The verdict in three sentences
A custom software for reservations + POS + mobile payment for a hotel-restaurant in West Africa costs between 7,000,000 and 20,000,000 FCFA in 2026, built in 12 to 20 weeks. Offline mode is essential: the till must work even when the connection drops. The real differentiator is Wave and Orange Money payment at the table, which cuts till errors and customer waiting.
Cost per module in FCFA
The budget is built module by module. A POS + reservation core sits at the low end; integrated mobile payment, multi-site and reporting raise the price.
| Module | Content | 2026 order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| POS & payment | Receipts, tables, payment modes | 1,800,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA |
| Reservations | Rooms and tables, calendar | 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA |
| Integrated mobile payment | Wave, Orange Money, QR at table | 1,500,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA |
| Stock management | Alerts, inventory, food cost | 1,200,000 to 2,800,000 FCFA |
| Offline mode & sync | Take payments without network | 1,000,000 to 2,500,000 FCFA |
| Reporting & dashboard | Revenue, margin, occupancy | 1,000,000 to 2,200,000 FCFA |
Imported software vs local custom
Imported software often ignores Wave, Orange Money and offline mode, and bills in hard currency. Local custom fits the ground reality.
| Criterion | Imported software (foreign SaaS) | Local custom Kolonell |
|---|---|---|
| Wave / Orange Money payment | Rarely native | Native, at the table |
| Offline mode | Often absent | Built-in |
| Billing | In EUR/USD, subscription | In FCFA, project |
| 3-year cost (1 site) | 4 to 9M FCFA subscription | 7 to 12M FCFA (purchase) |
| Local support | Time zone gap, in English | On-site, in French |
| Local menus/tax adaptation | Limited | Total |
Over three years, an imported SaaS at 150,000 FCFA/month costs 5.4M FCFA without ever being yours, whereas custom becomes a group asset.
Mini case study
Mr Kone, manager of a 30-room hotel-restaurant in Abidjan (Cocody), handles about 9,000,000 FCFA revenue/month. Till errors and untracked cash payments cost him about 3% of revenue, i.e. 270,000 FCFA/month. He invests 12,000,000 FCFA in custom software with Wave and Orange Money payment at the table plus offline mode. Traceability removes almost all till discrepancies (+230,000 FCFA/month) and direct booking cuts his reliance on intermediaries. Payback in about 14 months, with a tool he owns.
FAQ
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Does the software work without an internet connection?
Yes. Offline mode lets you take payments and orders locally, then resync once the network returns: essential against outages.
How does Wave and Orange Money payment at the table work?
The waiter generates a QR or payment link from the till; the customer pays from their phone and the payment is confirmed in real time, with no cash handling.
Can we manage several establishments?
Yes. Consolidated multi-site reporting lets head office track revenue, margin and occupancy per property from a single dashboard.
What is the delivery time in Dakar or Abidjan?
Budget 12 to 20 weeks depending on the number of modules, with on-site team training included in the rollout.
Is it cheaper than foreign software?
Over three years, often yes: a SaaS subscription at 150,000 FCFA/month is 5.4M FCFA with no ownership, whereas custom becomes a reusable, evolving asset.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of rooms, cover volume and target payment methods (Wave, Orange Money), and we will price your software. 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.
