The verdict in three sentences
An imported SaaS TMS (150,000-600,000 FCFA/month) launches fast but handles neither your real routes, multi-currency invoicing, nor fuel tracking. A custom system (12,000,000-28,000,000 FCFA) costs more upfront but pays back through saved fuel and recovered planning hours. The tipping point lands around 12 to 15 trucks, or the moment invoicing becomes a bottleneck.
Off-the-shelf SaaS vs custom: the real 2026 comparison
Generic market TMS platforms are built for Europe and North America: normalized addresses, precise maps, stable telecom. In practice, your drivers deliver to landmarks, collect cash or mobile money, and drive routes generic maps ignore. Here is the real gap.
| Criterion | Imported SaaS TMS | Kolonell custom |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 0 FCFA | 12,000,000-28,000,000 FCFA |
| Subscription/maintenance | 150,000-600,000 FCFA/mo | 250,000-650,000 FCFA/mo |
| Local route planning | Generic | Tailored to your lanes |
| Fleet GPS tracking | Often paid add-on | Included, real time |
| FCFA invoicing + reminders | Limited | Full, multi-currency |
| Fuel/accounting connector | Rare | Custom |
| Data ownership | Foreign server | You |
| Time to launch | 2-4 weeks | 14-22 weeks |
What a custom quote covers and its 3-year TCO
A full project covers three blocks: route planning (driver/truck assignment, delivery-order optimization), fleet GPS tracking (real-time position, deviation alerts), and freight invoicing (delivery notes, FCFA invoices, automated reminders). Accounting and fuel connectors are priced separately.
| Item | 2026 range (FCFA) |
|---|---|
| Scoping + design | 1,800,000-3,500,000 |
| Route planning module | 3,500,000-7,000,000 |
| Real-time fleet GPS | 2,500,000-6,000,000 |
| Invoicing + reminders | 2,500,000-5,500,000 |
| Accounting/fuel connectors | 1,700,000-6,000,000 |
| Total build | 12,000,000-28,000,000 |
| Annual maintenance | 3,000,000-7,800,000 |
| 3-year TCO (build + support) | 21,000,000-51,400,000 |
Compare with a SaaS at 400,000 FCFA/month: 14,400,000 FCFA over 3 years, owning nothing and gaining no operational efficiency.
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Mini case study
Mr. Aholou runs a freight forwarding firm with 16 trucks. His manual spreadsheet planning eats 12 hours/week and fuel is 38% of his costs. He invests 18,000,000 FCFA in a custom build (+ 400,000 FCFA/month support). After one year: planning drops to 3 hours/week (9 hours saved, ~468 hours/year), and fuel falls 10% through route optimization. On an annual fuel budget of 96,000,000 FCFA, that saves 9,600,000 FCFA/year, repaying the build in under 2 years including support.
FAQ
How long to deploy? Expect 14 to 22 weeks depending on scope (planning only vs full suite with GPS and invoicing). A first working module can ship in 8-10 weeks.
Does GPS tracking work with cheap trackers? Yes. We integrate standard GPS trackers (from ~25,000 FCFA/unit) or the driver's smartphone app, with no costly proprietary hardware.
Can we collect via mobile money and cash? Yes. Invoicing handles MTN MoMo and Moov Money, cash register, and automated SMS reminders, with accounting reconciliation.
What if my fleet doubles? The custom build scales without per-seat license fees, unlike SaaS billed per truck or per user.
Is it worth it under 10 trucks? Usually not: below 10-12 trucks a good SaaS is enough. Custom pays off once planning and invoicing become bottlenecks.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your fleet size, service zones, and daily route volume, plus your priorities — planning, GPS, or invoicing. 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.
