The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, custom inventory software costs 3,000,000 to 7,500,000 FCFA, on top of which come multi-depot and mobile terminals. Well deployed, it cuts stockouts by 30% and makes inventory reliable in real time. Budget 4 to 7 months and 80,000 to 250,000 FCFA/month of maintenance.
What inventory software covers for a wholesaler
For a distributor, the challenge is knowing in real time what is available, where, and for which customer it is reserved. The core handles items, movements and customer orders; multi-depot and mobile modules multiply reliability.
| Module | 2026 range (FCFA) | Main gain |
|---|---|---|
| Stock & customer order core | 3,000,000-5,000,000 | Real-time visibility |
| Multi-depot management | +1,500,000-4,000,000 | Consolidated view |
| Mobile terminals (per unit) | +500,000-1,500,000/unit | -30% stockouts |
| Cycle counting & alerts | +800,000-2,000,000 | No surprise stockouts |
| Invoicing & delivery notes | +1,000,000-2,500,000 | Full cycle |
| Monthly maintenance | 80,000-250,000/month | Uptime |
Excel, imported ERP or custom?
Many wholesalers stay on Excel until stockouts and errors become unmanageable. A local custom build costs more than a spreadsheet but far less than an imported ERP, while matching local practice (multi-depot, mobile money, offline).
| Criterion | Excel | Imported ERP | Local custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 cost | ~0 | 4,000,000-9,000,000 FCFA | 3,500,000-9,000,000 FCFA |
| Stock accuracy | Low | Good | Very good |
| Real-time multi-depot | No | Licence-dependent | Yes |
| Local adaptation | — | Low | Total |
| Scalability | None | Capped | Total |
Mini case study
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Nadia, manager of a food wholesaler (3 depots, 2,800 SKUs), loses 9% of turnover to stockouts and overstock, about 14,000,000 FCFA/year on 155,000,000 FCFA revenue. She invests 6,000,000 FCFA in custom multi-depot software with 2 mobile terminals. By cutting stockouts by 30%, she recovers ~4,200,000 FCFA/year in sales and ~2,000,000 FCFA/year in avoided overstock. With maintenance (1,800,000 FCFA/year), net gain exceeds 4,400,000 FCFA/year, paying back in around 16 months.
FAQ
What minimum budget? A core starts at 3,000,000 FCFA; with multi-depot and mobile terminals, expect 5,000,000 to 9,000,000 FCFA.
Are mobile terminals useful? Yes: for 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA/unit, they enable scanning at receiving and picking, targeting -30% stockouts.
How long to deploy? Between 4 and 7 months, with SKU migration often the longest task.
Can it handle multiple depots? Yes, the multi-depot module (1,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA) consolidates stock in real time across all sites.
What maintenance cost? Between 80,000 and 250,000 FCFA/month depending on the number of depots and support level.
Let's scope your project. Share your number of depots, SKUs and order volumes, and we will price inventory software that fits. 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.
