The verdict in three sentences
For a customs broker filing 600 declarations a month, custom brokerage software costs 12 to 35 million FCFA (about 18,300 to 53,400 EUR, or 20,000 to 58,000 USD), with go-live in about 5 months. The main gain comes from removing re-keying into the customs system (GAINDE in Senegal, the TradeNet and Networked Trade Platform stack in Singapore), worth 20 minutes per file, and from systematically recharging disbursements. With maintenance at 15 % per year, payback lands around 18 months for a mid-size project.
Where the broker loses time and money
In most brokerage firms, a file lives in three places: a spreadsheet or legacy system, the customs platform for the declaration, and WhatsApp or e-mail threads with the terminal, the shipping line and the client. Every declaration is keyed twice, every disbursement is noted by hand, every container is tracked by phone.
| File step | Current practice | Average time | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| File opening | Keyed from the commercial invoice and bill of lading | 15 min | Value or weight error |
| Customs declaration | Full re-keying of line items | 25 min | Rejection, amendment, penalty |
| Container tracking | Calls to the terminal and shipping line | 10 min per day | Unexpected demurrage |
| Disbursements (storage, handling, port fees) | Paper receipts, keyed at month end | 8 min | Forgotten, unbilled disbursements |
| Client invoicing | Word or Excel invoice | 12 min | Collection delayed 30 to 45 days |
| Archiving | Binders and shared folders | 5 min | Missing document during an audit |
Custom software reduces this to a single entry: bill of lading and invoice data feed the file, then the declaration, then the invoice. 2026 order of magnitude: 20 minutes saved per file.
Price of brokerage software in 2026
| Tier | Scope | Indicative price | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | Files, disbursements, invoicing, digital archive | 12 to 16 million FCFA (18,300 to 24,400 EUR) | 3 to 4 months |
| Integrated | Essential + data exchange with the customs system, container tracking | 18 to 26 million FCFA (27,400 to 39,600 EUR) | 5 months |
| Group | Integrated + multi-branch, client portal, dashboards | 28 to 35 million FCFA (42,700 to 53,400 EUR) | 6 to 7 months |
| Annual maintenance | Fixes, regulatory updates, hosting | 15 % of initial cost per year | Ongoing |
| Team training | Declarants, accounting, management | 600,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA (915 to 1,830 EUR) | 2 weeks |
These are 2026 estimates for development by a Senegal-based team. In Singapore, a locally built equivalent typically costs two to three times more in labor. Foreign off-the-shelf brokerage packages often cost more in annual licenses and adapt poorly to local specifics: suspended regimes, transit to landlocked countries, port disbursement rules.
Customs system integration: constraints to know
Connecting to the customs platform is not a given. It depends on the exchange methods offered by the operator (GAINDE 2000 in Dakar, the approved front-end software framework in Singapore) and on your licensed broker status. Before signing, check three points with your vendor: the available exchange format (structured files, EDI or web services), the testing and certification procedures, and how platform updates are handled. Plan 4 to 6 weeks for this phase. Single-window permit systems follow the same logic.
Mini case study
Moussa runs a 22-person brokerage firm in Dakar filing 600 declarations a month. Time saved: 600 × 20 minutes = 200 hours per month, valued at 3,000 FCFA per loaded hour, i.e. 600,000 FCFA per month or 7.2 million FCFA per year. Unbilled disbursements: about 1 % of 90 million FCFA in monthly disbursements excluding duties and taxes, i.e. 10.8 million FCFA per year recovered. Total gain: 18 million FCFA per year, minus 3.3 million in maintenance (15 % of 22 million). Net gain of 14.7 million FCFA (about 22,400 EUR) per year for a 22 million investment: payback in about 18 months.
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FAQ
Can the software submit declarations directly to the customs system?
It depends on the exchange methods the operator opens for your license. Either way, preparing data upstream removes most of the 25 minutes of re-keying per declaration.
Can containers be tracked automatically?
Yes, through data published by terminals and shipping lines when accessible, or through file imports. The module costs about 2 to 4 million FCFA (3,000 to 6,100 EUR) depending on the number of sources.
How much does maintenance cost?
Count 15 % of the initial cost per year, i.e. 3.3 million FCFA for a 22 million project. It covers fixes, hosting and changes driven by regulatory updates.
Can we pay in installments?
Yes, by milestones: 30 % at kickoff, 40 % at delivery of the files module and 30 % at go-live, payable by bank transfer, Wave or Orange Money.
Does the software handle transit to inland countries?
Yes, transit regimes and truck tracking to the border are part of the Group tier, at 28 to 35 million FCFA.
Let's scope your project. Share your monthly declaration volume and current tools: we will price software between 12 and 35 million FCFA with a 5-month plan. 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.
