The verdict in three sentences
A custom field service management application, web for the office and offline-first mobile for technicians, costs USD 17,500 to 44,000 excluding VAT (10 to 25 million FCFA) in 2026. Against an international SaaS at USD 25 per technician per month, it becomes cheaper from year three for a 35-technician team, and above all it keeps working when 4G drops in a basement in Upper Hill or an industrial estate on Mombasa Road. The real gain lies elsewhere: one more job per technician per day and invoicing within 48 hours instead of 15 days.
Custom build or international SaaS: the 3-year comparison
Calculation for 35 technicians (2026 order of magnitude, 1 USD = 570 FCFA).
| Criterion | International SaaS | Custom application |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | USD 0 to 2,600 setup | USD 17,500 to 44,000 |
| Recurring cost | About USD 875 per month (35 × 25) | USD 260 to 615 per month (hosting, maintenance) |
| 3-year cost | USD 31,500 to 34,200 | USD 27,000 to 66,000 |
| Offline mode | Partial, sync sometimes fragile | Designed for outages of several hours |
| Payment | Card in USD | Local invoice, mobile money or bank transfer |
| Language and forms | Generic templates | Your exact job sheets |
| Data | Hosted abroad | Hosting of your choice, compliant with local data protection law |
For an essential version at USD 21,000, custom beats SaaS from month 35. For a full version at USD 44,000, the case is operational: forms matched to maintenance contracts, built-in invoicing and no dependency on a foreign subscription.
What each budget level includes
| Feature | Essential (USD 17,500 to 24,500) | Advanced (USD 26,000 to 33,000) | Full (USD 35,000 to 44,000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technician scheduling and dispatch | Yes | Yes, drag and drop | Yes, route optimisation |
| Signed job sheet on mobile | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Before and after photos | Yes | Yes, compressed for 3G | Yes |
| Offline mode | 1 day | 3 days | 7 days |
| Parts and van stock | No | Yes | Yes |
| Maintenance contracts and preventive visits | No | Yes | Yes, automatic alerts |
| Invoicing and reminders | Export | PDF invoice | Invoice + mobile money payment |
| Delivery time | 10 to 12 weeks | 14 to 16 weeks | 18 to 22 weeks |
Offline capability drives the price difference between levels: storing 7 days of jobs, photos and signatures on the phone, then syncing them without duplicates, accounts for 20 to 25% of the full version's budget.
Mini case study
David, technical director of an air-conditioning maintenance company in Nairobi (35 technicians, contracts with hotels, banks and office buildings), runs job sheets on paper. Each technician completes 4 jobs a day; sheets reach the office at the end of the week and invoices go out 15 days after the job.
With an advanced application at USD 30,000 (17 million FCFA), dispatch improves and each technician reaches 5 jobs a day. Assuming only half of this extra capacity is sold, at USD 21 margin per job: 35 × 0.5 × 22 days × 21 = USD 8,085 extra margin per month. Invoicing within 48 hours also frees about 13 days of cash. Payback: under 4 months.
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FAQ
Does the app run on entry-level Android phones?
Yes, a field-designed application runs on 2 GB RAM Android phones costing USD 105 to 160. Photos are compressed to about 200 KB to save data.
How much mobile data does it use?
About 300 to 600 MB per technician per month, photos included, i.e. a USD 5 to 9 data bundle. Syncing preferably happens on Wi-Fi in the evening.
Can the customer sign and pay on site?
Yes in the full version: on-screen signature, then a mobile money payment link sent by SMS or WhatsApp. Merchant transaction fees are around 1%.
Do we need a local server?
Not necessarily, but data protection law governs cross-border transfers of personal data. Local hosting or the required registration adds USD 0 to 260 a month depending on the option.
Can we start with some of the technicians?
It is actually recommended: a 4-week pilot with 8 technicians lets you adjust forms before full rollout, at no significant extra cost.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of technicians, job types and invoicing process: we will price the right level and the 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.
