The verdict in three sentences
A construction director in Amsterdam can run quotes and purchasing on a construction SaaS (35-80 EUR/user/month), but custom software (55,000-130,000 EUR) becomes necessary once cost tracking and time-tracking must match the field. The labour time-tracking + inventory module (10,000-24,000 EUR) and the site mobile app (18,000 EUR) are the lines that surface and prevent budget overruns. The trade-off comes down to overruns avoided.
Construction SaaS or custom: the cost lines
SaaS starts fast but imposes its tracking templates and works poorly offline. Custom fits your analytical breakdown, your time-tracking and your purchasing, with a mobile app usable on site. 2026 orders of magnitude for a 15-user Amsterdam construction SME.
| Item | Construction SaaS | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Build / initial license | 0 EUR (subscription) | 55,000-130,000 EUR |
| Monthly cost per user | 35-80 EUR | included in maintenance |
| Time-tracking + inventory module | often partial | 10,000-24,000 EUR |
| Site mobile app | add-on | 18,000 EUR |
| Monthly maintenance | included | 1,200-3,000 EUR |
| Vendor day rate | — | 550-750 EUR |
| Time to go live | 3-6 weeks | 12-22 weeks |
The labour time-tracking line is decisive: without it, hours and site costs surface too late. A custom module surfaces site margin in real time, even from the field via the mobile app.
Three-year comparison (15 users)
| Scenario | Upfront | 3-year recurring | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS at 45 EUR/user | 0 EUR | 24,300 EUR | 24,300 EUR |
| SaaS at 80 EUR/user | 0 EUR | 43,200 EUR | 43,200 EUR |
| Custom 90,000 EUR + time-tracking 18,000 EUR | 108,000 EUR | 72,000 maintenance | 180,000 EUR |
SaaS stays lighter on cash, but custom changes things once a single avoided overrun per site exceeds the extra cost. On projects worth hundreds of thousands, early detection pays very quickly.
Mini case study
Mr. de Vries runs a 15-person construction SME in Amsterdam with 5 concurrent sites. He invests 90,000 EUR in custom software with a time-tracking + inventory module (18,000 EUR), a site mobile app and 2,000 EUR/month maintenance. Real-time time-tracking and cost monitoring save 4 hours per week for each site manager. Across 4 managers at 42 EUR/loaded hour that is 4 × 4 × 42 × 45 weeks = 30,240 EUR/year, plus early overrun detection: a single 2% overrun avoided on a 600,000 EUR site is worth 12,000 EUR. The build pays back in two to three years.
FAQ
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Does a construction SaaS work offline?
Rarely well. On sites with unstable connectivity, a custom mobile app with offline mode is often essential for reliable time-tracking.
What does the labour time-tracking module cost?
Between 10,000 and 24,000 EUR depending on tracking (hours, tasks, inventory, costs). It is the best-ROI line for avoiding overruns.
Is the site mobile app worth the cost?
At around 18,000 EUR, it enables time-tracking and cost monitoring straight from the field, firming up reporting and speeding up variance detection.
How long for custom construction software?
From 12 to 22 weeks depending on scope (quotes, purchasing, time-tracking, mobile). Precise scoping limits project drift.
What gain on budget overruns?
Early detection alone can repay the project: avoiding a 2% overrun on a site worth hundreds of thousands is often enough.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of sites, users and time-tracking/mobility needs: we will cost out the most profitable scenario, indicative budget 55,000-130,000 EUR by scope. 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.
