The verdict in three sentences
For a transport and logistics company, SaaS telematics costs 12,000 to 30,000 FCFA/vehicle/month and deploys fast, but the bill climbs with the fleet and data stays with the vendor. A custom platform (9,000,000 to 22,000,000 FCFA, 12 to 18 weeks) integrates GPS tracking, fuel management, digital delivery notes AND mobile money payments, with no exploding per-vehicle cost. It cuts fuel consumption by 15% and removes 45 h/month of paper entry.
SaaS telematics vs custom platform
SaaS rental is simple but recurring. Custom is an investment you own, tailored to local realities (mobile money, connectivity).
| Criterion | SaaS telematics | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 12,000 to 30,000 FCFA/vehicle/month | 9,000,000 to 22,000,000 FCFA |
| 20 vehicles over 3 years | 8.6 to 21.6 M FCFA | 9 to 22 M FCFA |
| Digital delivery notes | Basic | Tailored |
| Mobile money payment | Rare | Integrated (Flooz, T-Money) |
| Fuel management | Standard | Your rules |
| Data ownership | With vendor | With you |
| Timeline | 3 to 6 weeks | 12 to 18 weeks |
Fuel and digitalisation gains
Savings come from controlled fuel and the end of paper logbooks.
| Lever | 2026 impact (ballpark) |
|---|---|
| Fuel consumption | -15% |
| Delivery-note entry | -45 h/month |
| Unauthorised trips | strongly reduced |
| Customer invoicing delay | -5 days |
| Mobile money collection | immediate |
| Custom platform ROI | 16 to 22 months |
Mini case study
Kossi runs a 20-vehicle transport company with a fuel budget of 48,000,000 FCFA/year. His delivery notes are on paper logbooks, re-entered manually (~45 h/month).
A custom platform at 15,000,000 FCFA adds GPS tracking, fuel management and digital notes with mobile money collection. A 15% fuel drop is 7,200,000 FCFA/year, plus 45 h/month of entry saved (~2,700,000 FCFA/year) and invoicing 5 days faster. With ~10,000,000 FCFA of annual gains, the platform pays back in about 18 months.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Do we install GPS units in each vehicle?
Yes, budget 35,000 to 90,000 FCFA/vehicle per unit, plus a data subscription. Custom integrates with standard market units.
Is mobile money really integrable?
Yes: delivery collection via Flooz and T-Money directly in the app, with automatic reconciliation of payments and notes.
At how many vehicles does custom pay off?
From 15 to 20 vehicles, cumulative SaaS subscriptions over 3 years match the cost of a platform you own.
How do you cut consumption by 15%?
GPS tracking reveals unauthorised trips, excessive idling and fuel theft: fixing them commonly returns 12 to 18% savings.
How long to a usable first scope?
A GPS tracking + digital delivery notes scope ships in 12 to 14 weeks, with fuel management and mobile money following in batches.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your fleet size, fuel budget and mobile money needs, and we'll price a custom fleet-management platform in FCFA. 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.
