The verdict in three sentences
A decision dashboard brings your sales, stock and cash flow onto one screen, in real time, so you stop steering by gut feel. The choice is between a SaaS BI tool (fast, generic) and a custom dashboard (integrated with your sources) priced at 5,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA (approx. 7,600-22,900 EUR). The difference shows in decision quality: margins, stockouts and unpaid invoices become visible before they cost money.
SaaS BI vs custom
A SaaS BI tool (Power BI, Metabase, Looker Studio) is billed per user and suits you if data is already clean and centralised. Custom becomes relevant once your sources are scattered (POS, Excel, ERP, mobile money) and you need connectors, cleaning and KPIs specific to your business.
| Criterion | SaaS BI | Custom dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Setup cost | 500,000 - 2,000,000 FCFA | 5,000,000 - 15,000,000 FCFA |
| Recurring cost | 10 - 30 EUR/user/month | Maintenance 150,000 - 400,000 FCFA/month |
| Delivery time | 2 - 5 weeks | 8 - 14 weeks |
| Multiple source connectors | Limited | Unlimited custom |
| Business-specific KPIs | Standard | 100 % tailored |
| Real time | Plan-dependent | Yes |
| Solution ownership | No | Yes |
The KPIs that change steering
A good dashboard does not show everything: it shows what triggers an action. Here are the priority indicators for a distribution SME and their refresh frequency.
| KPI | Source | Frequency | Triggered decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today's revenue | POS/ERP | Real time | Adjust promotions |
| Margin per product | ERP + purchasing | Daily | Drop unprofitable SKUs |
| Stock below threshold | Inventory | Real time | Reorder before stockout |
| Cash flow forecast | Bank + invoices | Daily | Anticipate tension |
| Overdue > 30 days | Invoicing | Daily | Launch reminders |
| Top 10 customers | CRM/sales | Weekly | Prioritise the relationship |
Mini case study
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Amadou, head of a distribution SME in Dubai (monthly revenue 45,000,000 FCFA), invests 9,000,000 FCFA in a custom dashboard plus 250,000 FCFA/month maintenance. Thanks to visibility on margins and stockouts, he cuts unsold stock by 1.5 % of revenue, i.e. 675,000 FCFA/month recovered, and reduces late payments. Net of maintenance, the gain is 425,000 FCFA/month, paying back the project in 9,000,000 / 425,000 ≈ 21 months, before even counting better purchasing decisions.
FAQ
How much does a custom dashboard cost in 2026? Between 5,000,000 and 15,000,000 FCFA depending on the number of sources and KPIs, plus maintenance of 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA/month.
Isn't a SaaS BI enough? If your data is already centralised and clean, yes. Otherwise, custom handles the connectors, cleaning and business KPIs the SaaS does not cover.
Which sources can be connected? POS, ERP, Excel files, CRM, accounting and even mobile money transactions, via dedicated connectors.
Is the dashboard real time? Yes for critical indicators like stock and today's revenue; some heavier KPIs are refreshed nightly.
What is the delivery time? Plan 8 to 14 weeks for a custom dashboard, including source connection and KPI validation with your teams.
Let's scope your project. Share your data sources, priority KPIs and an indicative budget, and we will design the dashboard that speeds up your decisions. 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.
