Laravel & PHP
Laravel & PHP Development in Australia
Custom web apps, portals and APIs in Laravel, plus upgrades and rescues for existing PHP systems.
Laravel is the most popular PHP framework for building custom web applications: portals, booking systems, admin back offices and APIs that need to be dependable, secure and quick to build. PHP still powers a large share of the web, and many Australian businesses run important systems on it. Smarterapps Ai is an Australian AI and app development company that has been building software since 2010. We build new Laravel applications, and we take over, upgrade and extend existing PHP systems so they keep working for years to come.
What we build with Laravel and PHP
Custom web applications
Quoting, job tracking, bookings, inspections and compliance tools built around your workflow rather than an off-the-shelf product you have to work around. → Business app development
Customer and staff portals
Secure portals with sign-in, roles, document upload, notifications and reporting, for customers, members, suppliers or field staff.
Admin back offices
The web console behind a mobile app or platform, where your team manages users, approvals, content and support.
APIs for mobile and web apps
Well-structured REST APIs with authentication, validation, queues and notifications, ready for iPhone, Android and web front ends. → React Native apps
Integrations
Connections to payment providers, CRMs, finance systems and government or industry platforms. → Xero & MYOB · Workflow automation
AI features in PHP systems
Document extraction, summaries, smart search and assistants added to an existing Laravel or PHP application through secure server-side calls to language models. → LLM & GPT integration
Why Laravel
- Fast to build: sign-in, permissions, queues, scheduling, email and file storage are built in, so the budget goes on your features
- Secure by default: protection against common web attacks, encrypted sessions and safe database access
- Easy to maintain: clear conventions mean another Laravel developer can pick up the code
- Well supported: regular releases, long-lived community packages and a large talent pool in Australia
- Flexible front end: pairs with server-rendered pages, React or Vue, or works as an API for mobile apps
Rescuing and upgrading existing PHP systems
A lot of valuable business software is written in older PHP, sometimes on outdated versions that no longer receive security updates. Rebuilding from scratch is rarely the best first step. Our approach:
- Review: a written assessment of the code, PHP version, dependencies, security and hosting
- Stabilise: fix urgent security issues, add backups and monitoring, and get deployments repeatable
- Upgrade: move to a supported PHP version and current framework versions in tested steps
- Improve: refactor the riskiest areas, add an API, or gradually move features into Laravel
You get clear options and trade-offs in writing before any major work begins.
Custom applications, not website packages
This page is about custom applications, not theme-based brochure websites or website packages. If you need a portal, platform or system that your business runs on every day, with real users, data and integrations, that’s where we help.
Laravel, .NET, Python or Node.js?
We build backends in all of them, so we’ll recommend what suits you. Laravel is a strong fit for practical web apps and portals, especially if you already run PHP. .NET suits Microsoft-centred organisations, Python suits AI and data work, and Node.js suits real-time services. → .NET development · Python & Node.js · All technologies
How we run a Laravel project
- Discovery: users, workflows, data, integrations and hosting
- Prototype: key screens tested with real users. → App prototyping
- Build in short sprints: working software to review at every demo, with automated tests. A first version now takes weeks, not months
- Launch: deployment, monitoring, backups and documentation
- Support: security updates, PHP and Laravel upgrades, and new features
Our team’s track record
All projects were delivered by our team: Smarterapps Ai, part of the Combine TRS group. We choose the stack for each project on its merits.
Since 2010 our team has built platforms, admin consoles and apps for Australian businesses, including the operations console and backend services behind a live rideshare platform (operator name withheld by agreement) and the admin portal and data platform for the RideScore Active Schools pilot with We Ride Australia and Sunshine Coast Council. → Rideshare app development · Case studies
Frequently asked questions
Is PHP still a good choice in 2026?
Yes, for many web applications. Modern PHP is fast and well supported, and Laravel makes it productive and secure. The key is staying on supported versions.
Can you take over our existing PHP or Laravel app?
Yes. We start with a written review, fix urgent issues and then agree a plan for upgrades and new features.
Should we rebuild our old PHP system?
Not always. Upgrading and refactoring in steps is often lower risk. We’ll compare the options with you before recommending a rebuild.
Can Laravel power a mobile app?
Yes. Laravel makes a solid API and admin backend for iPhone and Android apps.
Where is a Laravel application hosted?
On AWS or another major cloud, or on managed PHP hosting, chosen for your traffic, data and support needs. Australian hosting regions are available when data needs to stay onshore.
How much does Laravel development cost?
It depends on features, integrations and the state of any existing code. We quote after a short discovery. → What drives cost
Do I own the code?
Yes. You own the source code and IP.
Have a Laravel or PHP system to build, fix or grow? Tell us where it’s at and we’ll recommend the next step.