prompt often appears automatically. An illustrated guide is at the bottom of the FAQ page and on the login page of the software.

No. The app licence is paid once (€33 (Basic), €59 (Pro) or €99 (Enterprise) per tool and company) and is valid indefinitely for your company and domain – no subscription. The software checks the key online about once a day, solely to protect against piracy. If uttek.de is unreachable, the app keeps working (a successful check is valid for 30 days, followed by 14 days of grace). Only an invalid, copied or refunded key is blocked – and even then only the mobile app; the browser version on the PC keeps running unchanged and your data stays fully intact.

In your software under Administration › System › App licence. After purchase you will find the key in your customer account. The software checks the licence online with uttek.de about once a day (only key, domain and version are transmitted, no job or customer data).

Basic: the full software with source code and 12 months of updates. Pro: additionally one year of help by e-mail (for uttek Dispo also Auto-Dispatch as the highlight, end-of-day close and workload). Enterprise: additionally setup by us and priority support. All editions are fixed prices without a subscription; after the 12 months you can extend updates voluntarily. You can move up to a higher edition online in your customer account at any time and only pay the price difference.

Both include the full software with source code and 12 months of updates. Pro additionally gets one year of help by e-mail. If you need help later, you can buy service credits at any time (1 credit = 15 min = €15).

20 % of the purchase price per year – for example €45.80 per year for uttek Dispo Pro. The extension is voluntary; without it your version keeps running indefinitely. You find the exact amount and the renewal link in your customer account under “Licences & downloads” next to the licence.

No. The software keeps running indefinitely without an extension. Your download stays in your customer account permanently – at the last version released within your update period, with the matching guides. New versions are available again after an extension; you can book help at any time with service credits.

One company – including its sites. Further companies need further licences.

No. Resale, rental, transfer to other companies and operating it as a service for other companies are not permitted. For your own company, however, you may adapt everything.

After payment in your customer account under “Licences & downloads” and in the confirmation e-mail. It is also included in every download as the file LIZENZ.txt.

A ZIP file with the complete software including source code for your edition, your licence key (LIZENZ.txt) and the guides as PDF in German and English: installation guide, product description and manual – each with version number and date. The package is built fresh for you with every download.

During your update period (12 months from purchase), every download in your customer account under “Licences & downloads” is built fresh from the current version – with your licence key and the current guides as PDF. There you also see what has changed and until when your updates run.

Yes. Purchased software stays downloadable in your customer account permanently. During the update period you always get the latest version; afterwards the download stays at the last version from your period – with the matching PDF guides. The software itself keeps running indefinitely.

Yes, online at any time: in your customer account under “Licences & downloads” you find the upgrade button next to the licence. You only pay the price difference, your licence key stays the same, and no reinstallation is needed.

If you have changed the source code yourself, you need to re-apply your changes when updating. We recommend documenting changes well. In the Enterprise package we can take care of this on request.

Standard web hosting with PHP 8.2 or newer and SQLite is enough. A separate database such as MySQL is not needed. A scheduled call (cron job) is helpful for maintenance and notifications.

No, out of the box everything runs on SQLite – no database setup. If you later want more performance or to use your existing database, switch to MySQL/MariaDB (PostgreSQL optional) in the admin area with the wizard: test the connection, migrate all data, verify counts, switch over – and back if needed. The upgrade wizard is a uttek standard and is being built into every tool in upcoming versions.

No, ordinary web hosting with a hosting provider is usually sufficient. Your own server works too, of course.

Upload the files to your web space, set the folder permissions, open it in the browser. Every download includes an installation guide, a product description and a manual as PDF in German and English, matching your version. In the Enterprise package or with the “With service” option we set everything up for you.

It is developed and tested on standard Linux web servers with Apache. Other environments may work but are not officially tested.

SQLite stores everything in one file. How big it gets depends on the number of orders and photos. Photos and PDFs are stored as files alongside it.

Yes. The data is in an SQLite file on your server – you can copy, back up or analyse it at any time.

Yes. With the service “Installation on uttek Space” we install your tool under the subdomain of your choice (name.uttek.de) – with HTTPS, database and admin access. You do not need your own web space for this.

Every tier includes a guide; with Pro, e-mail support helps with questions. If you want us to set everything up: installation as a fixed-price service for 4 credits (€60) or simply the "With service" variant (from +€69).

The shop sends e-mails to your stored address, for example order confirmation, invoice and licence, credit notices and “preview ready” for change requests. The sender is noreply@uttek.de; simply reply – your answer reaches our team. If nothing arrives, please check your spam folder. Everything is also available in your customer account.

After you register we send you a confirmation link (valid for 24 hours, single use). Only then are purchases, downloads, change requests and Space requests possible – this makes sure licences, invoices and messages reach you and nobody creates accounts with someone else’s address. No e-mail? Click “Resend confirmation e-mail” in your account and check your spam folder. Unconfirmed accounts without orders are deleted automatically after 7 days.

By PayPal or prepayment by bank transfer. Klarna and credit card are coming soon. You see which payment methods are currently offered at checkout. Our new website is in a test run.

As soon as the payment is confirmed, you automatically receive licence key, invoice and download by e-mail and in your customer account. With PayPal this usually happens right after payment, with a bank transfer as soon as the money has arrived. Klarna and credit card are coming soon.

Exactly the payment reference shown after ordering and sent by e-mail. Then we can match the payment automatically.

Yes. After payment the invoice is available as a PDF in your customer account. Every invoice has a sequential number.

Yes, in the cart in the “Coupon code” field.

Yes, a customer account is created when you order. There you will find invoices, licence keys, downloads and updates.

Currently you pay by PayPal or prepayment by bank transfer. Klarna (including pay later or instalments) and credit card are coming soon. For larger projects (Enterprise) we agree payment terms individually.

Yes. As a small business we do not charge VAT – the price shown is the amount you pay.

We are a small business under Section 19 of the German VAT Act (UStG). Therefore no VAT is charged. This is also stated on every invoice.

No, our invoices show no VAT, so there is no input tax to deduct. If in doubt, ask your tax adviser.

No. A VAT identification number is not required to order.

For digital content such as software downloads, the right of withdrawal expires if you agree that provision begins immediately and confirm that you thereby lose your right of withdrawal. We obtain this consent when you order. Businesses have no statutory right of withdrawal. Details are in the withdrawal policy.

At the bottom of every page under “Legal”. The texts are currently still drafts and are being legally reviewed.

The statutory rules apply, as described in the terms and conditions. The terms are still in draft.

Only in your customer account with the job, never by e-mail: server, user and password (FTP or SFTP). You do not need an SSH key. The password is stored encrypted, never appears in any e-mail or log, and is deleted automatically once the job is completed.

On your own server. We have no access unless you grant it – for example for a setup.

No. There is only one technically necessary session cookie for the cart and login. No third-party analytics, no advertising, no fonts or scripts from external servers. For simple visitor statistics the shop counts page views itself – without a cookie, with a shortened IP address and a key that changes daily, so nobody can be recognised.

If the AI chat is active, your question is sent to the AI provider xAI to be answered. Please do not enter personal data in the chat. Without AI, the chat answers only from this FAQ – then nothing leaves the shop. Whether conversations are stored can be set in the admin area and is off by default.

The software includes features that help with data protection, such as roles and permissions, logs and privacy settings. Whether your use as a whole is GDPR-compliant also depends on your company – for example hosting, contracts and deletion periods.

Passwords are never stored in plain text, only as a secure hash; new passwords must follow a policy (minimum length, no known or leaked passwords). Optionally there is two-factor sign-in via an authenticator app with backup codes – can be required per role –, a login lockout applies after several failed attempts, and “forgot password” sends a single-use link by email. You switch on HTTPS redirect, HSTS and the encryption of sensitive fields yourself. Forms are protected against cross-site requests, and permissions are checked on the server. You or your hosting provider are responsible for the security of your server.

To celebrate the launch of uttek, I add free service credits to every tool purchase until 31 Dec 2026 (11:59 pm): 5 credits (worth €75) with Basic, 10 credits (worth €150) with Pro and 15 credits (worth €225) with Enterprise (1 credit = 15 minutes = €15). The order date counts. The credits are added to your service balance automatically once the order is paid. The bonus credits are valid for 6 months from purchase and cannot be paid out.

Yes. From purchase no. 3 you get a 10 % loyalty discount on further licences and 30 extra minutes of help for free. I’ll get in touch with you personally about it. No points to collect, no conditions in the small print.

In your account under “Change requests” you describe what should change. You get a preview (function: 1 preview, design: 3 proposals) with a price in credits; nothing is charged until you confirm. You also choose whether we may use your idea for our tools: (a) do not use – full price; (b) use with discount – you get the discount we set for your request; (c) use, as a gift – full price, your idea benefits everyone. The price in the preview updates immediately with your choice, and you can change it until you confirm.

You book the service in your customer account with your credits – the credits are deducted when you book, so you need enough balance beforehand (1 credit = €15). Then you send us your job with all the required details. We carry out your request, and as soon as it is finished you see the result as a preview in your customer account. Finally you check the result and accept it. If you do not respond, the job counts as accepted automatically after 7 days – you get a reminder before that. If you cancel before work begins, you get 100 % of the credits back.

After logging in, a short welcome window shows what is waiting for you: open jobs, new notifications, your credits and helpful links. It appears once per login, closes with X, ESC or “Let’s go”, and can be switched off with “Don’t show automatically again”. In your customer account you can open it any time via “What’s new?”.

As a tool tester or test user you see the “Feedback” button at the bottom right of every page. Click it, select the spot on the page if needed and write your note – bug, criticism or idea. The page is sent along automatically. Your feedback goes straight to Rudi; you see replies in the same window.

Short questions, yes – up to about 10 minutes I don’t charge anything, even without a service plan. Anything beyond that I bill fairly in credits (1 credit = 15 min = €15), always rounded down in your favour. Alternatively there is a service plan from €29 per month.

Service is billed in credits: 1 credit = 15 minutes = €15 (€60/hour, small business, no VAT). Packs with volume discount: 10 credits €140, 25 credits €330 (popular), 50 credits €620. Balance never expires. You see every booking in your customer account and get an e-mail with every deduction. Standard services have fixed prices in credits, e.g. installation 4 credits, installing an update 1 credit, installation on uttek Space 3 credits. We reserve the right not to charge for services.

Yes, optional and cancellable monthly: Service S €29/month (2 credits, response within 2 business days, e-mail), Service M €79/month (6 credits, 1 business day, e-mail and phone, update installation included), Service L €199/month (16 credits, 4 hours on business days, dedicated contact). Unused credits remain valid for 3 months.

Every tier is available as "Software only" or "With service". Basis with service (+€69 for Dispo): installation, basic setup, short online introduction and 3 months of e-mail help. Pro with service (+€129): plus logo & colours, 6 months of help and first-year updates installed by us. Enterprise with service (+€329): plus data import, uttek Connect linked, 12 months of help (response within 1 business day) and 10 service credits. CRM: +€79 / +€149 / +€399 · ticket system: +€79 / +€149 / +€399.

With an active Pro or Enterprise licence, write to us by e-mail. Without a running licence you can renew the updates or request a paid service package.

No – and never in a petty way. Short questions and small extras (e.g. swapping a logo, a tip on a setting) are free. Larger jobs such as setup, data import or customisations are quoted in advance as a fixed price or in credits – you know the cost beforehand and it stays that way. Time worked is rounded down in your favour.

Not necessarily. We offer customisations in the Enterprise package or as a single job billed by effort. If a customisation you request also makes sense for our standard tool and you allow us to include it for everyone, the quote can even be €0.

With a Pro or Enterprise licence we usually answer by e-mail within 3 business days in the first year (Enterprise prioritised). Guaranteed faster with a service subscription: S within 2 business days, M within 1 business day, L within 4 hours (business days).

Standard support is by e-mail. Phone is included in service subscriptions M and L; fixed-price services such as installation, update or backup check can be booked at any time with service balance.

Yes. You get a quote in credits in advance (1 credit = 15 min = €15), which is settled against your service balance. Describe your request in the enquiry form.

The chat answers questions about our products, licences and purchasing – based on this FAQ. It does not replace personal support and does not invent prices. For personal help, the chat offers a link to the enquiry form.