The verdict in three sentences
On 9 million litres a month, a 0.6 % stock variance means 54,000 litres, about 45,000,000 FCFA monthly, while a well-run network stays below 0.25 %. Custom network software that reconciles tank dips, pump meter readings, deliveries and dealer remittances every day makes those variances visible station by station. At Kolonell this is a complex application, 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (EUR 10,670 to 22,870+), delivered in 5 to 7 months, with the rest set in the quote.
Where the 0.6 % comes from
The network director of a Cameroonian oil marketer oversees 45 stations, about twenty in Douala and the rest in Yaoundé, Bafoussam, Kribi and along the highways. Every evening each dealer sends a paper sheet or a WhatsApp photo: opening and closing nozzle meters, manual dipstick readings, shop sales, lubricant and LPG sales. At head office two controllers re-key these into a spreadsheet 3 to 10 days late.
Variances mix several causes: evaporation and temperature swings (normal up to about 0.2 to 0.3 %), dipping errors, short deliveries from tanker trucks, poorly calibrated nozzles and sometimes theft. Without daily reconciliation there is no way to tell a technical leak from a dealer problem.
| Control | Current practice | With network software |
|---|---|---|
| Dip vs meter reconciliation | monthly, 3 to 10 days late | daily, automatic |
| Fuel stock variance | 0.6 % | target 0.25 % |
| Tanker delivery check | signed paper note | dip before and after, gap flagged |
| Shop and lubricant sales | notebook per station | linked till, stock per item |
| Dealer remittances | bank statements ticked by hand | automatic matching, late alert |
| Head office controller time | 2 full-time staff | 1 person on exceptions |
Software scope
The core is the tanks and pumps module: mobile entry of meters and dips by the dealer (or automatic reading where automatic tank gauges are installed), calibration charts for each tank, temperature correction and book stock versus measured stock. The supply module tracks orders, depot loadings, deliveries and receiving variances.
The commercial module covers shop, lubricant and LPG sales with per-item stock and margin. The dealer module follows each dealer contract (commission per litre, targets), remittances by bank, MTN MoMo or Orange Money, and their running account. A network dashboard ranks stations by variance, volume, margin and late remittances.
| Option | Indicative 2026 cost | Strengths | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spreadsheets and WhatsApp | near zero | no investment | delays, no alerts |
| Imported station management software | EUR 150 to 400 per station per month, order of magnitude | standard features | poor fit with local dealer contracts |
| Automatic tank gauges | 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA per tank, third-party hardware | continuous measurement | heavy hardware spend |
| Kolonell medium application | 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (EUR 6,100 to 10,670) | tanks, meters, remittances | no shop or supply |
| Kolonell complex application | 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (EUR 10,670 to 22,870+) | full scope, 45 stations | 5 to 7 months |
| Kolonell maintenance | 35,000, 75,000 or 120,000 FCFA per month (EUR 53, 114 or 183) | fixes and changes | hosting set in the quote |
Rolling out across 45 stations
The project opens with 4 weeks of scoping: tank calibration, dealer contracts, remittance channels. Months 2 to 4 deliver the dealer app and daily reconciliation, tested on 5 pilot stations in Douala. Months 5 and 6 add shop, lubricants and supply. The other 40 stations go live in waves of 10, with half a day of training per dealer. The app runs on an Android phone and copes with network and power cuts.
Mini case study
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Ibrahim, network director of a 45-station distributor in Douala, starts from a 0.6 % variance on 9,000,000 litres, 54,000 litres a month. At an average of about 830 FCFA per litre that is 44,820,000 FCFA monthly. Bringing it down to 0.25 % recovers 0.35 point, 31,500 litres and about 26,000,000 FCFA (roughly EUR 40,000) a month, over 300,000,000 FCFA a year. He also redeploys one of his two controllers. With a complex project at 15,000,000 FCFA and maintenance at 120,000 FCFA per month, the investment is covered in under one month of recovered variance.
FAQ
Do all stations need automatic tank gauges?
No, the software works with manual dips entered on mobile twice a day. Gauges, at 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA per tank, can be added later on the 10 busiest stations.
How do you tell evaporation from theft?
The tool applies a tolerance per product and season, around 0.2 to 0.3 %, and flags any station above it 3 days in a row. History by nozzle and shift helps locate the cause.
Are mobile money remittances matched?
Yes, MTN MoMo, Orange Money and bank statements are imported and matched against declared sales. Any delay over 24 hours alerts the area supervisor.
What happens during a network outage?
The app stores readings locally and sends them once the network returns. A station can stay offline for 48 hours without data loss.
Can the software cover other CEMAC countries?
Yes, a multi-country structure (taxes, products, currencies) is planned at scoping; its exact scope is set in the quote.
Let's scope your project. Share your station list, tanks and dealer contracts and we will scope daily reconciliation and a wave-based rollout over 5 to 7 months. 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.
