The verdict in three sentences
Hotel management software (PMS) with a direct booking engine, Wave/Orange Money online payment and a channel manager costs in Dubai in 2026 between 5,000,000 and 15,000,000 FCFA (7,620 to 22,875 EUR), over a 4 to 8 month timeline. The return comes from the OTA commission saved (15 to 25% per booking) and a direct-booking target raised by 15 to 30 points. Below 5,000,000 FCFA you get a site with a form; above 10,000,000 FCFA you fund integrated PMS + channel manager + payment.
Price per module in 2026
| Module | Scope | 2026 cost (FCFA) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core PMS | Rooms, planning, check-in/out | 2,000,000 - 4,500,000 | 6 - 10 wk |
| Direct booking engine | Real-time availability, rates, cart | 1,500,000 - 3,500,000 | 5 - 8 wk |
| Wave/OM online payment | Deposits, full payment, webhooks | 1,000,000 - 2,500,000 | 3 - 6 wk |
| Channel manager | OTA sync, rate parity | 1,500,000 - 3,500,000 | 5 - 8 wk |
| Rate management / yield | Seasons, promos, length of stay | 800,000 - 2,000,000 | 3 - 5 wk |
| Occupancy / RevPAR reporting | Occupancy rate, ADR, RevPAR | 700,000 - 1,800,000 | 3 - 5 wk |
A hotel keeping PMS + direct engine + payment + channel manager lands around 10,000,000 FCFA.
OTA commission saving
| OTA room-nights/yr shifted to direct | Average night price | 18% OTA commission avoided | Annual saving (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 room-nights | 45,000 FCFA | 8,100 FCFA/night | 4,050,000 |
| 800 room-nights | 45,000 FCFA | 8,100 FCFA/night | 6,480,000 |
| 1,200 room-nights | 45,000 FCFA | 8,100 FCFA/night | 9,720,000 |
| 1,800 room-nights | 45,000 FCFA | 8,100 FCFA/night | 14,580,000 |
| 2,500 room-nights | 45,000 FCFA | 8,100 FCFA/night | 20,250,000 |
From 800 to 1,200 room-nights shifted to direct, the annual saving covers the full investment. 2026 order of magnitude, average OTA commission taken at 18%.
Mini case study
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Mr. Faye runs a 40-room hotel in Dubai, occupancy 62%, i.e. about 9,050 room-nights/yr, of which 55% via OTA (~4,977 nights). Average price 45,000 FCFA, OTA commission 18%. By shifting 25% of OTA nights to direct booking (~1,244 nights), he avoids 1,244 x 8,100 = 10,076,400 FCFA of commission per year. Software at 10,000,000 FCFA therefore pays back in about 12 months, before even counting deposits collected earlier for cash flow.
FAQ
Is Wave and Orange Money payment reliable for deposits? Yes, with robust confirmation webhooks. You collect a deposit at booking, which cuts no-shows and secures cash flow; the balance is settled at arrival or online.
Does the channel manager prevent overbooking? Yes, it syncs availability between your direct site and OTAs in near real time, strongly limiting double bookings and rate-parity errors.
Can we keep Booking and Expedia in parallel? Yes, the goal is not to drop OTAs but to grow the direct share. The channel manager keeps OTAs connected while pushing the less-commissioned direct channel.
How long to go live? A PMS + direct engine + payment core ships in 3 to 4 months; the channel manager and yield follow, for a total of 4 to 8 months.
What annual maintenance budget? Budget 12 to 18% of development cost, i.e. about 1,200,000 to 1,800,000 FCFA/yr for a 10,000,000 FCFA project, hosting and enhancements included.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of rooms, your current OTA share and an indicative budget: we frame the PMS, direct engine and Wave/OM payment. 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.
