The verdict in three sentences
A custom construction site management platform costs 30,000 to 55,000 EUR in 2026, versus 15 to 40 EUR/user/month for a generic SaaS. The real payoff is not the price: it is project margin made visible in real time and a 20 % reduction in cost overruns. Across 15 site managers, custom becomes cheaper than SaaS by year three while fitting your own cost-tracking model.
What a custom site platform covers
The budget breaks down by module, each solving a concrete field pain point. Here is the 2026 order of magnitude for a structural works firm.
| Module | Scope | Cost 2026 (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Site tracking & planning | Gantt, crew allocation, milestones | 10,000 |
| Mobile field time tracking | Worker app, geoloc, offline | 5,000 |
| Budget & cost tracking | Quote vs actual, margin alerts | 8,000 |
| Photos & reports | Site reports, sign-offs, PDF export | 4,000 |
| Integration & rollout | Accounting API, training, UAT | 3,000 to 8,000 |
| Total | Full project | 30,000 to 55,000 |
Delivery takes between 14 and 20 weeks depending on module count and accounting integration complexity.
Custom vs SaaS: the real TCO math
SaaS looks unbeatable up front, but the 3-year total cost of ownership (TCO) tells another story as user count climbs.
| Criterion | Construction SaaS | Custom Kolonell |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 0 to 2,000 EUR | 30,000 to 55,000 EUR |
| Subscription (15 users) | 4,500 to 7,200 EUR/yr | 0 (hosting ~1,200 EUR/yr) |
| 3-year TCO (15 users) | 13,500 to 21,600 EUR | 33,600 to 58,600 EUR |
| Custom cost-tracking fields | No | Yes |
| Data ownership | Vendor | You |
| Roadmap | Queue | Prioritised by you |
At 40 users, SaaS reaches 18,000 to 19,000 EUR/yr: custom then pays back in about 2.5 years while embedding your own margin ratios.
Mini case study
Antoine, owner of a 35-employee structural works firm in Toulouse, ran his sites on Excel and lost track of real hours. He invests 42,000 EUR in custom software (tracking, time, cost, photos). Across 12 projects/year averaging 380,000 EUR revenue, overruns fall from 6 % to 4.8 % of budget, i.e. ~55,000 EUR saved per year. The tool pays for itself in under 10 months, before counting admin time cut in half.
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FAQ
How much does custom site management software cost in 2026?
Budget 30,000 to 55,000 EUR for a full solution (planning, time, costs, reports). A first scope focused on time and cost tracking can start around 15,000 EUR.
Does mobile time tracking work offline on site?
Yes. The field app stores entries locally and syncs once back online, essential on outlying sites with poor 4G coverage.
Can we integrate our existing accounting software?
Yes, via API or normalised export to tools like Sage or EBP. Integration is 3,000 to 8,000 EUR depending on the connector.
How long before go-live?
Between 14 and 20 weeks. A pilot on one or two sites is usually delivered by week 8 to validate field usage.
Who owns the data and the code?
You do. Unlike SaaS, custom makes you owner of your cost data and source code, an asset for resale or business handover.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your site portfolio, current tools and target budget (30,000 to 55,000 EUR): we will frame the priority modules. 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.
