The verdict in three sentences
A heating and air conditioning company with 22 technicians in Bordeaux that loses 5 hours per technician per week to paperwork lets more than 5,000 hours slip away each year. A custom field service app, with job sheets signed on a tablet and boiler service certificates generated automatically, costs 2.5 to 15M+ FCFA (3,810 to 22,870+ EUR) with Kolonell depending on complexity, versus 40 to 80 EUR per technician per month for off-the-shelf software as a 2026 order of magnitude. Timeline is 3 to 4 months, with hosting and connectors quoted separately.
Where the 5 weekly hours go
With 6,000 maintenance contracts, the September to December season concentrates most visits. Each technician fills in a paper job sheet, drops it at the office at the end of the week, an assistant retypes it into the billing software, then prints the service certificate to send to the customer. Misread handwriting, lost sheets and trips to the depot to check a part number do the rest.
| Task | Time lost per technician per week | With the app |
|---|---|---|
| Filling in and filing paper job sheets | 1 h 30 | Pre-filled sheet, customer signs on tablet |
| Trips to the office to drop sheets | 1 h | Automatic sync |
| Calls to get address, access code, history | 1 h | Customer and appliance history available offline |
| Checking parts at the depot | 45 min | Van stock visible in the app |
| Writing certificates and refrigerant logs | 45 min | PDF generated and emailed automatically |
| Total | 5 h | About 1 h 30 left |
The regulations that shape the app
In France, annual servicing of boilers from 4 to 400 kW has been mandatory since 2009, with a certificate given to the customer within 15 days of the visit. It must state efficiency, carbon monoxide emissions and usage advice. For air conditioning, any work on a circuit containing refrigerants requires a technician certification and an intervention log recording quantities charged and recovered. Similar rules exist in most European markets. The app enforces them: a job cannot be closed without the mandatory readings, and the certificate is generated and emailed before the technician leaves the home.
| Option | Upfront cost | Annual cost for 22 technicians | Watch-out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off-the-shelf software, entry level | 500 to 2,000 EUR setup | 22 × 40 × 12 = 10,560 EUR | Certificates hard to customise |
| Off-the-shelf software, high end | 2,000 to 5,000 EUR | 22 × 80 × 12 = 21,120 EUR | Cost grows with each hire |
| Kolonell, simple application | 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (3,810 to 6,100 EUR) | Maintenance from 35,000 FCFA per month (53 EUR) | Job sheets and certificates only |
| Kolonell, medium application | 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR) | Maintenance 75,000 FCFA per month (114 EUR) | Scheduling, contracts, van stock |
| Kolonell, complex application | 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (10,670 to 22,870+ EUR) | Maintenance 120,000 FCFA per month (183 EUR) | Accounting connector, route optimisation |
Route planning and contract renewals
The other big win is scheduling. The 6,000 contracts are spread across the Bordeaux metro area and surrounding wine country: grouping visits by area cuts mileage and often allows one more visit per technician per day. The app suggests routes by zone to the planner, sends a confirmation text the day before and automatically reminds customers whose contract is about to expire. Every contract renewed without a phone call saves 10 minutes of office time.
Mini case study
Laurent Dufour, managing director, runs the numbers on a 46-week working year. 22 technicians × 5 hours × 46 weeks = 5,060 hours lost. The app recovers 70%, i.e. 3,542 hours. Turned into extra one-hour visits billed at 85 EUR excluding VAT with a 40% margin, the gain reaches 3,542 × 34 = 120,400 EUR of margin a year, as an order of magnitude.
On the other side, a Kolonell medium application at 9,500 EUR plus Premium maintenance at 183 EUR per month comes to about 11,700 EUR in year one, plus hosting quoted separately. High-end off-the-shelf software would cost 21,120 EUR every year, rising with each new technician.
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FAQ
Does the app work without signal in a cellar or basement?
Yes, it is built offline-first: customer record, history and job sheet are available without a connection. Sync happens as soon as signal returns, usually within 30 seconds.
Does every technician need a tablet?
A rugged tablet costs around 300 to 600 EUR in 2026. A recent smartphone also works, as the app adapts to both formats.
Can we import our 6,000 existing contracts?
Yes, from your current software or an Excel file. Allow 2 weeks to clean addresses and appliance references.
Does the app connect to our accounting software?
Yes, through export or API depending on the tool. This connector is quoted separately and adds 2 to 3 weeks on average.
How long does technician training take?
Half a day is enough in most cases, plus a week of field support. We recommend starting with 4 pilot technicians before the heating season.
Let's scope your project. Tell us how many technicians and contracts you have, your current tools and the date you need to hit before the heating season. 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.
