The verdict in three sentences
The last mile is the most expensive and chaotic link: fuzzy addresses, absent customers, unreconciled cash. Delivery software costs 2,000,000 to 6,000,000 FCFA and cuts delivery failure by 15-25% while reducing route kilometres by about 20%. The real gain is not the pretty map tracking, but the number of parcels delivered per courier per day.
The modules of delivery software
Four building blocks turn a band of couriers into a piloted operation.
| Module | What it does | Measurable gain |
|---|---|---|
| Dispatch | Assigns parcels to the right courier | +2 to 4 parcels/courier/day |
| Real-time tracking | Position and ETA shared with customer | -30% "where is my order" calls |
| COD (cash on delivery) | Reconciles collected cash | -90% till discrepancies |
| Proof of delivery | Photo, signature, OTP code | -25% "not received" disputes |
The COD module is often decisive in Senegal: as long as cash on delivery dominates, without automatic cash reconciliation the money collected by couriers vanishes into discrepancies.
Route optimisation and productivity
The heart of the ROI is densification: delivering more parcels over fewer kilometres.
| Indicator | Without software | With software | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parcels/courier/day | 18 | 24 | +33% |
| Km driven/day | 80 | 64 | -20% |
| 1st-attempt failure rate | 22% | 8% | -14 pts |
| "Not received" disputes | 6% | 1.5% | -4.5 pts |
| Fuel/courier/day | 4,000 FCFA | 3,200 FCFA | -800 FCFA |
Route optimisation groups addresses by zone and orders the stops, which explains both the drop in kilometres and the rise in parcels delivered.
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Mini case study
Khady's delivery company employs 12 couriers in Dakar. Before the tool: 12 × 18 = 216 parcels/day. With the software: 12 × 24 = 288 parcels/day, that is +72 parcels/day. At 1,500 FCFA of logistics margin per delivered parcel, the gross gain is 108,000 FCFA/day, about 2,800,000 FCFA/month (26 days). Adding fuel savings (12 × 800 = 9,600 FCFA/day), the 4,000,000 FCFA investment is repaid in under two months of operation.
FAQ
How to reconcile courier cash (COD)? Each parcel paid in cash is marked collected in the app; at day's end the total owed by the courier is calculated automatically, all but eliminating till discrepancies.
What gain in deliveries per courier? The 2026 ballpark is about +30%, for example going from 18 to 24 parcels/day thanks to address grouping and optimised route order.
Does proof of delivery reduce disputes? Yes: photo, signature or OTP code cut "parcel not received" disputes by about 25%, because delivery is timestamped and traced.
Do couriers need a dedicated app? Yes, a light app using little data that runs on entry-level phones and caches routes if the network drops.
Does it integrate with my online shop? Yes: orders can arrive automatically from your e-commerce site, and delivery status flows back to the customer without re-entry.
Let's talk about your project. We will calibrate your dispatch and COD reconciliation to your real parcel volume. 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.
