The verdict in three sentences
A construction SaaS covers standard site tracking for 20 to 50 EUR per user per month, but it imposes its own ergonomics and field limits. A custom build costs 45,000 to 110,000 EUR and is justified when your processes (timekeeping, timestamped photos, daily reports) must match your methods. The point that makes the difference on site: offline mode, because 4G is often missing there.
SaaS or custom: the priced comparison
Site tracking is not just a checklist. You must sync field data logged by site managers, often without a signal, then consolidate it at the office. Here is the three-year comparison for a 25-field-user SME.
| Item (2026 ballpark) | Construction SaaS | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | 2,000 - 8,000 EUR | 45,000 - 110,000 EUR |
| Monthly subscription | 20 - 50 EUR / user | 0 (ownership) |
| Monthly cost at 25 users | 500 - 1,250 EUR | included in maintenance |
| Field mobile app | standard | tailored to trade |
| Offline mode | variable / limited | native and full |
| Maintenance / evolutions | vendor roadmap | 400 - 900 EUR / month |
| 36-month total | 20,000 - 53,000 EUR | 60,000 - 145,000 EUR |
| Rollout timeline | 1 - 2 months | 5 - 9 months |
SaaS wins on time-to-market and small budgets. Custom wins as soon as timekeeping, reports and invoicing must chain automatically in YOUR logic.
The features that cut disputes
The real return of a site tool is fewer disputes: timestamped photos, signed daily reports, instruction traceability. One avoided dispute is often worth several months of subscription.
| Feature | What it secures | Budget impact |
|---|---|---|
| Offline field mobile app | logging without signal, auto sync | 10,000 - 24,000 EUR |
| Timestamped geolocated photos | proof of progress and reserves | 6,000 - 14,000 EUR |
| Labour timekeeping | real hours per site | 8,000 - 18,000 EUR |
| Daily reports | legal traceability | 7,000 - 16,000 EUR |
| Multi-site dashboard | margin steering | 9,000 - 20,000 EUR |
| Post-launch maintenance | fixes and evolutions | 400 - 900 EUR / month |
Allow 5 to 9 months of development for a full tracking + timekeeping + reports + dashboard scope.
Mini case study
Martin runs a structural works SME in Toronto: 25 workers and 6 simultaneous sites. Each untraced reserve dispute costs him on average 4,500 EUR in rework and penalties. In 2026 he faces about ten a year, i.e. 45,000 EUR.
A custom build at 75,000 EUR plus 600 EUR maintenance halves the disputes: 22,500 EUR saved per year, not counting recovered timekeeping hours (about 2 h/week per manager). Cost over 36 months: 75,000 + 36 x 600 = 96,600 EUR, paid back in a little over four years by avoided disputes alone, faster once admin time is valued. A SaaS at 40 EUR x 25 users would cost 1,000 EUR/month but without the full offline mode his rural sites need.
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FAQ
Is offline mode essential?
On most sites, yes: network coverage is uncertain. Real offline mode with deferred sync avoids lost entries and costs 10,000 to 24,000 EUR in custom.
How long to build site-tracking software?
Five to nine months for a full scope. An MVP focused on photos and daily reports can ship in 3 months.
Is a SaaS enough for a small SME?
Often yes below 15-20 users and if your processes are standard. Beyond that, subscription cost and ergonomic limits justify custom.
How does the software reduce disputes?
Through proof: timestamped photos, signed daily reports, instruction history. One avoided dispute is often worth 3,000 to 6,000 EUR.
What maintenance budget should we plan?
Between 400 and 900 EUR/month depending on the number of sites and how often you request evolutions.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of simultaneous sites, your field users and indicative budget, and we will frame the right offline mobile app. 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.
