The verdict in three sentences
A custom construction site reporting app, built as mobile web, costs between 25,000 and 45,000 EUR excluding VAT for a general contractor in Marseille running 30 projects a year, compared with 55,000 to 95,000 CAD in Toronto. Meeting reports, punch lists and geotagged photos go out as automatic PDFs to clients and subcontractors, freeing about 4 hours per week per site manager. Against Finalcad or Archipad, custom wins when your report templates are specific and you have more than 10 users over 3 years.
The real cost of handwritten site reports
On a multi-unit housing or renovation project, the site manager takes photos on a phone, notes snags on paper, then writes the report in Word at night. Photos get lost in the gallery, snags are poorly located on the plan and reminders to subcontractors go out late.
| Weekly task per site manager | Manual method (2026 order of magnitude) | With the app | Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing meeting reports | 2 h 30 | 45 min | 1 h 45 |
| Sorting and inserting photos | 1 h 15 | 10 min | 1 h 05 |
| Logging and tracking snags | 1 h 30 | 40 min | 50 min |
| Chasing subcontractors | 45 min | 25 min | 20 min |
| Total | 6 h | 2 h | 4 h |
| Report distribution time | 2 to 3 days | same day | -2 days |
| Snags cleared before handover | 60 to 70% | 85 to 90% | +20 points |
Features and budget
| Module | Content | Indicative 2026 cost (EUR excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Projects and stakeholders core | Project sheets, trade packages, firms, contacts, access rights | 5,000 to 8,000 |
| Geotagged photos | In-app capture, timestamp, GPS, annotation | 4,000 to 7,000 |
| Snags on plan | Pin on PDF plan, assignment per trade, status, due date | 6,000 to 11,000 |
| Meeting reports | Templates per meeting type, voice dictation, branded PDF export | 4,000 to 8,000 |
| Offline mode | Work in basements or dead zones, automatic sync | 3,000 to 6,000 |
| Distribution and reminders | Automatic sending to stakeholders, reminders before due dates | 2,000 to 3,000 |
| Management dashboard | Progress per project, open snags, delays | 1,000 to 2,000 |
| Total | 25,000 to 45,000 |
Timeline: 10 to 16 weeks. Hosting and maintenance cost 250 to 500 EUR per month, regardless of user count. For reference, a Toronto contractor would pay 55,000 to 95,000 CAD, i.e. 37,000 to 64,000 EUR, for a comparable scope.
Finalcad, Archipad or custom
| Criterion | Finalcad or Archipad (2026 order of magnitude) | Custom app |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per user | 50 to 120 EUR per month | 0 EUR, flat hosting fee |
| Annual cost for 12 users | 7,200 to 17,300 EUR | 3,000 to 6,000 EUR |
| Initial investment | Low, configuration | 25,000 to 45,000 EUR |
| Cumulative 4-year cost | 29,000 to 69,000 EUR | 37,000 to 69,000 EUR |
| Report templates in your branding | Partially | Fully |
| Integration with your construction ERP | Depends on connectors | Custom |
| Subcontractors without licences | Limited guest accounts | Unlimited access |
Custom is therefore not always cheaper: it pays off above 12 users, with many subcontractors or a very specific handover process.
Mini case study
Julien, lead site manager at a general contractor in Marseille, supervises 6 site managers across 30 projects a year. Each saves 4 hours a week, i.e. 24 hours weekly for the team, about 1,050 hours over 44 working weeks. At a loaded cost of 48 EUR per hour, that is 50,400 EUR a year. The app costs 36,000 EUR plus 4,800 EUR of annual running costs. The project pays back in under 10 months, and more snags cleared before handover speeds up release of the 5% retention.
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FAQ
How much does a custom site reporting app cost?
Budget 25,000 EUR for a core with photos, snags and reports, up to 45,000 EUR with full offline mode and a management dashboard. Running costs are 250 to 500 EUR per month.
Do we need a native app in the stores?
No, an installable mobile web app (PWA) accesses the camera and GPS and works offline. It avoids 8,000 to 15,000 EUR of native development and store reviews.
Are photos usable as evidence in disputes?
Each photo is timestamped, geotagged and linked to a snag and trade. This traceability eases discussions with insurers or clients, without replacing a bailiff's report.
Can we keep our current report templates?
Yes, your Word templates are reproduced identically in the PDF export, with your logo and legal mentions. Porting 3 to 5 templates takes about a week.
Do subcontractors need to pay for a licence?
No, they get access limited to their trade packages to view and clear their snags. Account numbers have no effect on the monthly cost.
Let's scope your project. Describe your projects, report templates and number of site managers: we will price an app between 25,000 and 45,000 EUR deliverable in 10 to 16 weeks. 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.
