The verdict in three sentences
For a telecom subcontractor paid per job, every fibre installation without a complete proof pack is a claim the network operator can reject. Field job tracking software that enforces photos, optical readings and signature before a job can be closed cuts both the failure rate and disputed invoices. For 6,000 jobs a month and 90 engineers, the project falls in the medium application tier (4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA, i.e. 6,100 to 10,670 EUR) and rolls out in 3 to 5 months.
The economics of a fibre install in 2026
Take a contractor in London or Dublin working for 2 network operators. Its 90 engineers complete about 6,000 installs a month, paid per job at roughly 75 to 135 GBP in the UK or 90 to 160 EUR in Ireland depending on complexity: multi-dwelling units, overhead drops from poles, underground with duct rodding. The failure rate is 12 %: customer not home, full splitter, blocked duct, wrong address.
Each failure is an unpaid visit. And part of the successful jobs gets rejected weeks later during the operator's quality audits: missing photo of the ONT, no power reading, non-compliant labelling.
| Monthly metric | Current (2026 estimate) | Target with software |
|---|---|---|
| Installs completed | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| Failure rate | 12 % (720 jobs) | 7 to 8 % (450 jobs) |
| Average cost of an unpaid visit | 40 to 50 GBP / 45 to 60 EUR | same |
| Jobs rejected by the operator | 4 to 6 % | under 1 % |
| Time to build the proof pack | 2 to 5 days | instant at close |
| Billing reconciliation time | 3 days a month | 4 hours |
| Average payment delay | 75 days | 50 to 55 days |
Most of the drop in failures comes from preparation: confirmation call or text the day before, checking the splitter status from earlier visits to the same address, assigning the engineer with the right kit.
Features that make the difference
Generic field service tools know neither the operators' failure codes nor their evidence rules. Custom software builds these rules in from day one.
| Feature | What it delivers | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Operator order import | automatic retrieval of work orders by file or API | release 1 |
| Offline engineer app | guided flow, mandatory photos, readings, customer signature | release 1 |
| Completeness check | job cannot close if an item is missing | release 1 |
| Standardised failure codes | mapped to each operator's taxonomy | release 1 |
| Scheduling and routing | assignment by area, skill and van stock | release 2 |
| Exportable proof pack | per-job archive ready for the operator | release 2 |
| Billing reconciliation | jobs declared vs accepted vs paid | release 2 |
| Management dashboard | failures by cause, engineer and area | release 3 |
The completeness check is the heart of the system. An engineer cannot close a job if the splitter photo, the ONT photo, the power reading in dBm or the signature is missing. The app also confirms the photo was taken on site via geolocation and timestamp.
Budget and timeline
On Kolonell's 2026 grid, a first release limited to the engineer app and completeness check fits the simple tier (2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA, i.e. 3,810 to 6,100 EUR). The three releases above are medium (4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA, i.e. 6,100 to 10,670 EUR). With API connectors to several operators, van stock management and variable engineer pay, it becomes complex (7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA, i.e. 10,670 to 22,870+ EUR).
Rollout takes 3 to 5 months: 2 weeks of discovery with your team leads, 8 to 12 weeks of build, a 3-week pilot with 15 engineers, then full deployment. Maintenance follows the 35,000, 75,000 or 120,000 FCFA per month grid (53, 114 or 183 EUR). By comparison, an off-the-shelf field service platform costs, as a 2026 order of magnitude, 25 to 60 GBP per engineer per month, so 2,250 to 5,400 GBP a month for 90 engineers.
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Mini case study
Liam, managing director of a fibre contractor in Dublin, cuts his failure rate from 12 % to 8 %. That avoids 240 unpaid visits a month at 50 EUR, so 12,000 EUR a month. Rejections drop from 5 % to 1 % on 5,280 successful jobs at 115 EUR on average: 211 jobs recovered, around 24,000 EUR a month. Even if only half of this materialises, he gains 18,000 EUR a month. A medium-tier project, at most 10,670 EUR, pays back in under one month of operation.
FAQ
Will mandatory photos slow engineers down?
The guided flow adds 3 to 5 minutes per job. That is more than offset by no longer sending someone back to complete a file, which costs 40 to 50 GBP each time.
Can we work for several operators in the same tool?
Yes. Each operator has its own rule set: required items, failure codes, export format. The engineer only sees the requirements of the order in hand.
What about areas with no signal?
The app works offline and stores photos and readings on the phone. Sync happens automatically once coverage returns, often in under 2 minutes.
Do engineers need new phones?
No, any recent Android or iOS smartphone under 4 years old will do. Photos are compressed to about 300 KB with no loss of legibility.
How quickly can we measure the effect?
The 3-week pilot with 15 engineers is enough to compare failure and rejection rates against the rest of the workforce.
Let's scope your project. We map your operators' evidence rules with you and run a pilot with one team, with full rollout in 3 to 5 months. 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.
