The verdict in three sentences
A Burkinabe engineering firm that wants reliable quotes invests in 2026 between 12,000,000 and 30,000,000 FCFA in custom software, delivered in 3 to 5 months. The key modules are the price library, project tracking, timesheets and per-project margin calculation. The real value: stop losing money on badly quoted projects for lack of visibility on time actually spent.
Modules and their cost in FCFA
An engineering firm loses money not on the listed price but on the gap between time sold and time spent. The software must link quote, time and invoicing. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Module | Role | Indicative cost (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|
| Price library | Line items, ratios, quote templates | 2,500,000-5,000,000 |
| Project tracking | Pipeline, status, progress | 2,000,000-4,500,000 |
| Timesheets | Entry per project and task | 2,000,000-4,000,000 |
| Invoicing | Progress bills, deposits, reminders | 2,500,000-5,500,000 |
| Per-project margin | Time sold vs spent | 2,000,000-5,000,000 |
| Executive dashboard | Profitability, team load | 2,000,000-5,000,000 |
A useful base (library + project tracking + invoicing) starts around 14,000,000 FCFA. The full set with timesheets and margin rises toward 30,000,000 FCFA.
What the software changes for profitability
Without timesheets linked to quotes, a director discovers the loss after the fact. The software makes margin visible during the project. Here are the measured effects.
| Indicator | Before | After software |
|---|---|---|
| Time to issue a quote | 4-8 h | 1-2 h |
| Margin visibility | End of project | Real time |
| Negative-margin projects detected | Too late | As soon as overrun |
| Missed invoicing | Frequent | Automatic alerts |
| Timesheets completed | Partial | Systematic |
For a firm billing 400,000,000 FCFA/year, recovering 3 to 5 % of margin lost on poorly tracked projects is 12,000,000 to 20,000,000 FCFA, i.e. the software cost in the first year.
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Mini case study
Ousmane runs a 14-engineer firm in Ouagadougou, with annual revenue of about 400,000,000 FCFA. For lack of timesheets linked to quotes, he estimates losing 4 % of margin on under-quoted projects, i.e. 16,000,000 FCFA/year. Custom software at 22,000,000 FCFA, delivered in 4 months, makes margin visible in real time and divides quote-editing time by three. Estimated recovery: 16,000,000 FCFA/year, plus 6 hours/week saved on quoting. Return on investment in about 18 months.
FAQ
What budget for engineering-firm software in Ouagadougou in 2026? Expect 12,000,000 to 30,000,000 FCFA depending on modules. A price library + project tracking + invoicing base starts around 14,000,000 FCFA.
How do timesheets change profitability? By linking time spent to time sold, they make margin visible during the project and allow reaction before it turns loss-making.
How long to deliver? Usually 3 to 5 months. The quoting and invoicing base can be delivered first, in about 2 to 3 months.
Does the price library really save time? Yes: pre-set line items and ratios cut quote-editing time from 4-8 hours to 1-2 hours while making estimates reliable.
Can we track team workload? Yes, the executive dashboard cross-references timesheets and ongoing projects to anticipate overloads and slack periods.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of engineers, your priority modules (quoting, timesheets, margin) and your indicative budget in FCFA. 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.
