The verdict in three sentences
For a group of 3 properties, two costs weigh most: OTA commissions of 12-20% and the time lost between a disconnected PMS and restaurant POS. An imported solution charges a setup then 5-10 EUR/room/month, but ignores mobile payment and local multi-site reporting. A custom build at 8,500,000-16,000,000 FCFA (approx. 13,000-24,400 EUR) delivered in 12-16 weeks unifies everything and belongs to you.
Imported solution vs custom build
The monthly rent looks reasonable, until you add commissions and the missing mobile payment.
| Line item (2026 estimate) | Imported solution | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Initial setup | 3,000,000 FCFA | included |
| Licence 120 rooms, 24 months | ~11,500,000 FCFA | 0 FCFA |
| Integrated mobile payment | often missing | included |
| Initial build | — | 8,500,000-16,000,000 FCFA |
| Annual maintenance | 1,500,000 FCFA/yr | 900,000-1,700,000 FCFA/yr |
| Code ownership | no | yes |
The scope that repays the project
Each module targets an avoided commission or a removed data entry.
| Module | Key function | Quantified impact |
|---|---|---|
| Direct booking | Commission-free engine | -12 to -20% commission |
| F&B POS and stock | Restaurant, bar, stock | unified reporting |
| Mobile payment | Orange/Wave collection | -1.5 days to collect |
| Multi-site reporting | Occupancy, RevPAR, F&B | group steering |
| Local invoicing | VAT, compliant numbering | tax compliance |
| Maintenance | Fixes, evolutions | continuity |
Mini case study
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Ms. Traore, director of a hospitality group (3 hotels, 120 rooms, 620,000,000 FCFA lodging revenue), books 55% of revenue via OTAs at ~16% commission, or ~54,500,000 FCFA/year. Shifting 10 points to direct booking avoids about 9,900,000 FCFA/year. Against a 13,000,000 FCFA build, payback lands in under 18 months, before counting time saved by unified F&B POS and mobile payment.
FAQ
Isn't an imported solution enough? It runs the hotel, but mobile payment, integrated F&B POS and local multi-site reporting are often missing or billed as costly options.
Is mobile payment really useful for a hotel? Yes: booking deposits, restaurant collection and balances settle via Orange Money or Wave, cutting delays and making reconciliation reliable.
What is the delivery time? Budget 12 to 16 weeks, in batches: PMS and direct booking, then F&B POS, then multi-site reporting and mobile payment.
What does maintenance cost? Maintenance of 900,000 to 1,700,000 FCFA/year covers fixes, seasonal evolutions and hosting, with dedicated support.
Can we start with a single property? Yes, the platform rolls out site by site then consolidates, limiting risk and spreading the investment.
Let's scope your project. Give us your number of properties, rooms and OTA share, and we frame a scope and budget between 8,500,000 and 16,000,000 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.
