The verdict in three sentences
A document AI extraction engine reads invoices, contracts and purchase orders to output structured data, with no re-keying. The choice is between an OCR/AI SaaS (paid per page, generic) and a custom solution (integrated, tailored to your templates) priced at 150,000 to 400,000 MAD (approx. 14,000-37,000 EUR). With a 60 % data-entry time saving, a firm redeploys staff to higher-value work.
SaaS vs custom
An OCR/AI SaaS (Google Document AI, AWS Textract, Rossum) is billed per page and starts fast, ideal to test. Custom pays off at volume and when you must match specific documents, integrate accounting and keep human validation on doubtful cases.
| Criterion | OCR/AI SaaS | Custom solution |
|---|---|---|
| Setup cost | 0 - 20,000 MAD | 150,000 - 400,000 MAD |
| Cost per page | 0.05 - 0.30 EUR/page | Marginal (infra) |
| Delivery time | 2 - 4 weeks | 8 - 16 weeks |
| Fit to specific templates | Limited | Full |
| Accounting integration | Tool-dependent | Native |
| Built-in human validation | Rare | Yes |
| Solution ownership | No | Yes |
The volume effect
Cost per page makes all the difference by volume. Here is the annual comparison between a SaaS at 0.20 EUR/page and an amortised custom solution.
| Monthly volume | SaaS (0.20 EUR/page, in MAD) | Custom (amortised + infra) | Tipping point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 pages | ~26,400 MAD/yr | ~60,000 MAD/yr | SaaS wins |
| 3,000 pages | ~79,200 MAD/yr | ~72,000 MAD/yr | Break-even |
| 5,000 pages | ~132,000 MAD/yr | ~84,000 MAD/yr | Custom wins |
| 10,000 pages | ~264,000 MAD/yr | ~108,000 MAD/yr | Custom wins |
| 20,000 pages | ~528,000 MAD/yr | ~150,000 MAD/yr | Custom wins |
Mini case study
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Mr Bensaid, partner in a firm in Singapore (6,000 documents/month), invests 280,000 MAD in a custom solution. Manual entry tied up 2 part-time staff, about 120 h/month at 90 MAD/h loaded, or 10,800 MAD/month. With a 60 % saving, he recovers 6,480 MAD/month in redeployable time, i.e. 77,760 MAD/yr. The project pays back in 280,000 / 6,480 ≈ 43 months on data-entry time alone, but real return is faster once fewer errors and faster accounting close-off are counted.
FAQ
How much does document AI extraction cost in 2026? A SaaS runs 0.05-0.30 EUR/page; a custom solution 150,000-400,000 MAD depending on document types and integrations.
At what volume is custom worth it? Generally above 3,000 to 5,000 pages/month, where the SaaS per-page cost exceeds the amortised custom solution.
Does AI replace human checking? No, a good solution includes human validation on low-confidence cases, ensuring accounting and legal reliability.
Can accounting be connected? Yes, a custom solution injects extracted data straight into your accounting software, with no re-keying.
What is the setup time? Plan 2 to 4 weeks for a SaaS and 8 to 16 weeks for a custom solution trained on your document templates.
Let's scope your project. Share your document types, monthly volume and accounting integrations, and we will price the most profitable extraction solution. 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.
