The verdict in three sentences
Below 3,000,000 FCFA/month, the aggregator almost always wins: you launch in 2 days and pay no development debt. Above 5,000,000 FCFA/month, direct integration of Wave/OM becomes profitable because the commission saving (1.5–2 points) exceeds dev and maintenance cost. Between the two lies a grey zone where cash flow and your tech team decide.
The true total cost: commission + development
The trap is to compare only the commission rate. You must factor in development cost and annual maintenance.
| Item | Aggregator | Direct Wave/OM integration |
|---|---|---|
| Per-transaction commission | ~2.5–3.5 % | ~1–1.5 % |
| Integration cost (dev) | 150,000–400,000 FCFA | 400,000–900,000 FCFA |
| Time to launch | 2 to 4 days | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Maintenance / year | Low (managed) | Medium (webhooks, API updates) |
| Reconciliation | Dashboard provided | To be built |
| Dependency risk | Single provider | Full control |
| Multi-method in 1 integration | Yes | No (1 per operator) |
The switchover threshold by volume
Here is an indicative scoring: for each monthly volume tier, we compare annual commission cost between 3 % (aggregator) and 1.3 % (direct), to estimate when the extra direct dev cost (~600,000 FCFA) is paid back.
| Monthly volume | Aggregator 3 %/year | Direct 1.3 %/year | Direct saving/year | Reco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000,000 FCFA | 360,000 FCFA | 156,000 FCFA | 204,000 FCFA | Aggregator |
| 3,000,000 FCFA | 1,080,000 FCFA | 468,000 FCFA | 612,000 FCFA | Grey zone |
| 5,000,000 FCFA | 1,800,000 FCFA | 780,000 FCFA | 1,020,000 FCFA | Direct |
| 10,000,000 FCFA | 3,600,000 FCFA | 1,560,000 FCFA | 2,040,000 FCFA | Direct |
| 20,000,000 FCFA | 7,200,000 FCFA | 3,120,000 FCFA | 4,080,000 FCFA | Direct |
At 3,000,000 FCFA/month, the direct saving (612,000 FCFA/year) barely covers the extra dev cost: that is the switchover point.
Mini case study
Fatou launches an online shop and starts at 800,000 FCFA/month. Going direct would cost ~700,000 FCFA of dev to save ~16,000 FCFA/month — over 3 years to pay back. So she picks an aggregator (live in 3 days) and plans to switch to direct once she durably crosses 5,000,000 FCFA/month, where the saving exceeds 1,000,000 FCFA/year.
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FAQ
At what volume does direct integration pay off?
As a 2026 order of magnitude, around 5,000,000 FCFA/month: the commission saving then clearly exceeds dev and maintenance cost. Below 3,000,000 FCFA/month the aggregator stays cheaper.
How long to integrate Wave and OM directly?
Expect 2 to 3 weeks to wire the APIs, secure webhooks and handle reconciliation, versus 2 to 4 days with a turnkey aggregator.
Is direct riskier?
It demands more maintenance (tracking API updates, robust webhooks) but removes aggregator dependency and offers the lowest commission. It is a control-versus-simplicity trade-off.
Can I start on an aggregator then migrate?
Yes, that is the healthiest path: aggregator to launch fast, migration to direct once volume is established. A good abstraction layer makes the switch painless.
Let's talk about your project. We compute your switchover threshold and choose aggregator or direct based on your real volume. 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.
