The verdict in three sentences
A custom field service scheduling and after-sales software costs between 35,000 and 85,000 EUR excl. tax in 2026 depending on smart scheduling, geolocation and contract management. The main gain comes from route optimization: cutting travel by 10 to 20% frees billable intervention slots without hiring. Against per-technician priced market solutions, custom becomes cheaper from 15 to 20 technicians and fits your specific service contracts.
How much scheduling software costs in 2026
Price depends on the intelligence of the scheduling and integrations (CRM, ERP, field mobile app).
| Scope | 2026 price (EUR excl. tax) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Manual scheduling + team calendar | 35,000 - 45,000 | 3 months |
| + Smart scheduling + geolocation | 50,000 - 65,000 | 4 months |
| + Service contracts + SLA management | 65,000 - 85,000 | 5 months |
| Client portal (booking) | + 10,000 - 18,000 | + 1 month |
| Annual maintenance | 15 - 20% of project | recurring |
Smart scheduling (auto-assignment by skill, position and load) is the core value: it cuts mileage and raises the utilization rate.
Off-the-shelf vs custom software
| Criterion | Off-the-shelf SaaS | Custom software |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 0 - 8,000 EUR | 35,000 - 85,000 EUR |
| Cost per technician/month | 30 - 60 EUR | 0 (proprietary license) |
| 3-year cost (20 technicians) | 21,600 - 43,200 EUR | 35,000 - 85,000 EUR + maintenance |
| Specific service contracts | Standard, rigid | Tailored |
| Scheduling rules | Predefined | Your business rules |
| ERP/CRM integration | Variable, often paid | Native |
| Ownership and scalability | Limited | Total |
For 20 technicians, off-the-shelf SaaS costs 7,200 to 14,400 EUR/year. Custom is heavier upfront but amortizes and removes the per-head subscription.
Mini case study
Mr. Bernard runs an elevator servicing company in Nantes with 20 technicians doing 10 interventions/day each. Travel represents 1.5 hours/day/technician. Smart scheduling cuts travel by 15%, i.e. about 13 min/day/technician freed, times 20 technicians = 4.3 hours/day recovered overall.
Those 4.3 hours/day allow about 8 extra billable interventions/day at 90 EUR margin, i.e. 720 EUR/day x 220 days = 158,400 EUR/year. He invests 68,000 EUR excl. tax in custom software with service contract management and 12,000 EUR annual maintenance. Payback is reached in about 6 months.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
What does smart scheduling bring?
It auto-assigns each intervention to the right technician by skill, position and load. Result: 10 to 20% less travel and better utilization, without hiring.
From how many technicians is custom worth it?
Generally from 15 to 20 technicians, when cumulative per-head SaaS subscriptions exceed the 3-year amortization of proprietary software.
Can it manage service contracts with SLAs?
Yes. Custom software tracks contract deadlines, triggers preventive visits and alerts on at-risk SLAs, which generic solutions handle poorly.
Should the software be paired with a field mobile app?
Strongly recommended: office-side scheduling and technician-side app form a duo that removes re-entry and keeps data reliable in real time.
What is the implementation timeline?
Budget 3 to 5 months depending on scheduling level and ERP/CRM integrations. A client booking portal adds about 1 month.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of technicians, your service contract types and geolocation needs for an indicative budget. 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.
