The verdict in three sentences
For a packing house in Morocco's Souss region exporting 45,000 tonnes of citrus per year, traceability is no longer optional: a European retailer demands a lot recall in under 4 hours and a failed GlobalG.A.P. audit can close a market for a season. Custom traceability software costs MAD 300,000 to 750,000 excl. VAT, about EUR 28,000 to 70,000, depending on lines and integrations. It links every pallet to its orchard, plot, pesticide residue tests and export documents, with GS1 labels customers can scan.
What European buyers require in 2026
The director of an Agadir packing house works with 60 to 120 growers, several varieties (clementines, nadorcott, maroc late) and customers in France, the UK, the Netherlands and Russia. Each sets its own rules: maximum residue limits, retailer specifications, ONSSA phytosanitary certificates, GS1-128 labelling on every pallet.
| Requirement | Reference | What the software must produce |
|---|---|---|
| Upstream and downstream traceability | GlobalG.A.P. IFA v6, BRCGS | orchard, plot, lot, pallet, container link |
| Lot recall | retailer specifications | list of pallets and customers in under 4 h |
| Pesticide residues | EU maximum residue levels | lab result attached to every lot |
| Pallet labelling | GS1-128, SSCC | label printed on the line, scannable |
| Export | ONSSA, phytosanitary certificate | export file per container |
| Mass balance | customer audits | intake vs shipment gap under 2% |
Modules and 2026 prices
| Module | Scope | 2026 price (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Grower and orchard register | plots, varieties, certifications, declared treatments | MAD 50,000 to 110,000 |
| Intake and lots | weighing, delivery notes, lot creation, quality photos | MAD 50,000 to 120,000 |
| Packing and palletising | grading, lines, GS1-128 and SSCC labels | MAD 60,000 to 150,000 |
| Residues and quality | sampling plans, lab results, automatic hold | MAD 40,000 to 100,000 |
| Shipping and export | containers, ONSSA documents, packing lists | MAD 50,000 to 130,000 |
| Lot recall and reporting | upstream-downstream search, mass balance, dashboards | MAD 50,000 to 140,000 |
| Total | MAD 300,000 to 750,000 |
Add scanning terminals and label printers (MAD 8,000 to 15,000 per station), hosting at MAD 1,500 to 4,000 per month, and maintenance at 12 to 15% per year. Delivery takes 4 to 6 months, ideally live before the season starts in October.
Paper, generic ERP or custom build?
| Criterion | Paper logs and Excel | Adapted generic ERP | Custom packing house build |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot recall time | 1 to 3 days | 6 to 12 h | under 4 h |
| Residue management per lot | manual | partial | automatic with hold |
| GS1 labels on the line | no | yes | yes |
| 3-year cost | low but audit risk | MAD 900,000 to 1,500,000 | MAD 450,000 to 1,000,000 |
| Fit with packing house flows | none | limited | full |
Mini case study
Youssef, director of an Agadir packing house exporting 45,000 tonnes per year, invests MAD 520,000 excl. VAT in traceability software and MAD 90,000 in scanning hardware. In a previous season, a residue exceedance led to 6 rejected 22-tonne containers, i.e. 132 tonnes at about MAD 7 per kilo, a MAD 924,000 loss. With automatic holds on non-compliant lots before loading, avoiding a single incident of this kind pays back the MAD 610,000 investment. The quality team also saves 3 days of preparation per audit.
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FAQ
What does traceability software for a citrus packing house cost?
Between MAD 300,000 and 750,000 excl. VAT depending on size and integrations. A facility under 15,000 tonnes can start around MAD 300,000 with intake, palletising and lot recall.
Is the software recognised by GlobalG.A.P. auditors?
Auditors do not certify software, they check traceability. A recall test completed in under 4 hours with a mass balance gap below 2% meets the requirements.
Can we hold a lot whose residue test fails?
Yes, the lot is automatically held until the lab result is approved, and no pallet can be loaded into a container.
Does the system work if the internet connection drops?
Yes, scanning terminals work offline and sync afterwards. This is essential in a facility handling 200 to 400 tonnes a day at peak season.
When should the project start?
Ideally in March or April, to go live before October. A 4 to 6-month project started in July lands in the middle of the season.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your tonnages, packing lines and export markets and we will price software between MAD 300,000 and 750,000 excl. VAT, delivered before your next season. 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.
