The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, a custom construction-site management platform sits between 40,000 and 110,000 EUR, versus 6,000 to 30,000 EUR per year for a market vertical. Custom pays off as soon as the firm runs more than 15 concurrent sites or wants real-time per-site margin tracking. The real gain is not the software: it is the reduction of budget overruns, which often weigh 5 to 12% of the works amount.
Construction vertical or custom: what changes
Construction verticals cover quotes, invoicing and sometimes time tracking. Custom takes over when you want to link purchasing, field time tracking, progress and margin into a single real-time flow. 2026 order of magnitude for a firm of 30 to 120 employees.
| Criterion | Licensed vertical | Kolonell custom |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 cost | 8,000 - 30,000 EUR | 40,000 - 110,000 EUR |
| Recurring cost/year | 8,000 - 30,000 EUR | 7,000 - 18,000 EUR |
| Time to deploy | 1 - 3 months | 3 - 7 months |
| Per-site margin tracking | Basic | Real time |
| Field mobile app | Variable | Native, offline |
| Purchasing/accounting integration | Partial | Complete |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
Over three years, a vertical at 20,000 EUR/year costs 60,000 EUR in pure rental. Custom at 75,000 EUR plus 12,000 EUR/year reaches 99,000 EUR but becomes an owned asset, tailored to the firm's exact processes.
Per-site margin tracking, line by line
The value concentrates in real-time visibility of gaps between budget and actual. Here are the quantified levers observed.
| Lever | 2026 impact (order of magnitude) |
|---|---|
| Material purchase overrun detection | -3 to -6% of materials line |
| Real-time vs paper time tracking | -1.5 to -3% site payroll |
| Budget overrun alert | React 2 to 4 weeks earlier |
| Purchase order reconciliation | -2 to -5% supplier disputes |
| Geo-tagged photo progress | Faster progress billing |
| Weekly margin reporting | Immediate corrective decision |
On an 800,000 EUR site, avoiding a 6% overrun preserves 48,000 EUR. A single recovered site can fund a large share of the project.
Field mobile changes everything
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A native app that works offline lets site managers clock in, photograph progress and report incidents with no network. Data uploads on reconnection, eliminating double entry and lost paper sheets.
Mini case study
Karim runs a structural works firm in Lyon, 68 employees, 24 sites/year for 9.2M EUR of works. His average budget overrun is 7%, roughly 644,000 EUR eroded from annual margin. By cutting overruns to 4% with real-time tracking, he preserves 276,000 EUR/year. His custom build at 82,000 EUR plus 13,000 EUR/year pays back in under 5 months of gains.
FAQ
Does field time tracking work without network? Yes, the mobile app stores data locally and syncs on reconnection. It is essential on poorly covered sites, very common in peri-urban areas.
Can we connect our accounting software? Yes, integration with major accounting and payroll tools is part of standard scope. Budget 6,000 to 15,000 EUR depending on available APIs.
How long to train site managers? The field app is mastered in 1 to 2 hours; the goal is zero friction. The office side (margin, purchasing) needs 1 to 2 days of training.
Is margin tracking truly real time? Yes, as soon as a time entry, purchase order or invoice is recorded, the site margin recalculates. Overrun alerts trigger automatically.
What is the go-live timeline? Expect 3 to 7 months depending on the number of modules, with a possible start on a pilot site from week 10 to validate the flows.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of concurrent sites, current tools and pain points, with an indicative budget between 40,000 and 110,000 EUR. 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.
