The verdict in three sentences
A construction staffing agency managing 250 temps a week concentrates its costly errors on three points: re-keyed paper timesheets, temps sent to site with expired certifications and CACES equipment licenses, and assignment contracts signed late. Custom software at 30,000 to 70,000 EUR excl. VAT, delivered in 3 to 5 months, has the site foreman approve hours on mobile, blocks any assignment without a valid certification and produces a clean payroll export. Major staffing software covers payroll and invoicing; custom modules fill the field gap, where margins leak.
Standard staffing software or custom modules?
Specialized French vendors (Tempo, Pixid, Anael TT, Cegid, Studio TT) handle hiring declarations, temp payroll and invoicing. They fit construction specifics less well: multiple sites, meal and travel allowances by zone, bad weather days, electrical certifications and CACES licenses by category.
| Criterion | Standard staffing software | Fully custom | Hybrid (standard + field modules) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial investment | 5,000 to 20,000 EUR excl. VAT | 50,000 to 70,000 EUR excl. VAT | 30,000 to 45,000 EUR excl. VAT |
| Yearly cost | 8,000 to 25,000 EUR (licenses) | 6,000 to 10,000 EUR (maintenance) | 12,000 to 30,000 EUR |
| Foreman mobile timesheets | often missing or generic | yes | yes |
| Construction allowances (meal, travel, zones) | limited configuration | fully handled | handled in the module |
| Block if CACES expired | rarely | yes | yes |
| Payroll and hiring declarations | yes | to build or outsource | kept in the standard tool |
2026 order of magnitude: for an agency with 250 weekly temps, hybrid is the most common choice; fully custom makes sense beyond 3 branches or with a very specific model.
Modules and budget
| Module | Function | Budget excl. VAT | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temp talent pool | Skills, trades, availability, geolocation | 5,000 to 10,000 EUR | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Certifications and CACES | Categories R482, R486, R489, H0B0, expiry dates, D-60 alerts | 4,000 to 8,000 EUR | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Orders and assignments | Client request, matching, SMS confirmation to the temp | 6,000 to 12,000 EUR | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Mobile timesheets | Temp entry, foreman approval, photo, geolocation | 6,000 to 14,000 EUR | 4 to 5 weeks |
| E-signed contracts | Client supply contract and temp assignment contract, remote signing | 3,000 to 8,000 EUR | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Payroll and invoicing export | Construction variables, allowances, overtime to payroll software | 4,000 to 10,000 EUR | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Client portal | Orders, timesheets to approve, invoices, documents | 3,000 to 8,000 EUR | 2 to 3 weeks |
The rules the software must enforce
Temporary work in France is tightly regulated. The software must turn these obligations into automatic checks rather than manual verifications.
| Obligation | 2026 rule | Automated check |
|---|---|---|
| Sending the assignment contract | no later than 2 working days after placement | alert and reminder block |
| Maximum assignment length | generally 18 months, renewals regulated | calculation and D-30 alert |
| Waiting period | between two assignments on the same position, based on length | check at assignment creation |
| Valid CACES | 5 years for most categories, 10 years for some | assignment blocked |
| End-of-assignment allowance | 10 % of gross pay | calculated in payroll export |
| Paid leave allowance | 10 % of gross pay, end-of-assignment allowance included | calculated in payroll export |
Mini case study
Nadia runs a construction staffing agency near Lille, with 250 temps on assignment every week. Every Monday, two assistants re-key 250 paper timesheets, about 12 hours a week, and 4 % of timesheets contain an error leading to a credit note or payroll correction. At a loaded hourly cost of 32 EUR, re-keying costs 12 × 32 × 47 weeks = 18,000 EUR a year. Errors, at 60 EUR average handling, add 250 × 4 % × 60 × 47 = 28,200 EUR a year.
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She invests 42,000 EUR excl. VAT in field modules plugged into her existing staffing software. Timesheets are approved on mobile by foremen by Friday, re-keying disappears and the error rate drops below 1 %. The yearly gain exceeds 39,000 EUR, and the project pays back in about 13 months, not counting invoices sent 3 days earlier.
FAQ
Will site foremen really approve on mobile?
Yes if approval takes under a minute: an SMS link, the list of temps, one approve button. In our projects, over 90 % of timesheets are approved without reminders after 4 weeks.
Can we keep our current temp payroll software?
Yes, the export module produces a file in the expected format or goes through an API. The connector usually costs 4,000 to 10,000 EUR excl. VAT depending on the vendor.
Is electronic signature of contracts legally valid?
Yes, a simple or advanced e-signature is valid for assignment and supply contracts. Budget 1 to 3 EUR per envelope with signature providers.
How do we handle temps without a smartphone?
The foreman enters and approves hours for them, or the agency enters them from a photo of the sheet. This usually concerns fewer than 10 % of temps.
How much is maintenance?
Plan 15 % of the initial budget per year, about 6,000 EUR excl. VAT for a 42,000 EUR project, hosting and regulatory updates included.
Let's scope your project. We scope your construction staffing modules (mobile timesheets, CACES, e-contracts, payroll export) with an indicative budget of 30,000 to 70,000 EUR excl. VAT and delivery in 3 to 5 months. 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.
