The verdict in three sentences
For a maintenance company with 70 technicians in Tunis, a field scheduling SaaS costs EUR 25 to 45 per technician per month, i.e. roughly 71,000 to 128,000 TND a year. A custom app takes 90,000 to 180,000 TND excl. VAT (about EUR 26,000 to 53,000) and 4 months to build, then 18,000 to 30,000 TND a year for maintenance and hosting. If you plan to use the tool for more than 3 years, or if your processes (service contracts, parts, manufacturer warranties) fall outside the standard, custom wins.
Comparing total cost over 5 years
The figures below assume EUR 1 = 3.40 TND, a 2026 order of magnitude, and a stable headcount of 70 technicians.
| Item | Entry-level SaaS (EUR 25) | Full SaaS (EUR 45) | Custom (160,000 TND) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 5,000 TND setup | 15,000 TND setup and integration | 160,000 TND excl. VAT |
| Annual cost | 71,400 TND | 128,500 TND | 22,000 TND |
| Cumulative at 1 year | 76,400 TND | 143,500 TND | 182,000 TND |
| Cumulative at 3 years | 219,200 TND | 400,500 TND | 226,000 TND |
| Cumulative at 5 years | 362,000 TND | 657,500 TND | 270,000 TND |
| Break-even point | 3.1 years vs EUR 25 SaaS, 1.4 years vs EUR 45 SaaS | ||
| Price changes | 5 to 10% annual increases are common | 5 to 10% annual increases are common | Under your control |
SaaS remains the right choice to start fast or if headcount varies a lot. Custom makes sense above 50 stable technicians, or as soon as you need features the SaaS sells as add-ons.
What the custom app includes
The 90,000 to 180,000 TND budget breaks down as follows for a web scheduling app plus an offline mobile app for technicians.
| Module | Range (TND excl. VAT) | Indicative duration |
|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop schedule by team and skill | 15,000 to 28,000 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Route optimisation (Google Routes or OSRM) | 12,000 to 30,000 | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Technician mobile app, offline mode | 20,000 to 40,000 | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Work order, photos, customer signature | 10,000 to 20,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Service contracts and automatic preventive visits | 10,000 to 22,000 | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Parts stock per vehicle | 8,000 to 18,000 | 2 weeks |
| Link to invoicing and accounting software | 8,000 to 12,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| QA, training, rollout | 7,000 to 10,000 | 2 weeks |
Route optimisation delivers the most visible gain. Across Greater Tunis, between La Marsa, Ariana, Ben Arous and Manouba, a technician often spends 2 hours a day on the road. Well-calculated geographic grouping brings that down to 1 h 15 and adds on average one job per technician per day in peak season.
What to check before signing a SaaS
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Three questions for the vendor: does offline mode really work in basements and plant rooms with no signal, can all data be exported if you leave, and does hosting comply with Tunisia's Organic Law 2004-63 on personal data protection, with a declaration to the INPDP. Also check euro billing: a 5% move in the dinar raises your subscription by the same amount.
Mini case study
Mehdi, operations director of an air-conditioning maintenance company in Tunis, manages 70 technicians. He is weighing a SaaS at EUR 30 per technician against a custom app at 150,000 TND excl. VAT.
SaaS: 70 x EUR 30 x 12 = EUR 25,200, about 85,700 TND a year. Custom: 150,000 TND then 22,000 TND a year. Annual difference: 63,700 TND. Break-even: 150,000 / 63,700 = 2.4 years. In both cases, route optimisation pays: if 70 technicians save 45 minutes a day over 220 days, that frees 11,550 hours a year. At a fully loaded hourly cost of 25 TND, that is nearly 290,000 TND a year of extra capacity, which turns into billed jobs during the hot season.
FAQ
How long does development take? Allow 4 months for a complete first version, including 6 weeks for the offline mobile app. A pilot with 10 technicians starts in month three.
Do technicians need recent smartphones? A mid-range Android is enough, about 600 to 900 TND per device. The app runs on Android 10 and above.
Can we keep our invoicing software? Yes, an 8,000 to 12,000 TND connector sends approved work orders to invoicing with no re-keying.
Who owns the code? Your company, with source code and documentation delivered. You can switch maintenance provider.
What annual maintenance budget should we plan? Between 18,000 and 30,000 TND, i.e. 15 to 20% of the initial cost, hosting included.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of technicians, job types and current tool: we will compare SaaS and custom over 5 years and price the app between 90,000 and 180,000 TND excl. VAT. 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.
