The verdict in three sentences
A finishing-trades contractor with 60 staff running 45 projects a year and calculating progress claims in Excel issues them late and misses change orders. Packaged software at EUR 40 to 90 per user per month is enough if projects are standard, but a custom build at EUR 30,000 to 70,000 excl. VAT makes sense once subcontracting, retention and price escalation weigh heavily. The stake is clear: claims issued 5 days earlier and cash flow improved by 2 to 4% of revenue.
What an Excel progress claim really costs
In Marseille, finishing contractors (drywall, joinery, electrical, HVAC) work for developers, social landlords and general contractors who impose their own formats. The site manager fills in progress per line item, the back office reworks the sheet, applies the 5% retention, the French BT price index revision, the subcontractor's direct payment share, then re-keys everything into the invoicing tool.
| Step | With Excel | With a dedicated tool |
|---|---|---|
| Progress survey | Paper then spreadsheet | Tablet on site, photos attached |
| Claim calculation | 2 to 3 h per project | 20 to 30 min |
| Issued after month end | Day 8 to 12 | Day 3 to 5 |
| Missed change orders and extras | 1 to 3% of contract | Under 0.5% |
| Retention tracking | Separate file, releases forgotten | Automatic 1-year schedule |
| Direct payment to subcontractors | Manual, errors | Automatic split |
| Margin to date per project | Known at close-out | Visible every month |
These are 2026 estimates for a contractor with 50 to 80 staff and EUR 8 to 12M in revenue.
Packaged or custom: 2026 comparison
| Criterion | Packaged construction software | International platform (Procore type) | Custom build |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recurring cost | EUR 40 to 90 per user per month | EUR 8,000 to 25,000 per year, indexed on construction volume | EUR 500 to 1,200 per month (hosting + maintenance) |
| Upfront cost | EUR 2,000 to 8,000 setup | EUR 5,000 to 15,000 | EUR 30,000 to 70,000 |
| Claims in the client's format | Standard templates | Anglo-Saxon format to adapt | Exactly their formats |
| Retention, BT revision, direct payment | Yes, standard | Partial in a French context | Yes, according to your rules |
| Offline site app | Depends on vendor | Yes | Yes |
| Accounting and payroll integration | Standard connectors | Via API, in English | Custom connectors |
| Time to go live | 1 to 2 months | 2 to 4 months | 3 to 5 months |
For 15 users at EUR 70, packaged software costs EUR 12,600 per year. It remains the right choice if your contracts are simple. Custom is justified when clients impose specific formats, subcontracting exceeds 25% of revenue or you want to manage margin per work package.
Scope of a custom tool
- Bill of quantities imported from the contract, split by package and line item.
- Mobile progress entry: by the site foreman, dated photos, offline mode.
- Monthly claim: cumulative, price revision, retention, advance payment, penalties, direct payment to subcontractors.
- Change orders and extras: quote, client approval, automatic inclusion in the next claim.
- Dashboard: margin to date, client receivables, upcoming retention releases.
- Connectors: accounting, payroll for hours, e-signature of claims.
Indicative budget: EUR 10,000 to 20,000 for claims, EUR 8,000 to 15,000 for the site app, EUR 6,000 to 15,000 for subcontracting and change orders, EUR 6,000 to 20,000 for reporting and connectors.
Mini case study
Karim, lead site manager at a 60-person drywall and interior joinery contractor in Marseille, runs 45 projects a year for EUR 9M in revenue. He commissions a tool at EUR 52,000, with EUR 900 per month of maintenance.
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- Claims issued 5 days earlier: on EUR 9M a year, that is about EUR 125,000 less in receivables, or EUR 4,400 of overdraft interest avoided at 3.5%.
- Change orders recovered: 1% of revenue better billed, EUR 90,000.
- Admin time: 2 h saved per project per month on 20 active projects, 480 h per year.
First-year cost: EUR 62,800. The change order gain alone covers the investment in under 9 months.
FAQ
Why not just use Procore?
Procore is strong for site management, but its billing follows Anglo-Saxon logic. French retention, BT revision and direct payment to subcontractors require heavy configuration or developments costing EUR 10,000 and more.
Will foremen enter progress on a tablet?
Yes, if progress entry takes under 10 minutes a week and works without network. Plan 2 half-day training sessions per team.
Can we migrate ongoing projects?
Yes, importing contracts and claims already issued is included. Allow 1 to 2 days per complex project.
How long until go-live?
Allow 3 to 5 months, starting with 3 pilot projects before full rollout.
Who owns the code?
The contractor owns the code and data, hosted in France, with a reversibility clause.
Let's scope your project. Send us your number of projects, a sample claim and your clients' formats: we will price a tool between EUR 30,000 and 70,000, delivered in 3 to 5 months. 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.
