The verdict in three sentences
For an urban delivery company in Singapore, a SaaS optimisation app (Urbantz, AntsRoute) costs 30 to 70 EUR/driver/month and deploys fast. A custom platform (28,000 to 65,000 EUR, 8 to 14 weeks) includes the driver app AND branded customer tracking, with no per-driver cost exploding as the fleet grows. It delivers +22% deliveries/route, halves support calls through automatic notifications and saves 40 h/month of planning.
SaaS per driver vs custom platform
SaaS charges each driver, every month. At 15-20 drivers, the yearly bill quickly rivals an amortised build.
| Criterion | SaaS optimisation | Custom platform |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 30 to 70 EUR/driver/month | 28,000 to 65,000 EUR |
| 15 drivers over 3 years | 16,200 to 37,800 EUR | 28,000 to 65,000 EUR |
| Driver mobile app | Standard | Your brand |
| Customer tracking (notifications) | Often an add-on | Included, tailored |
| Route optimisation | Yes | Yes, business tuning |
| Ownership | No | Yes |
| Timeline | 2 to 5 weeks | 8 to 14 weeks |
Operational and support gains
Gains come from route density and fewer customer calls.
| Lever | 2026 impact (ballpark) |
|---|---|
| Deliveries per route | +22% |
| Support calls | halved |
| Manual planning | -40 h/month |
| First-attempt delivery rate | +12 points |
| Kilometres driven | -15% |
| Custom platform ROI | 12 to 18 months |
Mini case study
Samir runs an urban delivery company in Singapore with 15 drivers. On SaaS at 55 EUR/driver/month, he pays 9,900 EUR/year, i.e. 29,700 EUR over 3 years, owning neither the tool nor customer tracking.
A custom platform at 46,000 EUR integrates the driver app and branded customer tracking. With +22% deliveries/route across 15 drivers doing 40 deliveries/day, he handles ~130 extra deliveries/day at constant capacity; at 3 EUR margin/delivery, that's ~390 EUR/day, i.e. ~90,000 EUR/year. Custom pays back in under 12 months, with support calls halved as a bonus.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Is the driver app included in custom?
Yes: photo/signature proof of delivery, navigation, real-time statuses and incident handling are built to your brand, with no extra per-driver licence.
How do notifications cut support?
By automatically informing the customer (slot, driver approaching, delivered), you remove most "where is my order" calls, often -50%.
At how many drivers does custom win?
From 12 to 15 drivers, cumulative SaaS licences over 3 years match the cost of a build you own.
Can routes be optimised in real time?
Yes: dynamic reassignment by traffic and new orders, with route recalculation and delivery windows respected.
How long to launch?
An optimisation + driver app + customer tracking scope ships in 8 to 12 weeks, often starting with the driver app.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your driver count, delivery volume and customer-tracking needs, and we'll price a custom last-mile platform. 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.
