The verdict in three sentences
Automating invoicing and multichannel dunning costs 7,000 to 22,000 EUR (excl. VAT) in 2026 and ships in 4 to 8 weeks. The real gain isn't administrative time but the reduction in DSO (days sales outstanding) of 12 to 20 days, which mechanically frees cash. For an SME invoicing several million a year, the investment pays back in 3 to 7 months.
What the automation covers in 2026
The project includes automatic invoice issuance from the CRM or ERP, compliance with e-invoicing rules (mandatory in France 2026-2027, and Making Tax Digital in the UK), scheduled dunning by email, SMS and letter, and reconciling payments from accounting or the bank.
| Scope | 2026 price (EUR excl. VAT) | Timeline | Dunning channels | Maintenance/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invoice issuance + email | 7,000 - 11,000 | 4-5 weeks | 1,000 - 1,800 | |
| + multichannel dunning | 11,000 - 16,000 | 5-6 weeks | Email + SMS | 1,800 - 3,000 |
| + accounting/e-invoicing | 16,000 - 22,000 | 6-8 weeks | Email + SMS + letter | 3,000 - 4,500 |
| Adding a dunning scenario | 1,200 - 2,500 | 1 week | +1 channel | included |
An email/SMS sending subscription of 30 to 120 EUR/month applies depending on volume.
The real impact: DSO and cash
Each day of DSO saved equals roughly (annual revenue / 365) of freed cash. For 3M EUR revenue, one day is worth ~8,220 EUR.
| Annual revenue | DSO before | DSO after | Days saved | Cash freed (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5M EUR | 62 d | 48 d | 14 | 57,500 |
| 3M EUR | 58 d | 42 d | 16 | 131,500 |
| 5M EUR | 55 d | 40 d | 15 | 205,000 |
| 8M EUR | 60 d | 42 d | 18 | 394,500 |
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Mini case study
James, CFO of a 3M EUR-revenue industrial SME in London, faces a 58-day DSO and ties up 0.5 FTE on dunning. He invests 15,500 EUR (excl. VAT) in invoicing + multichannel dunning automation. Result: DSO cut to 42 days, i.e. 131,500 EUR of cash freed once, plus 340 EUR/month in admin savings. At a 5.5% short-term borrowing cost, the 131,500 EUR saves ~7,200 EUR/year in interest; the project pays back in under 6 months and DSO stays durably lower.
FAQ
Is it compatible with mandatory e-invoicing? Yes, it's an accelerator: automation generates compliant invoices and transmits them via a partner e-invoicing platform, in line with the 2026-2027 rollout.
How many DSO days can we really save? In practice, 12 to 20 days depending on your initial dunning discipline. Scheduled, personalized reminders remove omissions and shorten average payment time.
Won't automated reminders upset customers? Not if they're graduated and personalized: a courteous pre-due reminder, then progressively firmer notices. Sensitive accounts are excluded automatically and handled manually.
Do we need specific software? No, automation plugs into your existing CRM/ERP and accounting. We only add an orchestration layer and an email/SMS sending service.
What's the rollout timeline? From 4 to 8 weeks depending on the number of channels and accounting integration complexity. The first email dunning scenario can be live in 3 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Send us your revenue, current DSO and invoicing tools, and we'll quote the automation and the expected cash gain. 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.
