The verdict in three sentences
For a 350 employee subsidiary of a multinational in Dubai, a custom intranet covering internal memos, leave requests and a staff directory can be built in 8 to 12 weeks, for 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA for a first version at Kolonell (3,810 to 6,100 EUR). Compared with SharePoint, billed at 4 to 12 USD per user per month, custom becomes clearly cheaper once most staff do not hold a Microsoft 365 licence. The deciding criterion remains mobile access for field and site teams, who often have neither a desk nor a corporate email address.
Custom intranet or SharePoint: the real calculation
In Dubai, many subsidiaries in facilities management, logistics, construction or hospitality have a large frontline workforce: technicians, drivers, security staff, site crews. These are precisely the employees internal communications struggle to reach, and the ones for whom a Microsoft 365 licence is expensive relative to their use.
| Criterion | Custom intranet (Kolonell) | SharePoint Online | WhatsApp group + email |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (V1), 3,810 to 6,100 EUR | 1,650 to 5,000 USD setup | 0 |
| Recurring cost for 350 staff | 65 to 165 USD a month hosting + maintenance | 4 to 12 USD per user per month, i.e. 1,400 to 4,200 USD a month | 0 |
| Mobile access for staff without corporate email | Yes, phone number and code login | No, a licence and account per person | Yes |
| Leave requests with approval | Yes, custom workflow | Possible with Power Automate | No |
| Read receipts on memos | Yes | Partial | No |
| Arabic and English, right to left layout | Yes, built in | Yes | Partial |
| Data ownership | Full, hosting of your choice | With Microsoft | With Meta |
The SharePoint calculation flips if the company already pays for Microsoft 365 for every employee: SharePoint is then included. That is rarely the case where 60 % of the workforce is frontline.
What a first version at 2.5 to 4 million FCFA includes
The rule that works: a tight V1 delivered in 8 to 12 weeks, then monthly improvements based on real usage. An intranet that tries to do everything from day one usually ends up abandoned.
| Module | Included in V1 | Indicative effort | Possible next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal memos with read receipts | Yes | 2 to 3 weeks | SMS notifications |
| Staff directory (photo, department, phone) | Yes | 1 week | Interactive org chart |
| Leave requests and manager approval | Yes | 2 to 3 weeks | Payroll sync |
| Mobile access, phone number login | Yes | 1 to 2 weeks | Offline mode |
| Document library (handbook, procedures) | Yes | 1 week | Full text search |
| HR dashboard (leave, read rates) | Simple version | 1 week | Advanced KPIs |
| News feed and polls | Optional | 1 to 2 weeks | Reactions, comments |
Beyond this scope, for example with payroll integration, expense claims or a training module, the project moves into the medium application category, at 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR).
Recurring costs to plan for
- Hosting: 40,000 to 100,000 FCFA a month (about 65 to 165 USD), with UAE based hosting available if data residency is required.
- Kolonell maintenance: 35,000 FCFA (Basic), 75,000 FCFA (Standard) or 120,000 FCFA (Premium) a month, that is 50, 110 or 180 EUR.
- SMS notifications if enabled: budgeted separately depending on volume and carrier.
Mini case study
Layla, HR director of a 350 employee facilities management subsidiary in Dubai (illustrative persona), with 210 frontline staff without corporate email, wants to stop posting memos on a notice board and handling leave on paper forms.
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SharePoint option: 350 licences at 5 USD a month, or 1,750 USD, about 21,000 USD a year, plus setup. Custom option: a V1 at 3,200,000 FCFA (about 4,880 EUR), hosting at 60,000 FCFA a month and Standard maintenance at 75,000 FCFA a month, so 3,200,000 + 1,620,000 = 4,820,000 FCFA in year one (about 7,350 EUR or 8,000 USD), then 1,620,000 FCFA (about 2,700 USD) in following years. Over three years, the gap exceeds 50,000 USD in favour of the custom build, with an app designed for frontline staff.
FAQ
How much does a custom intranet cost in 2026?
At Kolonell, a first version (memos, directory, leave, mobile access) costs 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (3,810 to 6,100 EUR). Then allow 40,000 to 100,000 FCFA a month for hosting and 35,000 to 120,000 FCFA a month for maintenance.
Why not just use SharePoint?
SharePoint makes sense if all your employees already have Microsoft 365. Otherwise, at 4 to 12 USD per user per month, 350 licences cost 1,400 to 4,200 USD a month.
Can frontline staff without email log in?
Yes, login can use a phone number and a one time code. An entry level Android smartphone and a mobile data connection are enough.
How long until go live?
8 to 12 weeks for the V1, including one week of testing with a pilot team of 20 to 30 people before company wide rollout.
Where is the data hosted?
On the hosting of your choice, including UAE data centres when group policy or the PDPL requires local residency. The company owns the code and the data.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your headcount, the share of frontline staff and your three priority uses, and we will scope a V1 between 2.5 and 4 million FCFA with an 8 to 12 week schedule. 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.
