The verdict in three sentences
A beverage distributor serving 2,500 shops, bars and convenience stores by phone and pre-sellers pays dearly for every order, in sales time and in delivery errors. A B2B ordering platform with a retailer app, capped customer credit and delivery route planning can be built for 15,000,000 to 28,000,000 FCFA (about USD 26,500 to 49,500) in 16 weeks. The main gain is a reduction of around 40 % in order-taking cost, a 2026 order of magnitude from our Abidjan reference project, with faster collection through mobile payments (Wave and Orange Money in West Africa, cards and ACH in Miami).
Modules to plan and their cost
Retailers often order from entry-level Android phones on unstable connections. The app must work offline, sync when the network returns and show prices per crate, per pallet and per returnable deposit.
| Module | Field use | Indicative 2026 cost |
|---|---|---|
| Retailer Android app (offline PWA) | Order in 3 taps, history, reorder | 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (USD 7,100 to 12,400) |
| Catalogue and segment pricing | Wholesaler, sub-wholesaler, bar, convenience store | 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 FCFA (USD 2,650 to 4,400) |
| Deposits and returnable packaging | Crates, glass bottles, returned kegs | 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA (USD 2,650 to 5,300) |
| Capped customer credit | Outstanding balance, hold, payment score | 2,000,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA (USD 3,550 to 6,200) |
| Mobile and online payments | Pay at order or on delivery | 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA (USD 2,650 to 5,300) |
| Routes and driver app | Grouping by district, proof of delivery | 2,500,000 to 5,000,000 FCFA (USD 4,400 to 8,850) |
| Back office and ERP connector (Sage, Odoo) | Stock, invoices, reporting | 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (USD 3,550 to 7,100) |
A single-city project, without complex deposits or a heavy ERP connector, stays around 15,000,000 FCFA. A multi-depot distributor with three payment operators and a Sage ERP approaches 28,000,000 FCFA. In Miami, US agency rates typically push the same scope to USD 60,000 to 110,000, which is why distributors increasingly use nearshore or West African teams.
Cost per order: before and after
The comparison that convinces a sales director is the unit cost of an order, not the price of the software.
| Indicator | Phone and pre-sellers | B2B platform | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order-taking cost | 2,500 FCFA | 1,500 FCFA | -40 % |
| Orders per day per rep | 25 | 60 (targeted visits + self-service orders) | +140 % |
| Delivery errors | 6 % | 1.5 % | -4.5 points |
| Average collection time | 21 days | 9 days | -12 days |
| Share of digital payments | 15 % | 55 % | +40 points |
| Bad debt | 3.5 % of revenue | 1.2 % of revenue | -2.3 points |
Capped credit is the most profitable module: a retailer who exceeds their limit cannot order until they pay, which stops unpaid balances from drifting without conflict with the sales rep.
16-week plan
| Weeks | Stage | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Scoping, segments, credit and deposit rules | Approved specifications |
| 4 to 9 | Build retailer app and back office | Test version |
| 10 and 11 | Payment and ERP integration | Payments tested live |
| 12 and 13 | Pilot on 150 outlets in two districts | Usage report |
| 14 and 15 | Fixes, driver app, routes | Final version |
| 16 | Rollout in waves of 500 outlets | Pre-seller training |
Pre-sellers do not disappear: they become field animators who install the app at the retailer and sell new products.
Mini case study
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Mr Kouassi, sales director of a distributor in Abidjan, handles 1,800 orders a day at 2,500 FCFA each, or 4,500,000 FCFA a day and about 117,000,000 FCFA over 26 working days. With 60 % of orders on the platform at 1,500 FCFA, the monthly cost falls to about 88,900,000 FCFA, saving 28,000,000 FCFA (about USD 49,500) a month. Add the 2.3-point drop in bad debt on monthly revenue of 900,000,000 FCFA: about 20,700,000 FCFA of avoided losses. The 22,000,000 FCFA project pays back within one month at full speed, after three months of ramp-up.
FAQ
What budget for a B2B ordering platform in 2026?
Plan 15,000,000 to 28,000,000 FCFA (about USD 26,500 to 49,500) depending on depots, payment operators and deposit complexity. Annual maintenance is about 15 % of the initial budget.
Will retailers actually use an app?
As an order of magnitude, 35 to 50 % of outlets order on their own after three months if the app is light (under 5 MB) and works offline. Pre-sellers keep the rest and order for them from the same app.
How does capped credit work?
Each retailer gets a maximum balance, for example 500,000 FCFA (about USD 885), adjusted to their payment history. Beyond that, orders are held until payment by mobile money, card or cash to the driver.
What payment fees should we plan?
Wave Business charges about 1 % per collection, Orange Money and MTN MoMo 1 to 2 % depending on the merchant contract; in the US, cards cost about 2.9 % and ACH under 1 %. On 900,000,000 FCFA monthly revenue at 55 % digital, budget 5,000,000 to 9,000,000 FCFA a month in fees, offset by less cash handling.
Can the platform connect to our Sage ERP?
Yes, through an API or exchange files scheduled every 15 minutes for stock and invoices. This connector costs 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (USD 3,550 to 7,100) depending on the Sage version.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of outlets, depots and payment methods: we will quote your platform between 15,000,000 and 28,000,000 FCFA with a 16-week rollout. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
