The verdict in three sentences
For a contractor running 12 job sites at once with 350 workers, the real cost is the overrun discovered too late, not the software. Site tracking software at FCFA 18 to 45 million (about USD 30,000 to 75,000), built for field conditions (offline mode, mobile time tracking, mobile money), costs barely more than a single year of international licences at USD 60 to 150 per user per month. With 2 margin points recovered on FCFA 6 billion of revenue, it pays back in under 6 months.
Why overruns show up at the end of the job
The figures below come from an Abidjan contractor; a mid-size firm in Toronto faces the same pattern with different wage levels. Progress is reported by phone or WhatsApp, purchase orders are on paper and progress billings are built in Excel on the last day of the month. The operations director sees the real margin once the job is finished.
| Source of loss | Typical impact (2026 order of magnitude) | What the software does |
|---|---|---|
| Over-ordered or diverted materials | 2 to 4% of material cost | Purchase orders tied to quantities, stock per site |
| Unjustified labour hours | 3 to 5% of site payroll | Geolocated mobile time tracking, even offline |
| Overstated progress | Billings off by 1 to 2 months | Progress per work package, photographed and approved |
| Unbilled extra work | 1 to 3% of contract value | Change orders logged and priced |
| Late supplies | 5 to 15 days of delay per site | Needs alerts at D-10 based on the schedule |
| Late progress billings | 30 to 60 days of cash lost | Billings generated from approved progress |
International licence or custom software
International construction management tools perform well, but they are billed per user in dollars and designed for stable connectivity.
| Criterion | International tool | Software built for the local market |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | FCFA 1 to 3 million (setup) | FCFA 18 to 45 million |
| Recurring cost for 40 users | USD 60 to 150 per user per month, i.e. FCFA 17 to 43 million a year | Maintenance at 10 to 15%, i.e. FCFA 2 to 7 million a year |
| 3-year total cost | FCFA 52 to 132 million | FCFA 22 to 59 million |
| Offline operation | Limited | Full, syncs when the network returns |
| Time tracking for 350 workers | Per-worker licence or separate tool | Included, no per-worker fee |
| Paying day labourers | Not supported | Wave, Orange Money, MTN MoMo |
| Progress billing in local format | Redone in Excel | Native, matching your public and private contracts |
Scope and budget by module
| Module | Content | Budget (FCFA) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progress and schedule | Work packages, photographed progress, schedule variance | 4 to 10 million | 5 weeks |
| Procurement and stock | Purchase requests, purchase orders, stock per site | 4 to 9 million | 4 weeks |
| Mobile time tracking | QR or biometric clock-in, geolocation, offline mode | 3 to 8 million | 4 weeks |
| Progress billing | Quantities, approved progress, invoicing, retention | 3 to 8 million | 4 weeks |
| Margin dashboard | Budget versus actual per site, drift alerts | 2 to 5 million | 2 weeks |
| Infrastructure and security | Hosting, backups, roles, Android app | 2 to 5 million | 2 weeks |
| Total | 6 modules | 18 to 45 million | 4 to 6 months |
Mini case study
Mr Kouassi, operations director of a construction firm in Abidjan, generates FCFA 6 billion of revenue a year across 12 sites. He selects the progress, procurement, time tracking and dashboard modules for FCFA 32 million, plus FCFA 4 million of annual maintenance.
- Margin recovered: 2 points on FCFA 6 billion, i.e. FCFA 120 million a year (about USD 200,000).
- Time tracking: labour payroll of FCFA 630 million (350 workers at FCFA 150,000 a month), with 3% of unjustified hours removed, i.e. FCFA 18.9 million, already included in the margin recovered.
- First-year investment: FCFA 36 million. Break-even in under 4 months, even if only half the gain materialises in year one.
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FAQ
Will site supervisors be able to use it?
The Android app is designed for phones costing FCFA 60,000 to 100,000, with photos and checklists. Half a day of training per supervisor is usually enough.
What happens with no network on site?
All entries are stored on the phone and synced as soon as the network returns, even after several days. No data is lost.
Can we pay day labourers straight from the tool?
Yes, approved hours feed bulk payouts by Wave, Orange Money or MTN MoMo. Fees are around 1% of the amount paid.
Does the software handle public contracts?
Yes, progress billings follow the bill of quantities, retention and advance payments. Setting up a new contract takes less than an hour.
How long before we see results?
Time tracking and progress go live in 5 to 6 weeks on 2 pilot sites. Rollout to all 12 sites follows within 1 to 2 months.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of sites, workers and active contracts: we price modular software between FCFA 18 and 45 million, delivered in 4 to 6 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.
