The verdict in three sentences
In Thiès as elsewhere, the employees who save time with AI are not those who know the most tools, but those who know how to phrase a request and check the answer. With a method, an administrative job recovers, as an order of magnitude, 2 to 4 hours a week, sometimes 5 for writing-heavy roles, with a free tool or one at about 13,000 FCFA a month. A 10-hour course at 50,000 FCFA is enough to set up that method.
The tools and their real cost in 2026
Subscription prices are shown in dollars or euros; the FCFA conversion is indicative and depends on your card or payment method.
| Tool or use | Indicative 2026 monthly cost | What for | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI assistant, free version | 0 FCFA | Emails, summaries, ideas | Daily usage limits |
| AI assistant, paid version | 11,000 to 13,000 FCFA | Long documents, spreadsheets, files | Bank card or virtual card needed |
| AI built into office suites | 6,000 to 20,000 FCFA per user | Word, Excel, email | Often paid by the employer |
| Mobile data | 3,000 to 10,000 FCFA | Phone use | Plan a sufficient bundle |
| Kolonell course 'AI at work' | 50,000 FCFA (76 EUR, about 88 USD) once | Method, request templates | 10 h to complete |
The course Write, analyse and organise your work with AI is level 2 of the Artificial Intelligence track, at 50,000 FCFA, taught in French. It has 5 modules: effective request techniques, writing professional documents, analysing documents and reports, organising ideas and presentations, then your daily work system. Payment by Wave or Orange Money.
Learning alone or following a method
| Way to learn | 2026 cost | Time to become autonomous | Usual result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free YouTube videos | 0 FCFA (excluding data) | Several weeks, no clear end | Isolated tips, little checking |
| One-day in-person workshop in Dakar | 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA, plus travel from Thiès | 1 day | Good demo, little follow-up |
| Employer's internal training | Free for the employee | Depends on HR planning | Rare in Thiès SMEs |
| 10-hour guided online course | 50,000 FCFA | 2 to 3 weeks | Reusable templates, corrected exercises |
What AI changes by job in Thiès
2026 orders of magnitude, to be checked against your own role.
| Job | Typical task | Before | With an AI method | Indicative weekly gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive assistant | Letters, meeting minutes | 6 h | 3 h 30 | About 2 h 30 |
| SME accountant | Customer reminders, explanatory notes | 4 h | 2 h 30 | About 1 h 30 |
| High-school teacher | Lesson sheets, exam papers, marking grids | 5 h | 2 h 30 | About 2 h 30 |
| Town hall administrative officer | Replies to citizens, summaries | 5 h | 3 h | About 2 h |
| Communications officer | Posts, press releases | 6 h | 3 h | About 3 h |
Basic rule taught: AI drafts, you check. Figures, names and legal references must always be reread, and personal data of citizens or clients is never pasted into a public tool.
To go further, the Artificial Intelligence track leads in 5 levels up to the AI consultant job. The full track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
Mini case study
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Mariama, 29, an accounting assistant at a construction company in Thiès, spends about 8 hours a week on emails, reminders and minutes. After the 50,000 FCFA course paid by Wave, she uses the free version of an AI assistant with her own request templates and saves about 3 hours a week.
Calculation: on a 250,000 FCFA salary for about 173 hours a month, one hour is worth about 1,450 FCFA. 3 hours a week is about 13 hours a month, nearly 19,000 FCFA of freed working time. The course is paid back in just under 3 months, about 11 weeks, and faster if that time goes into freelance writing services, observed at 15,000 to 50,000 FCFA per document in Dakar in 2026, with no volume guarantee.
FAQ
Do I need a computer?
A computer is better for spreadsheets and long documents, but most exercises also work on a smartphone. Allow 3,000 to 10,000 FCFA of data a month depending on your use.
Is the paid subscription essential?
No. The course works with free versions. The subscription at about 13,000 FCFA a month becomes useful if you handle long reports or files every day.
Can my employer object to using AI?
Yes, and you must respect their policy. The course explains how to work without exposing confidential data, which often makes management approval easier.
How long does it take?
About 10 hours of content. At one hour per weekday, you finish in 2 to 3 weeks.
What certificate do I get?
A numbered certificate verifiable online, issued after the quizzes and the final project, useful for an HR file or a CV.
Take the next step. Enroll in Write, analyse and organise your work with AI: 10 hours, 50,000 FCFA (76 EUR), verifiable certificate, taught in French. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
