The verdict in three sentences
For a Dakar SMB juggling several data sources (ERP, banks, tills, Excel, freight forwarder, Wave), an executive dashboard cuts the monthly close from day 15 to day 5 and makes cash visible every morning. Power BI offers the best cost and speed if your data is already clean and your users are comfortable with Microsoft 365. A custom build wins when management needs simple mobile screens, connectors to local tools and full control over the data, which is also what London investors and lenders increasingly ask for in their reporting packs.
The real problem: six sources that don't talk
In a Dakar import company, information is scattered: accounting software (Sage or Odoo), statements from three banks, an Excel sheet of arrivals at the Port of Dakar, the forwarder's export, point-of-sale tills and Wave or Orange Money receipts. The managing director often waits until the 15th of the following month to know the real margin.
| Indicator | Before (Excel) | After (dashboard) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly close | day 15 | day 5 |
| Consolidated cash position | weekly, manual | daily, automatic |
| Margin by product family | quarterly | real time |
| Controller's reporting time | 25 to 35 h/month | 5 to 8 h/month |
| Landed cost (duties, freight, clearing) | estimated | calculated per container |
| Stock idle over 90 days | unknown | flagged weekly |
| Overdue receivables | paper list | tracked per sales rep |
Power BI or custom: the numbers
| Criterion | Power BI Pro | Custom dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | USD 14 per user per month (about 8,500 FCFA) | no licence, hosting 40,000 to 100,000 FCFA/month |
| Initial integration | 3,000,000 to 6,000,000 FCFA (EUR 4,600 to 9,150) | 6,000,000 to 12,000,000 FCFA (EUR 9,150 to 18,300) |
| Time to go live | 4 to 8 weeks | 8 to 14 weeks |
| 3-year cost for 10 users | 6,000,000 to 9,000,000 FCFA | 7,500,000 to 15,600,000 FCFA |
| Wave, Orange Money, forwarder connectors | built via API or files | native to the project |
| Mobile use by management | fine, dense interface | screens designed for the MD, partly offline |
| Vendor lock-in | high (Microsoft) | low, code handed over |
| Changing indicators | self-service with a trained analyst | via supplier or in-house team |
Power BI's 3-year cost includes licences (10 × 8,500 × 36 ≈ 3,060,000 FCFA) and integration. Custom costs more upfront but has no per-user licence: from 25 to 30 users, the gap reverses.
What makes the project succeed
Three workstreams matter more than the tool. First, a simple data warehouse (PostgreSQL) that pulls the six sources together every night. Second, indicator definitions signed off by management: what counts as margin, when a container enters stock. Third, clean product and customer master data, without which no chart can be trusted. These three workstreams account for 40 to 60% of the budget, whatever the display tool.
Mini case study
Mr Ndiaye, managing director of a building-materials import SMB in Dakar (60 staff, 4.5 billion FCFA revenue, 6 data sources). He goes custom at 8,500,000 FCFA, plus 70,000 FCFA a month of hosting.
- Reporting time saved: 25 h a month for the controller, about 3,000,000 FCFA a year of redeployed time.
- Idle stock identified and cleared: 150,000,000 FCFA, with a 12% annual carrying cost, i.e. 18,000,000 FCFA saved.
- First-year cost: 8,500,000 + 840,000 = 9,340,000 FCFA (about EUR 14,250).
- Payback: about 5 to 6 months, driven mostly by stock visibility.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
Does Power BI work well on Dakar internet connections?
Yes, on fibre or 4G+ reports load in 2 to 5 seconds. On 3G or on the road, a mobile-optimised custom dashboard stays smoother, with pages under 300 KB.
Can Wave and Orange Money receipts be included?
Yes, through merchant exports or APIs, synced nightly or hourly. Budget 500,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA of development per connector.
How many users make custom worthwhile?
Over 3 years, custom becomes competitive from 25 to 30 users. Below that, Power BI is usually cheaper if your needs stay standard.
Who maintains the indicators after delivery?
With Power BI, a trained in-house analyst (5 to 10 days of training) can build reports. With custom, plan a maintenance contract of 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA a month.
Where is the data hosted?
Power BI hosts it in Microsoft's cloud (Europe). With custom, you can choose hosting in Dakar or Europe, in line with Senegal's 2008-12 personal data law, which reassures foreign investors.
Let's scope your project. List your data sources and the 10 indicators you want every morning: we price Power BI and custom side by side, between 3,000,000 and 12,000,000 FCFA, delivered in 4 to 14 weeks. 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.
