The verdict in three sentences
Digitalising admissions, tuition and payments for a higher-education institute in Dakar costs 8,000,000 to 25,000,000 FCFA in custom development, over a 4-to-6-month project. The decisive lever is fee collection via mobile money (Wave, Orange Money), which speeds up cash-in and cuts arrears. For a 1,500-student institute at 600,000 FCFA annual fees, each point of arrears avoided is worth roughly 9,000,000 FCFA.
Cost per module of custom software
A higher-education institute digitalises in blocks. The overall budget depends on the number of modules and whether an LMS is included.
| Module | 2026 range (FCFA) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Online admissions and enrolment | 1,500,000 to 3,500,000 | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Tuition and student record | 2,000,000 to 4,500,000 | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Grades, transcripts and boards | 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Mobile money fee payment | 1,500,000 to 3,500,000 | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Student portal and app | 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Integrated LMS (online courses) | 2,000,000 to 6,000,000 | 6 to 10 weeks |
An admissions + tuition + mobile money payment core starts around 8,000,000 FCFA. A full project with LMS and portal reaches 20,000,000 to 25,000,000 FCFA.
Fee collection and administrative gains
Mobile money payment transforms cash flow: no more queues at the till or untraced cash. Fees land directly and are reconciled automatically.
| 2026 metric | Before (till and cash) | After portal + mobile money |
|---|---|---|
| Average cash-in delay | 25 days | 3 days |
| Annual arrears rate | 12 % | 4 % |
| Fees paid via mobile money | 0 % | 70 % |
| Admin time per enrolment | 40 min/file | 10 min/file |
| Accounting reconciliation | Manual | Automatic |
| Reissuing certificates/transcripts | 2 to 5 days | Immediate |
With Wave and Orange Money, the student pays from their phone and the system updates their tuition status in real time, unlocking access to courses and exams.
Mini case study
Mr Sarr, director of a 1,500-student institute in Dakar, bills 600,000 FCFA annual fees, i.e. 900,000,000 FCFA of potential revenue, with 12 % arrears. Bringing arrears down to 4 % through the portal and mobile money payment secures 8 points, roughly 72,000,000 FCFA a year. The 18,000,000 FCFA custom software pays for itself in under 4 months of tuition, before office savings.
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FAQ
What budget to digitalise a 1,500-student institute in 2026?
An admissions, tuition and mobile money payment core starts around 8,000,000 FCFA. A full project with LMS and student portal reaches 20,000,000 to 25,000,000 FCFA, over 4 to 6 months.
Is mobile money payment really integrated?
Yes. We integrate Wave and Orange Money with confirmation webhooks: the student pays fees from their phone and their tuition status updates automatically.
Can we add an LMS for online courses?
Yes. The LMS module (courses, assignments, quizzes, video) is quoted between 2,000,000 and 6,000,000 FCFA by scope and integrates with the student record.
How long for deployment?
Budget 4 to 6 months for a full project, with migration of existing data, team training and a switch ahead of an intake.
Does the system handle transcripts and certificates?
Yes. Report cards, transcripts and enrolment certificates are generated automatically and available from the student portal, removing office delays.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your student numbers, priority modules (payment, LMS, portal) and intake calendar for a precise FCFA quote. 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.
