The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, a custom construction project management platform for a London building firm ranges from 40,000 to 110,000 EUR, delivered in 4 to 7 months. The real gain is not the tool but the reduction in budget overruns (around -20%) thanks to real-time tracking of labour hours, progress claims and site photos. Below three concurrent projects, an off-the-shelf editor is enough; above that, custom pays back in 18 to 24 months.
What a modern site-management platform covers
A construction SME director does not need a sprawling ERP: they want to link the estimating office, the site manager and the field crew in a single flow. The modules below reflect 2026 orders of magnitude for a custom build, excluding heavy accounting integrations.
| Module | Key function | 2026 range (EUR) | Indicative time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-project scheduling | Gantt, resource allocation | 8,000 – 16,000 | 3 – 5 wks |
| Time & labour tracking | Hours, mobile clock-in, costs | 6,000 – 12,000 | 2 – 4 wks |
| Offline field app | Photos, reports, snags | 9,000 – 20,000 | 4 – 6 wks |
| Progress billing | Completion %, client invoicing | 7,000 – 15,000 | 3 – 5 wks |
| Budget tracking | Direct cost, live margin | 6,000 – 14,000 | 3 – 4 wks |
| Purchasing & subcontractors | Orders, receipt, retentions | 5,000 – 12,000 | 2 – 4 wks |
The technical base (authentication, roles, hosting, dashboards) adds 8,000 to 15,000 EUR. The offline field app is the module that pays for the project: on a site with no signal, it removes evening re-keying and locks a timestamped photo record.
Custom vs editor: the real TCO
Editors (SaaS construction tools) charge per user, per month. For a 40-person firm, the gap plays out over three years.
| Item | SaaS editor | Kolonell custom |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | 3,000 – 8,000 EUR | 40,000 – 110,000 EUR |
| Subscription (40 users) | 900 – 1,600 EUR/mo | 0 EUR (hosting 150–400 EUR/mo) |
| 3-year cost | 35,000 – 66,000 EUR | 45,000 – 125,000 EUR |
| Business customisation | Limited | Total |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
| Evolutions | Editor roadmap | On demand |
Over three years, custom costs slightly more but you own the asset, with no per-user price drift. Above 60 staff, custom often becomes cheaper than the subscription.
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Mini case study
Thomas, director of a 45-person structural works firm in London, runs 5 concurrent sites on 6 M EUR turnover. His average overruns reached 4% of turnover, or 240,000 EUR/year. He invests 68,000 EUR in custom software (scheduling + time tracking + field app + budget tracking), delivered in 5 months. In the first year, overruns fall to 3.2% (-20%), saving 48,000 EUR. Adding 12 hours/week of re-keying avoided (worth ~25,000 EUR/year), payback is reached in around 11 months.
FAQ
What minimum budget delivers real value? Budget 40,000 to 55,000 EUR for a first scope (scheduling + time tracking + field app). That base produces measurable ROI from the first tracked project.
Does the field app work with no signal? Yes, the offline-first architecture syncs as soon as connection returns. It is essential on sites without coverage; budget 9,000 to 20,000 EUR for this module.
How long until go-live? Between 4 and 7 months depending on module count. A scheduling + time-tracking base ships in 4 months; adding progress billing and purchasing pushes toward 6-7 months.
Can we connect our accounting? Yes, via API or exports (Sage, Xero, common ledgers). Budget 4,000 to 9,000 EUR depending on integration depth and entry format.
And annual maintenance? Plan for 15 to 20% of the build cost per year for evolutions, fixes and hosting — roughly 8,000 to 20,000 EUR/year depending on scope.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of concurrent sites, your field headcount and an indicative budget: we frame the priority scope and timeline. 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.
