The verdict in three sentences
A geotechnical lab in Abidjan, Dakar or Accra handling 4,000 tests a year for road projects loses most of its time between the bench and the report: paper sheets, re-entry into Excel, formatting in Word. Business software that registers samples, takes readings on tablets, applies standardised calculations and produces signed PDF reports brings delivery time down from 10 to 3 days. At Kolonell, this kind of application costs between 2,500,000 and 15,000,000 FCFA (EUR 3,810 to 22,870+) depending on the number of tests and integrations.
Where time is lost in a soil testing lab
Road programmes and urban development projects across West Africa keep labs running at full capacity. Supervising engineers and project owners need fast results: an embankment cannot be compacted until the Proctor test is approved. Yet in most private labs, every test passes through four different media.
| Step (2026 order of magnitude) | Paper and Excel process | With business software |
|---|---|---|
| Sample registration | paper log, 5 min | QR code and digital record, 1 min |
| Weighing and readings entry | paper sheet then Excel, 20 min | tablet at the test station, 8 min |
| Calculations (Proctor, CBR, Atterberg limits) | copied Excel formulas, error risk | locked standardised calculations |
| Report writing | Word, 45 to 60 min | generated PDF, 5 min |
| Review and signature | print-out, handwritten signature | approval and e-signature |
| Average delivery time | 10 days | 3 days |
| Re-entry error rate | 3 to 5% | under 0.5% |
Across 4,000 tests, every hour saved per report frees thousands of engineer and technician hours, and above all keeps construction sites from waiting.
Modules and cost
The software covers the full chain: sample intake with origin (site, chainage, borehole, depth), assignment to technicians, data entry, calculations to the NF, ASTM or AASHTO standards your clients specify, curves (grading, Proctor, CBR), engineer approval, PDF report and invoicing per project.
| Scope | Content | Kolonell budget |
|---|---|---|
| Simple application | sample registration, tablet entry, 3 tests (Proctor, CBR, grading), PDF reports | 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (EUR 3,810 to 6,100) |
| Medium application | 8 to 12 tests, curves, e-signature, client portal for supervising engineers | 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (EUR 6,100 to 10,670) |
| Complex application | in situ tests, multi-lab, invoicing, accounting link, offline mode on site | 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (EUR 10,670 to 22,870+) |
| Maintenance | fixes, updates, backups | 35,000, 75,000 or 120,000 FCFA per month (EUR 53, 114 or 183) |
| Licensed foreign software (2026 order of magnitude) | generic LIMS, limited adaptation | EUR 12,000 to 30,000 plus annual licences |
Offline mode matters: on up-country sites, connectivity is patchy. Tablets record in situ tests (nuclear density gauge, plate load) and sync on return to the lab. Invoicing can be set up in FCFA, cedis or naira with the payment terms of your public and private clients.
What to prepare before scoping
Three documents speed up the quote considerably: a list of the tests you run with their annual volumes, two or three recent reports per test type that you consider good models, and the Excel workbooks your technicians use today. With these, the scoping phase drops from 3 weeks to about 10 days, and calculation validation starts from formulas your engineers already trust.
Reliability, traceability and tenders
A lab seeking ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation or bidding on major road projects funded by development banks must prove traceability: who ran the test, with which calibrated equipment, on what date, who approved it. The software keeps that history, blocks a report if a CBR press calibration has expired and archives every version. It is a strong selling point with supervising engineers, who receive consistent reports they can access online.
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Mini case study
Mr Kouassi, director of an 18-person lab in Abidjan, runs 4,000 tests a year. Each report currently takes 1 h 15 of re-entry and formatting, or 5,000 hours a year. The software brings that down to 20 minutes: 3,670 hours freed. Valued at 4,500 FCFA per technician hour, that is 16,500,000 FCFA (about EUR 25,150) a year. He chooses a medium application at 6,500,000 FCFA with maintenance at 75,000 FCFA per month (900,000 FCFA a year). The project pays back in 5 months, and the 3-day turnaround lets him bid on two more tenders a year.
FAQ
Does the software apply our test standards?
Yes. Calculations are configured to the standards you use (NF P 94, ASTM or AASHTO depending on the client) and validated on 20 to 30 real tests before go-live. Once validated, formulas are locked.
What happens without an internet connection?
Tablets work offline and sync as soon as the connection returns. This covers in situ testing on sites 200 to 300 km from the capital.
How long does the project take?
Allow 8 to 12 weeks for a simple application and 3 to 5 months for a medium application with curves and a client portal.
Can our clients view their reports online?
Yes, with the medium application: each supervising engineer or contractor gets secure access to its signed PDF reports, which cuts email resend requests by 50 to 70%.
Can we pay in instalments?
Yes, payment is usually split into three: on order, on delivery of the first version and at go-live. Bank transfer, Wave and Orange Money are accepted.
Let's scope your project. We define with your lead engineer the list of tests, report formats and offline mode, for a first version in 8 to 12 weeks. 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.
