The verdict in three sentences
For a multi-brand dealership with 25 technicians, replacing the manufacturer DMS makes no sense: it runs invoicing, warranty claims and reporting back to the brand. The profitable lever in 2026 is a custom add-on connected to the DMS, covering online service booking, digital job cards on tablets and SMS approval of additional work. Expect 10,000 to 26,000 GBP with a London agency (market estimate) or 6,100 to 10,670 EUR excluding VAT on the Kolonell grid, with a 10-week timeline.
DMS alone or DMS plus a custom add-on
Manufacturer-mandated or recommended DMS platforms cost roughly 200 to 500 EUR per seat per month in 2026 (market order of magnitude). They are strong on invoicing and warranty, much weaker on customer experience and the technician's work at the vehicle.
| Criterion | DMS alone | DMS plus custom add-on |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cost for 12 seats | 28,800 to 72,000 EUR | licence unchanged, maintenance 600 to 2,160 EUR a year |
| Online booking | generic form or paid third-party tool | real slots based on workshop load and skills |
| Job card | printed paper, re-keyed | tablet, photos, vehicle check-in checklist |
| Additional work quote | service adviser calls, customer unreachable | SMS link with photos and one-click approval |
| Technician time | manual clocking | clocking per job card on tablet |
| Invoicing and manufacturer warranty | native | stay in the DMS, no double entry |
| Time to deploy | immediate | 10 weeks |
The DMS remains the system of record. The add-on reads and writes its data through API, export or shared database depending on what the vendor allows, checked in the scoping workshop.
Workshop utilisation, number by number
With 25 technicians at 7 productive hours a day over 21 days, the workshop has 3,675 hours a month. At a labour rate of 180 GBP excluding VAT, a 2026 order of magnitude for London franchised dealers, each point of utilisation represents about 6,615 GBP of labour sold.
| Indicator | Before | With the add-on | Estimated monthly effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utilisation (hours sold over available) | 72% | 76 to 80% | 147 to 294 more hours sold |
| No-show bookings | 8% | 3% with SMS reminder the day before | about 60 slots recovered |
| Additional work quotes accepted | 35% | 50 to 55% | extra work on vehicles already on site |
| Customer response time on a quote | 4 to 24 hours | under one hour | vehicle returned on the promised day |
| Check-in time per vehicle | 15 minutes | 8 minutes | advisers free to sell |
| Clocked hours not invoiced | 4% | 1% | about 110 hours recovered |
| Bookings made online | 10% | 40% | phone lines freed |
The two strongest levers are SMS-approved additional work and clocking per job card, which reveals hours that were never recharged.
Typical scope and a 10-week plan
| Module | Content | Weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping and DMS connection | data flows, permissions, workshop rules | 1 to 2 |
| Online booking | slots by skill, service and MOT packages, SMS reminders | 2 to 4 |
| Digital job card | tablet check-in, photos, signature, checklist | 4 to 6 |
| SMS quotes | technician photos, approval link, reminders | 6 to 8 |
| Clocking and dashboard | time per job, utilisation, efficiency | 8 to 9 |
| Acceptance and training | pilot bay test, team training | 10 |
Kolonell maintenance is offered at 35,000, 75,000 or 120,000 FCFA a month, that is 50, 110 or 180 EUR excluding VAT, depending on support level.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: James, aftersales director of a multi-brand dealership in Park Royal, manages 25 technicians. He picks a scope at 8,500 EUR excluding VAT, about 7,300 GBP at 2026 rates (order of magnitude).
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
- Cautious gain of 4 utilisation points: 147 hours x 180 GBP = 26,460 GBP of labour a month.
- Gross margin on these hours, technicians already salaried: about 70%, or 18,520 GBP a month.
- Maintenance: about 95 GBP a month.
Payback: 7,300 / 18,425 = under one month once adopted, two to three months allowing for team ramp-up.
FAQ
Will our manufacturer allow an add-on connected to the DMS?
Most DMS platforms expose an API or scheduled exports, sometimes with an access fee of 50 to 200 EUR a month from the vendor. We check this during the two-week scoping phase, before any commitment to development.
Does SMS approval count as customer consent?
Approval is timestamped and tied to the customer's number and the quote details, which makes a solid record. Each link carries a reminder of your terms, with records kept for 6 years.
Will technicians really use a tablet?
The screen is reduced to three actions: start, pause and finish a job, plus taking photos. A rugged tablet costs 350 to 600 GBP and one pilot bay is enough to validate adoption in two weeks.
What happens to our data if we change DMS?
The add-on keeps its own database, handed over with the source code. Only the connection to the new DMS needs rebuilding, usually 1,500 to 3,000 EUR.
Can it handle several sites?
Yes, each site has its own schedule and technicians, with a consolidated dashboard. Allow 10 to 15% more budget for a second site.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your DMS, workshop headcount and priorities: we will price an add-on between 6,100 and 10,670 EUR excluding VAT, deliverable in 10 weeks. 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.
