Waterloo Region, Ontario

We help small businesses
put their data to work.

Custom databases, workflow automation, and cost optimization tools — built for the businesses that enterprise consultancies price out and off-the-shelf software underserves.

There is a gap in the market — and most small businesses are stuck in it.

Enterprise consultancies are out of reach. Freelancers are inconsistent. Off-the-shelf software sells features you do not need at prices you will always feel.

Small businesses end up running everything by hand, sitting on years of data they have never had the time or tools to use.

Trellis is built for that middle ground — custom solutions, contractor economics, and a team that understands both the technology and the reality of running a small operation.

A grocery store has years of inventory data in their system. No time to use it, no tool built for it. We change that.

A real example of what we do

A Real Example

What this looks like in practice

01
Years of inventory data, sitting unused

The store has the data in their POS system. It has never been looked at beyond last week's numbers.

02
We bring the right data together

Shelf space, supplier costs, and turnover rates — combined into one clear picture for the first time.

03
We build a tool for the owner, not an analyst

Simple, clear, and designed to be used weekly — without a data team to run it.

04
Decisions become straightforward

Which products are profitable. Which ones are quietly costing money every month. No guesswork.

The result

The owner can finally see what is making money and what is not. The data was always there — we made it usable.

Services

Every engagement is scoped to your operation. We do not sell packages — we solve specific problems with the right tools for your business size and budget.

01
Custom Databases

Structured data systems built around your actual workflow — not adapted from a template. SQL and NoSQL depending on what your operation needs.

02
Workflow Automation

Manual processes that repeat every day cost time and introduce errors. We map them and automate them using tools like n8n, Zapier, Power Automate, and custom integrations.

03
Cost Optimization Tools

Visibility into where your money is actually going — supplier costs, waste, inefficiencies — so decisions are based on data instead of instinct.

04
Risk Prevention

Automated alerts, compliance tracking, and operational safeguards that catch problems before they become expensive.

05
Data Reporting & Dashboards

Clear, actionable reporting for business owners — not analysts. See what matters, when you need to, without digging through spreadsheets.

06
System Integrations

Connect the tools you already use — POS, inventory, accounting, CRM — so data flows where it needs to instead of living in silos.

Who We Work With

Built for businesses ready to scale without scaling overhead

🛒
Retail & Grocery

Inventory intelligence, supplier cost tracking, and margin analysis for owners managing high SKU counts with thin margins.

🍽️
Food & Hospitality

Waste reduction, ordering automation, and operational reporting for restaurants and food service operators.

🏗️
Trades & Services

Job costing, scheduling automation, and client management tools for contractors growing past spreadsheets.

🚀
Startups

Operational infrastructure for early-stage companies that need to move fast without hiring a full internal tech team.

The Trellis model

Performance-based contracting. Contractor economics. Engineering talent from Canada's top technical programs. We are structured to deliver what larger firms charge significantly more for.

01
You reach out

No forms, no discovery calls with a salesperson. You talk directly to the people who will build your solution.

02
We scope the problem together

A straightforward conversation about your operation — what is manual, what is slow, and what data you have but are not using.

03
We agree on a deliverable

Specific, measurable outcomes defined before any work starts. You know exactly what you are getting, what it costs, and when it is done.

04
We build it

A Project Manager-led contractor pod with engineers and developers scoped to your specific engagement.

05
You own it

Full documentation, training, and a clean handoff. No lock-in, no forced retainer. You leave with something that works and that your team can operate.

Founded to fill a gap that has always been there

After spending years working in and around small businesses, one thing was clear: enterprise consultancies are out of reach, freelancers are inconsistent, and off-the-shelf software solves the wrong problems.

Trellis was built to fill that gap — a technology consultancy structured around contractor pods, performance-based pricing, and engineering talent from Canada's top technical institutions.

Work With Us
Performance-Based Pricing

Our compensation is tied to agreed outcomes — not hours logged. Lower risk for you, higher accountability for us.

Contractor Pod Model

Project Manager-led teams scoped to each engagement. You get the right people for your problem without paying for overhead.

Engineering Talent

Technical team sourced from McMaster, Waterloo, and partner institutions — students and recent graduates supervised by experienced leads.

No Lock-In

We build things you own and can operate yourself. Clean handoffs, full documentation, no proprietary black boxes.

Serving
Waterloo Region
Mississauga
Brampton
Halton
Hamilton

Let us talk about what your data could be doing.

If your business is sitting on data you have never had the time to use, that conversation is open. Send us a message — no forms, no automated response. A direct reply from the Trellis team.

contact@trellisautomation.ca → Or find us on LinkedIn →