The verdict in three sentences
A building-materials trader juggling notebooks, spreadsheets and handwritten slips loses sales at every stockout and delivery error. A custom build (4,000,000 to 9,000,000 FCFA) unifies stock, counter sales and deliveries, targeting 30% fewer stockouts. The budget is reasoned by modules: multi-warehouse, delivery app, and monthly maintenance of 100,000 to 300,000 FCFA.
The modules of a trading build
A materials trader (cement, steel, tiling) needs precise stock tracking, fast counter sales and delivery management. Here is the 2026 breakdown in FCFA.
| Module | 2026 range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Core stock + counter sales | 4,000,000-6,000,000 FCFA | 3-4 months |
| Multi-warehouse management | +1,500,000-4,000,000 FCFA | 4-6 weeks |
| Delivery app (drivers, slips) | +2,000,000-5,000,000 FCFA | 5-8 weeks |
| Customer accounts and credit | +1,000,000-2,500,000 FCFA | 3-5 weeks |
| Sales and margin dashboard | +800,000-2,000,000 FCFA | 2-4 weeks |
| Monthly maintenance | 100,000-300,000 FCFA/month | ongoing |
For a trader with 2 warehouses and deliveries, the realistic budget lands between 7,000,000 and 14,000,000 FCFA in year one, maintenance included.
Off-the-shelf or custom: the right choice
A generic POS handles sales but rarely multi-warehouse and heavy-materials deliveries. Custom becomes essential once stock is critical.
| Criterion (2026 ballpark) | Off-the-shelf | Custom trading build |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 300,000-900,000 FCFA + subscription | 4,000,000-9,000,000 FCFA |
| Multi-warehouse tracking | Rare | Native |
| Delivery app | No | Integrated |
| Customer credit management | Basic | Full |
| Materials-trade fit | Low | Total |
| Software ownership | No | Yes |
For a small single-warehouse counter, off-the-shelf may suffice. From 2 warehouses and a delivery fleet, custom prevents stockouts and disputes.
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Mini case study
Mr Sow, who runs a materials trading business in Dubai, posts 240,000,000 FCFA in sales/year across 2 warehouses. Stockouts cost him about 8% of potential sales, roughly ~20,000,000 FCFA/year. He invests 11,000,000 FCFA in a custom build (core + multi-warehouse + delivery app). By cutting stockouts by 30%, he recovers ~6,000,000 FCFA/year in sales, plus time saved on runs. Estimated payback in about 22 months, excluding maintenance.
FAQ
How much does custom trading software cost in 2026? The stock + counter sales core starts at 4,000,000 FCFA and climbs toward 9,000,000 FCFA with multi-warehouse and customer credit management.
What budget for the delivery app? Expect 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 FCFA for a driver app with delivery slips, route tracking and proof of delivery.
What monthly maintenance to plan for? Between 100,000 and 300,000 FCFA/month for hosting, backups and support, depending on the number of warehouses and users.
How long to deploy? Expect 4 to 7 months: the core ships in 3-4 months, then multi-warehouse and the delivery app are added in increments.
What gain to expect on stockouts? Precise stock tracking with reorder alerts cuts stockouts by 25 to 30%, which translates directly into recovered sales.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of warehouses, your priorities (delivery, customer credit) and your indicative budget. 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.
