The verdict in three sentences
The last mile is the line item that makes or breaks a local online store: it carries 40-55 % of logistics cost and shapes customer satisfaction. In 2026 an intra-Dakar delivery costs 1,500-2,500 FCFA and 12 % of runs fail on the first attempt, each failure adding a second run plus cash-handling risk. The right answer is not a single model but a mix of in-house fleet and third party matched to your volume, governed by a dispatch tool.
Three delivery models compared
Three main options coexist in West Africa: hiring your own couriers, leaning on an aggregator like Yango/Glovo, or contracting a fleet of partner motorbikes. Each trades cost, reliability and scalability differently.
| Model | Cost per run (intra-city) | Failure rate | Scalability | Quality control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-house fleet (salaried) | 1,200 - 1,800 FCFA | 6-8 % | Low (slow hiring) | High |
| Aggregator (Yango, Glovo) | 2,000 - 3,500 FCFA | 10-14 % | High (on demand) | Low |
| Partner motorbikes (contract) | 1,500 - 2,200 FCFA | 8-11 % | Medium | Medium |
| Pickup point | 300 - 700 FCFA | 3-5 % | High | Medium |
An in-house fleet gives the best control but a heavy fixed cost below 20 deliveries/day. The aggregator is ideal for absorbing peaks with no commitment, at the price of a thinner margin and a courier who does not carry your brand.
The hidden costs of the last mile
The headline price of a run does not tell the whole story. The true cost includes failures, cash handling and dispatch time.
| Hidden cost | 2026 order of magnitude | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Second attempt after failure | 1,500 - 2,500 FCFA | Doubles the order's cost |
| Cash handling (delivery payment) | 500 FCFA / order | Loss and fraud risk |
| Average delivery delay | 24 - 48 h | Dissatisfaction, bad reviews |
| Dispatch / routing tool | 25,000 - 60,000 FCFA / month | Pays off from 15 runs/day |
| Undelivered product return | 5-8 % of value | Dead loss if perishable |
A 12 % failure rate on 30 daily deliveries means nearly 4 failed runs a day to redo — a monthly overhead of roughly 240,000-300,000 FCFA that most managers never measure.
Mini case study
Fatou, who runs an online cosmetics store in Dakar, delivers 30 orders/day. On a pure aggregator at 2,800 FCFA/run, her monthly budget (26 days) reaches 2,184,000 FCFA, with 12 % failures adding about 262,000 FCFA in second runs. Switching to 3 salaried couriers (150,000 FCFA/month each, i.e. 450,000 FCFA) plus a partner motorbike for peaks and a dispatch tool at 40,000 FCFA/month, her total cost drops to around 1,350,000 FCFA/month and her failure rate to 5 %. Monthly saving: about 830,000 FCFA, i.e. 9.9 million FCFA/year, while gaining reliability.
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FAQ
How much does an intra-Dakar delivery cost in 2026?
Between 1,500 and 2,500 FCFA depending on distance and model. A pickup point cuts this to 300-700 FCFA when the customer agrees to collect.
At what volume do you need in-house couriers?
Beyond 20 deliveries/day regularly, an in-house fleet becomes cheaper than an aggregator, as the cost per run falls below 1,800 FCFA and quality control drops failures to 6-8 %.
How do you reduce a 12 % failure rate?
SMS/WhatsApp slot confirmation, mobile-money prepayment and a dispatch tool with proof of delivery bring failures down to 4-5 %, a two- to three-fold reduction.
Is a routing tool worth it for a small store?
Yes from 15 runs/day: at 40,000 FCFA/month it optimises routes, cuts mileage by 15-20 % and saves hours of daily WhatsApp coordination.
Should you offer cash on delivery?
It reassures buyers and lifts conversion, but costs about 500 FCFA/order in cash handling and locks up your cash flow for 7-14 days. A mix of mobile-money prepayment plus optional COD is often the best compromise.
Let's talk about your project. We build e-commerce stores designed for African last-mile logistics, with dispatch, tracking and Wave/Orange Money payment built in. 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.
