The verdict in three sentences
A vertical suite (Batappli, Onaya) is cheap to start but stalls the moment your labor tracking, purchasing and progress billing leave the standard mold. A custom site-management build (45,000 to 110,000 EUR, 16 to 24 weeks) pays back over 4 years once you run more than 12 seats and reporting costs over 8 hours a week. The real gain isn't the saved license fee, it's cutting construction budget overruns by roughly 8%.
Vertical license vs custom build: the real 4-year cost
The license trap is per-seat pricing multiplied by every project manager, foreman and buyer. At 15 seats the bill climbs fast, and advanced modules (multi-site planning, digital progress billing) are usually paid add-ons.
| Cost item (2026) | Vertical suite, 15 seats | Custom, amortized over 4 years |
|---|---|---|
| Initial build | 0 EUR | 70,000 EUR |
| Annual license | 15 x 85 EUR x 12 = 15,300 EUR/yr | 0 EUR |
| Maintenance / support | included | 9,000 EUR/yr |
| Advanced modules | +4,000 EUR/yr | included |
| Total 4-year cost | 77,200 EUR | 106,000 EUR |
| Average monthly cost | 1,608 EUR | 2,208 EUR |
In pure cash terms the license stays cheaper. But it fails to capture the operational value — and that is where custom repays itself.
Where custom creates value
A tool shaped around your process kills re-keying and gives you reliable site data in real time. Three levers drive the ROI.
| Value lever | Before | After custom | Annual impact (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly reporting | 10 h/week/PM | 3 h/week | 7 h x 45 EUR x 45 wks = 14,175 EUR/PM |
| Budget overruns | 8% of project cost | ~0% avoidable | on 3M EUR output: ~240,000 EUR |
| Progress-billing delay | 12 days | 4 days | cash accelerated by 8 days |
| Purchasing disputes | frequent | traced | -30% resolution time |
Even counting only reporting across 3 PMs, you recover over 42,000 EUR/year — half the build in the first year.
Mini case study
Philippe, owner of a structural-works general contractor near Nantes (85 staff, 4.2M EUR output). He runs 14 seats on an 85 EUR/month suite (14,280 EUR/yr) with no digital progress billing. His 3 PMs spend 10 h/week consolidating spreadsheets. He invests 74,000 EUR in custom software (planning, mobile time tracking, purchasing, automated progress bills). Result: 7 h/week/PM saved (about 42,500 EUR/yr) and overruns cut from 8% to 5% on 4.2M EUR — 126,000 EUR avoided. Payback in under 6 months, before counting faster cash on progress bills.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
How much does custom site-management software cost in 2026?
Expect 45,000 to 110,000 EUR depending on scope (multi-site planning, mobile time tracking, purchasing, progress billing, accounting link). A first working module ships in 16 to 20 weeks.
When is a vertical license still the right call?
Below 8-10 seats with standard processes, a suite like Batappli or Onaya is plenty. Custom is justified above that, or when you have proprietary rules the vendor doesn't cover.
Can you migrate data from my old software?
Yes. Migrating projects, cost items and suppliers is typically 5 to 12% of the project budget over 2 to 4 weeks.
Does mobile time tracking work with no signal on site?
Yes, offline mode with deferred sync is standard. Scope it early in the quote as it drives the technical architecture.
Who owns the code?
With genuine custom, you own the source and the database. No per-seat license, no lock-in to a single vendor to evolve the tool.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your project volume, seat count and priority modules (time tracking, purchasing, progress billing) and we'll price the exact scope and timeline. 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.
