The verdict in three sentences
A Dakar SME running its sales and inventory on shared spreadsheets loses on average 15 to 25 hours per week to re-entry, errors and information hunting. Custom business software (4,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA in 2026) centralizes quotes, invoices, stock and customers in a single tool that is mobile-accessible and robust on 3G. The return on investment is calculated in hours recovered: most well-scoped projects pay back in 10 to 16 months.
How much custom business software costs in Dakar
Price depends on functional scope, number of modules and the level of customization. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude for a Senegalese SME, custom development included.
| Scope | Modules included | Price FCFA (2026) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | Clients, quotes, invoices | 4,000,000 - 6,000,000 | 6-8 weeks |
| Sales management | + Stock, purchasing, alerts | 6,000,000 - 9,000,000 | 8-12 weeks |
| Complete | + Mobile, offline, dashboard | 9,000,000 - 12,000,000 | 12-16 weeks |
| Advanced custom | + Wave/OM integrations, multi-site | 12,000,000 - 15,000,000 | 16-20 weeks |
On top of these amounts, budget a recurring hosting and maintenance cost of 75,000 to 200,000 FCFA per month depending on load and expected support level.
Why custom rather than off-the-shelf
International ERPs are designed for markets with stable connectivity and different tax rules. Custom software lets you build in Senegalese reality: Wave and Orange Money payments, 3G operation, local language and labels.
| Criterion | Excel spreadsheet | Off-the-shelf software | Custom Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Near zero | 1-3 M FCFA/yr licenses | 4-15 M FCFA once |
| Field mobile access | No | Limited | Yes, native |
| Works offline on 3G | No | Rarely | Yes, deferred sync |
| Wave/OM payment | No | No | Built in |
| Safe multi-user | Risky | Yes | Yes, fine-grained rights |
| Scalability | Low | Constrained | Full |
Mini case study
Awa, manager of a distribution SME in Dakar, employs 12 people and manages 800 SKUs across three Excel spreadsheets. Two salespeople re-enter orders in the evening, generating 8 hours of re-entry per week and undetected stockouts. Kolonell deploys a sales management tool at 7,500,000 FCFA, with an offline mobile app for field order-taking.
Result over six months: re-entry eliminated (8 h/week × 4 = 32 h/month saved), stockouts cut in half, and invoicing issued same-day instead of three days later. Valuing the administrative hour at 3,000 FCFA, the direct saving reaches 96,000 FCFA/month in re-entry alone, not counting saved sales. The project pays back in about 14 months.
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FAQ
How long does it take to build custom business software?
Expect 6 to 20 weeks depending on scope. An essential module (clients, quotes, invoices) ships in 6-8 weeks; a complete tool with mobile and offline needs 12-16 weeks.
Does the software work without an Internet connection?
Yes. We design an offline-first architecture: salespeople enter orders on mobile even without a network, and synchronization happens automatically once 3G or Wi-Fi returns.
Can you integrate Wave and Orange Money?
Yes, it is even a key differentiator. We connect Wave and Orange Money payments directly into the invoicing module, with automatic confirmation by webhook and cash-in tracking.
What happens to our current Excel data?
It is imported during deployment. We clean duplicates, structure SKUs and migrate customer history so you start with no loss of information.
What maintenance budget should we plan after delivery?
Between 75,000 and 200,000 FCFA per month depending on support level, requested changes and server load. This package covers hosting, backups, fixes and small enhancements.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your priority modules (sales, stock, mobile), your indicative budget and your deadline: we will scope custom business software fit for Dakar. 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.
