The verdict in three sentences
In Abidjan, a banking or telecom client does not judge its facility management provider on promises, but on SLA compliance and on whether its generators run during power cuts. Custom multi-site maintenance software, with QR codes on every asset, preventive plans and automatic client reports, costs, as a 2026 order of magnitude, 18 to 32 million FCFA (about 27,500 to 49,000 EUR). The return shows up as avoided breakdowns, removed contractual penalties and renewed contracts.
The limits of running operations on WhatsApp and Excel
In most Ivorian facility management firms, requests arrive by phone, email or WhatsApp group, technicians log work on paper and the account manager assembles an Excel report at month end. Across 65 buildings and about 4,200 assets (generators, air conditioners, lifts, UPS units, pumps), this produces missed preventive maintenance and disputes with clients over response times.
| Indicator | Manual management | With dedicated software |
|---|---|---|
| Time to acknowledge a request | 2 to 6 hours | Under 30 minutes, instant notification |
| Preventive maintenance done on time | 55 to 70% | Over 95% |
| Unplanned breakdowns per month | 120 on average | 78 (35% fewer) |
| Client SLA report | 2 days of preparation per client | Generated automatically, viewable online |
| History per asset | Scattered, often lost | Full record via QR code |
| Annual SLA penalties | 15 to 30 million FCFA | Down 60 to 80% |
Modules and their cost in 2026
The software combines a mobile app for technicians, usable on 3G with an offline mode for basements and plant rooms, a client portal and a back office for supervisors.
| Module | Scope | Estimated budget (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory and QR codes | Asset record, labels, photos, warranties | 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 |
| Service requests | Occupant QR scan, categorisation, SLA priority | 3,000,000 to 5,500,000 |
| Preventive maintenance | Plans by running hours (generators), season (AC), alerts | 3,500,000 to 6,000,000 |
| Technician app | Work orders, before and after photos, signature, offline | 3,500,000 to 6,500,000 |
| Client portal and SLA reports | Dashboard per site, monthly PDF export | 2,500,000 to 5,000,000 |
| Stock and subcontractors | Spare parts, diesel, subcontractor purchase orders | 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 |
| Total | Delivered in 12 to 14 weeks | 18,000,000 to 32,000,000 |
Recurring costs: hosting (40,000 to 75,000 FCFA per month), application maintenance (75,000 to 120,000 FCFA per month), notification SMS (about 15 to 25 FCFA per message) and heat-resistant QR labels (about 500 FCFA each).
The special case of generators
For bank headquarters in the Plateau district or telecom data centres in Marcory, the generator is the critical asset. The software triggers maintenance based on actual running hours (oil change every 250 to 500 hours depending on the manufacturer), tracks diesel consumption per site and alerts when the tank level drops below 40%. It also records the monthly no-load tests that contracts often require. Diesel tracking alone frequently reveals gaps of 8 to 12% between deliveries and theoretical consumption.
Mini case study
Ms. Koné is operations director of a facility management company in Abidjan that manages 65 buildings and employs 140 technicians. Last year she paid 22 million FCFA in SLA penalties and recorded 1,440 unplanned breakdowns, each costing an average of 85,000 FCFA in emergency call-outs and parts, or 122 million FCFA.
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The chosen software costs 26 million FCFA, plus 2.3 million FCFA of annual maintenance. With 35% fewer breakdowns, savings reach about 43 million FCFA, plus 15 million FCFA of avoided penalties and 6 million FCFA of diesel gaps recovered. The annual gain exceeds 60 million FCFA: the investment pays back in about five months, and SLA reports become a sales argument in tenders.
FAQ
Does every occupant need an app?
No, the occupant scans the QR code with the phone camera and fills in a web form in 30 seconds, with no install or account.
How long does it take to label 4,200 assets?
A team of 6 technicians labels and photographs about 150 assets a day, so 4 to 5 weeks running in parallel with development.
Can the software connect to generator sensors?
Yes, recent controllers expose running hours and alarms through Modbus or a GSM gateway. Allow 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA of hardware per connected generator.
Can clients view their reports live?
Each client gets a secure portal with its sites, open requests and SLA compliance rate, updated in real time.
Is the data compliant with Ivorian regulations?
The processing is declared to ARTCI under law 2013-450, and hosting can be in Côte d'Ivoire if a banking client requires it.
Let's scope your project. Share your number of sites, assets and SLA commitments: we will price the scope, give an indicative budget and a site-by-site rollout 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.
