The verdict in three sentences
For an aggregates operator around Vancouver running two gravel pits and one rock quarry and issuing 60 000 scale tickets a year, the strongest 2026 setup is usually specialised scale house software (CAD 5 000 to 20 000 per site, estimate) connected to a custom contractor portal and reporting layer (CAD 40 000 to 110 000). A configured ERP (CAD 50 000 to 200 000) only wins if you also want accounting, purchasing and fleet maintenance in one system. Decide on three year total cost, portability and how fast someone can fix a scale outage while trucks queue on the road.
What the system has to connect
At a pit or quarry, the weigh ticket is the sale: it drives the delivery record, the invoice and the production figures your operation reports under its Mines Act permit. Trade scales fall under Measurement Canada rules and must be inspected and kept accurate.
| Flow | Typical 2026 volume | What the tool must do |
|---|---|---|
| Weigh tickets | 60 000 a year, up to 500 a day in peak season | Read the indicator, truck, customer, product, job |
| Delivery records | 1 per outbound load | Print or e ticket, driver signature, customer copy |
| Invoicing | 800 to 1 200 accounts | Statements per job, customer price lists, tax |
| Hauling | Own trucks and owner operators | Haul charges, rotations, broker payments |
| Permit reporting | Tonnage per site, reclamation | Annual figures by pit, audit trail |
| Contractor portal | General contractors, municipalities | Tickets and invoices online, order release |
| Credit control | Charge accounts | Credit holds at the scale |
2026 ranking by category
We rank categories of solutions, not named vendors. Criteria: total cost, time to go live, portability and local support.
| Rank | Category | Indicative 2026 cost | Time to go live | Portability | Local support | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Specialised scale house software plus custom portal and reporting | CAD 15 000 to 60 000 for 3 sites, plus CAD 40 000 to 110 000 | 3 to 6 months | Good, full on the custom part | Scale vendor plus contracted studio | 2 to 8 sites with heavy contractor demand |
| 2 | Configured ERP with aggregates or construction materials module | CAD 50 000 to 200 000 | 6 to 12 months | Medium | Regional partner | Groups wanting finance, purchasing and maintenance together |
| 3 | Specialised scale house software with built in invoicing | CAD 5 000 to 20 000 per site | 1 to 2 months | Medium | Vendor, usually responsive | 1 to 3 sites, few portal needs |
| 4 | Fully custom application including scale integration | CAD 70 000 to 150 000 | 5 to 9 months | Full | Contract dependent | Highly atypical operations |
| 5 | Standalone scale indicator and spreadsheets | Base licence | Immediate | Full | Low | Single small pit |
The winning combination keeps the regulated part, weighing, with a vendor that knows trade scales, and puts your own business logic (portal, permit reporting, haul margins) in a layer you own. Kolonell is one option for that layer, working remotely: a complex web application starts at 4 000 000 to 8 000 000 FCFA (about EUR 6 100 to 12 200) over 3 to 6 months, with maintenance from 25 000 to 75 000 FCFA per month (EUR 38 to 115).
Three year cost for three sites
2026 estimates in CAD, vendor maintenance at 15 % of licence per year.
| Option | Setup | Annual cost | Three year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scale software only, 3 sites at CAD 12 000 | CAD 36 000 | CAD 5 400 | CAD 52 200 |
| Scale software plus custom portal at CAD 65 000 | CAD 101 000 | CAD 5 400 plus CAD 9 600 upkeep | CAD 146 000 |
| Configured ERP at CAD 110 000 | CAD 110 000 | CAD 22 000 | CAD 176 000 |
| Configured ERP at CAD 200 000 | CAD 200 000 | CAD 40 000 | CAD 320 000 |
| Fully custom at CAD 110 000 | CAD 110 000 | CAD 14 000 | CAD 152 000 |
Scale software alone stays cheapest, but leaves ticket re keying, contractor calls and permit reporting to your staff.
Mini case study
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Illustrative example, not a real client: Daniel is operations manager of an aggregates producer with two pits in the Fraser Valley and a quarry up the Sea to Sky corridor, 60 000 tickets a year. Every paper ticket is re keyed by accounts, about 1.5 minutes each, or 1 500 hours a year, and dispatch takes 30 calls a day from contractors asking for tickets.
With scale software plus a custom portal at CAD 146 000 over three years, re keying disappears: 1 500 hours at CAD 40 loaded is CAD 60 000 a year. The portal removes about 20 calls of 4 minutes a day, roughly 330 hours a year, another CAD 13 200. The gain exceeds CAD 73 000 a year, so the project pays back in about two years.
FAQ
How much does scale house software cost for a quarry in BC?
Expect CAD 5 000 to 20 000 per site (2026 estimate), plus annual maintenance around 12 to 18 % of the licence. For three sites, initial budgets run CAD 15 000 to 60 000.
Do we need an ERP?
Only if you want finance, purchasing, fleet maintenance and weighing in one system, with budgets of CAD 50 000 to 200 000. For 2 to 4 sites, scale software plus a focused custom layer is often enough.
Is a contractor portal worth it?
General contractors want tickets and invoices without phoning dispatch. In our example the portal removes about 20 calls a day and 330 hours of phone time a year.
How does the system help with Mines Act permit reporting?
If every ticket is tied to a site and product, annual tonnage per pit is one report. That saves 2 to 3 days of year end consolidation and avoids gaps between accounting and permit figures.
What if the scale system fails in peak season?
Require an offline mode at the scale and a 4 business hour response time. At 500 tickets a day, a one hour outage leaves more than 50 trucks waiting.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your sites, scales and portal needs and we will return a scope for the custom layer, an indicative budget and a timeline. 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.
