The verdict in three sentences
For a consumer goods distributor with 45 field reps and 3,000 outlets, an offline progressive web app (PWA) costs 18,000,000 to 40,000,000 FCFA in 2026 (about USD 30,000 to 66,000, or EUR 27,400 to 61,000), plus 80,000 to 200,000 FCFA per month (USD 135 to 335) for hosting. Offline mode is essential: in outer districts, warehouses or rural routes, coverage drops and a rep cannot wait for signal to confirm an order. Expected gains: 18% more visits per day and the end of paper order forms re-keyed with errors.
Custom PWA, native app or SaaS software
A sales director has three options. A PWA installs from the browser, works without a network and updates without going through app stores, a real advantage on entry-level Android phones.
| Criterion | Sales force SaaS | Native Android app | Custom offline PWA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA setup (USD 1,700 to 5,000) | 25,000,000 to 55,000,000 FCFA (USD 41,500 to 91,500) | 18,000,000 to 40,000,000 FCFA (USD 30,000 to 66,000) |
| Recurring cost | 15,000 to 35,000 FCFA per user per month (USD 25 to 58) | 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA/month | 80,000 to 200,000 FCFA/month |
| Recurring cost for 45 reps | 675,000 to 1,575,000 FCFA/month | Fixed | Fixed |
| Full offline (catalogue, prices, balances) | Partial, vendor-dependent | Yes | Yes |
| Sync with your ERP | Standard connectors | Custom | Custom |
| Updates | Vendor | Via Play Store | Instant |
| Footprint on a budget phone | Variable | 40 to 80 MB | 3 to 8 MB |
Over 3 years, SaaS at 25,000 FCFA per user costs about 40,500,000 FCFA (USD 67,000) for 45 reps, as much as the most complete PWA, without control over your commercial rules.
Breakdown of the 18 to 40 million FCFA budget
Price depends on the number of modules and the complexity of syncing with your ERP (Sage, Odoo, SAP Business One).
| Module | 2026 range | Indicative timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Offline catalogue, prices by channel (wholesale, semi-wholesale, retail) | 3,500,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Order taking, discounts, promotions | 4,000,000 to 8,000,000 FCFA | 4 to 5 weeks |
| Routes, geolocation and proof of visit | 2,500,000 to 5,500,000 FCFA | 2 to 4 weeks |
| ERP sync (stock, balances, orders) | 4,000,000 to 10,000,000 FCFA | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Mobile payments in the field (Wave, Orange Money, cards) | 1,500,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA | 2 weeks |
| Supervisor and management dashboard | 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Field testing, training, rollout | 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA | 2 weeks |
The 18,000,000 FCFA core covers catalogue, ordering and simple ERP sync, delivered in 3 to 4 months. At 40,000,000 FCFA you get optimised routes, mobile payments, shelf audits with photos and dashboards by territory, in 5 to 6 months.
What the field demands technically
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Three field constraints shape the architecture. Sync must be deferred and conflict-tolerant: a rep may work 6 hours offline while two supervisors edit the same customer. Data must stay light, with images compressed under 50 KB, because many reps pay for their own data plans. Finally, battery matters: location is captured at each visit rather than continuously, preserving a full day of autonomy.
Mini case study
Kevin, sales director of a Toronto-headquartered beverage and hygiene products distributor with operations in Abidjan, manages 45 reps making 11 visits a day over 22 days: 10,890 visits and about 6,500 orders a month. Today 4% of orders carry a wrong item or price, each costing about 12,000 FCFA (return, credit note, trip): 3,120,000 FCFA a month. With a PWA at 28,000,000 FCFA (about USD 46,500), visits rise to 13 a day: 1,980 extra visits a month, half of which yield an average 60,000 FCFA order, so 59,400,000 FCFA in additional revenue and 3,560,000 FCFA of margin at 6%. Monthly gain net of hosting: 3,560,000 + 3,120,000 − 120,000 = 6,560,000 FCFA (about USD 10,900). Payback in just over 4 months, as an order of magnitude.
FAQ
Which phones does the app need? An Android 10 or newer smartphone with 3 GB of RAM is enough, a model from 60,000 FCFA (about USD 100). The PWA takes under 10 MB, including a 2,000-item catalogue.
How long can a rep work without signal? A full day. Orders are stored on the phone and sent as soon as 3G or 4G returns, with a clear indicator of pending orders.
Can reps collect payment on the spot? Yes, through merchant APIs (Wave, Orange Money in West Africa, card terminals elsewhere). The module costs 1,500,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA and mobile money merchant fees are about 1%.
How do we verify a visit really happened? Each visit records GPS position, time and optionally a shelf photo. A gap of more than 200 metres from the outlet's location triggers a supervisor alert.
Who handles maintenance? A contract at 300,000 to 700,000 FCFA per month (USD 500 to 1,150) covers fixes, minor changes and ERP sync monitoring.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of reps, outlets and your ERP: we will price a PWA between 18,000,000 and 40,000,000 FCFA (USD 30,000 to 66,000) with rollout in 3 to 6 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.
