The verdict in three sentences
A concrete contractor that discovers its margin at job closeout is steering through the rear-view mirror: by then, the overrun is already paid. For 90 field workers and 25 concurrent jobs, off-the-shelf construction software costs EUR 50 to 120 per user per month, a custom tool EUR 40,000 to 80,000, with time tracking per job and real-time direct cost. The stake: 2 to 4 margin points recovered on revenue, several hundred thousand euros a year.
Features that protect margin in structural work
In concrete and structural work, labor often represents 35 to 45% of direct cost, concrete and rebar 30 to 40%, equipment rental (crane, formwork, shoring) 10 to 15%. A 10% gap on hours is enough to wipe out a job's net margin.
| Feature | Off-the-shelf construction software | Kolonell custom tool |
|---|---|---|
| Time tracking per job | Standard mobile app | Entry by foreman, per element (walls, slabs, footings) |
| Direct cost tracking | Monthly, after accounting entry | Daily: hours, concrete delivered, equipment rental |
| Progress billing | Yes | Yes, with progress per phase and project manager approval |
| Retainage (5 to 10%) and bonds | Basic tracking | Schedule, reminders, release dates |
| Estimate vs actual comparison | Closeout report | Alert from 5% variance per cost code |
| Concrete and rebar delivery tickets | Manual entry | Photo of the ticket, matched to the PO |
| Indicative 2026 cost | EUR 50 to 120 per user per month | EUR 40,000 to 80,000 then EUR 500 to 900 per month |
Custom makes sense when the company has its own estimating method and wants to find its exact estimate cost codes in job tracking, with no spreadsheet rework.
Five-year budget for 90 field workers
Field workers pay no license if their foreman logs their time. The calculation therefore covers supervision: 25 foremen and superintendents, 6 project managers, 4 people in estimating and accounting.
| Five-year item | Off-the-shelf software | Custom tool |
|---|---|---|
| Licenses (35 users × EUR 85) | 35 × EUR 85 × 60 months = EUR 178,500 | EUR 0 |
| Setup or development | EUR 12,000 | EUR 62,000 |
| Maintenance and hosting | Included | EUR 700 × 60 months = EUR 42,000 |
| Accounting and payroll interfaces | EUR 6,000 | Included |
| Foreman training | EUR 8,000 | EUR 6,000 |
| Five-year total | about EUR 204,500 | about EUR 110,000 |
| Margin points recovered (estimate) | 1 to 2 points | 2 to 4 points |
For a 20-worker company, off-the-shelf software stays simpler. At 90 workers, the cost gap and the fit with internal methods tip the balance.
Rollout without disrupting jobs
The project takes 4 to 5 months: 3 weeks of scoping with project managers, 10 to 12 weeks of development, then a one-month pilot on 3 jobs. Mobile time entry works offline in basements and syncs when the network returns. Starting in January means being operational before the spring pour season.
Mini case study
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Mike, owner of a concrete contractor in Toronto, generates EUR 14,000,000 in yearly revenue across 25 concurrent jobs, with a 3% net margin. On a EUR 1,200,000 residential job last year, he discovered a 9% labor overrun on walls, or EUR 38,000 lost. With an alert at 5% variance, the project manager reorganizes formwork and crews from week two. By recovering 2 margin points across the business, the company gains EUR 280,000 a year. A EUR 62,000 tool pays back in under 3 months of activity.
FAQ
Do field workers have to use the app?
No, the foreman logs the crew in 2 minutes a day from a phone. The 90 workers install nothing, which removes the main barrier to adoption.
Does the tool connect to our payroll and accounting software?
Yes, logged hours feed payroll (overtime, travel, union rules) and supplier invoices come up from accounting. This avoids 2 to 3 days of re-entry per month.
How is retainage handled?
Each progress bill calculates the retainage or matching bond, and the tool schedules the release request at the contractual date. Contractors often recover 1 to 2% of revenue forgotten in unclaimed retainage.
How soon is direct cost reliable?
From the first pilot month, provided concrete delivery tickets are photographed. After 3 months, the history refines labor-hours per cubic meter ratios for future estimates.
Can we start with a smaller scope?
Yes, a first phase covering time tracking and direct cost runs EUR 40,000 to 48,000. Progress billing and retainage are added later for EUR 15,000 to 25,000.
Let's scope your project. We define the scope with you (time tracking, direct cost, progress billing, retainage), an indicative budget of EUR 40,000 to 80,000 and a 4 to 5 month rollout. 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.
