The verdict in three sentences
The manual order-to-cash cycle costs more than it looks: wasted time, errors, and above all cash trapped in unpaid invoices. In 2026, a custom automated invoicing-and-dunning module costs FCFA 3,500,000-9,000,000 and brings DSO (average days to pay) down from 55 to 32 days. On revenue of FCFA 400 million, those 23 days saved free up tens of millions in cash.
What automating order-to-cash actually changes
The gain isn't only the data-entry time saved. It's dunning discipline: a client automatically chased at day+3, day+10 and day+21 pays faster than a forgotten one. Here's the before/after for a typical Lomé SMB.
| Metric | Before (manual) | After (automated) |
|---|---|---|
| Average DSO | 55 days | 32 days |
| Invoices issued/day | 8-12 | 40+ |
| Reminders sent | irregular | day+3 / +10 / +21 auto |
| Invoice error rate | 6-9% | < 1% |
| Admin time/week | 14 h | 3 h |
| Payment reconciliation | manual | bank/mobile-money connector |
The bank + mobile money connector (Flooz, T-Money) enables automatic reconciliation of incoming payments, removing half the matching work.
Project cost vs cash recovered
The real argument isn't the project cost but the cash it unlocks. Here is a 2026 estimate by SMB size.
| Annual revenue | 2026 module cost | Cash freed (DSO -23 d) |
|---|---|---|
| FCFA 150,000,000 | FCFA 3,500,000-5,000,000 | ~FCFA 9,450,000 |
| FCFA 300,000,000 | FCFA 4,500,000-6,500,000 | ~FCFA 18,900,000 |
| FCFA 500,000,000 | FCFA 6,000,000-9,000,000 | ~FCFA 31,500,000 |
| FCFA 800,000,000 | FCFA 8,000,000-9,000,000 | ~FCFA 50,400,000 |
Cash-freed calculation: (revenue / 365) x 23 days. A local developer day rate is FCFA 180,000-320,000 in 2026 (ballpark), and maintenance is about 15%/yr of build cost.
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Mini case study
Kossi runs a distribution SMB in Lomé (revenue FCFA 300,000,000), spends 14 hours/week on manual invoicing and posts a 55-day DSO. He invests FCFA 5,500,000 in an automated invoicing + dunning module with a T-Money connector. After 4 months, DSO falls to 32 days: (300,000,000 / 365) x 23 = ~FCFA 18,900,000 in cash unlocked, over 3x the project cost. The 11 hours/week saved are reassigned to sales.
FAQ
How long to deploy the module? Expect 6 to 10 weeks depending on the number of integrations (bank, mobile money, accounting). A first invoicing batch can ship in 3-4 weeks.
Is the mobile money connector reliable? Yes, via the Flooz/T-Money APIs, with automatic reconciliation and an audit log. Webhooks confirm every payment.
What DSO gain is realistic? A 20-to-25-day drop is realistic with disciplined automatic reminders at day+3, +10 and +21, versus irregular manual chasing.
Do we need to change accounting software? No, the module connects to the existing one. We add an invoicing and dunning layer without replacing accounting.
What's the recurring cost after go-live? About 15%/yr of build cost for maintenance, enhancements and tracking payment-API changes.
Let's scope your project. Give us your annual revenue, current DSO and payment channels (bank, Flooz, T-Money), and we'll price the module and the recoverable cash. 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.
