The verdict in three sentences
A custom case management tool costs FCFA 5,000,000 to 12,000,000 in Abidjan, versus a patchwork of free tools that multiplies deadline errors. The key value: hearing tracking, automatic deadline alerts and a secure document vault brought together in a single platform. The return is measured in 6 to 10 hours saved per lawyer per week and missed deadlines avoided, a single one of which can cost an entire case.
Patchwork of free tools vs custom platform
Many Ivorian firms juggle spreadsheets, messaging and paper files. It looks free but is costly in risk and lost time.
| Criterion | Free patchwork | Custom platform |
|---|---|---|
| Hearing tracking | Manual diary, frequent misses | Central calendar + reminders |
| Deadline alerts | None or manual | Automatic D-15, D-7, D-1 |
| Document vault | Scattered files | Encrypted, traceable, backed up |
| Billing | Re-keyed on spreadsheet | Integrated in the file |
| Legal risk | High (missed deadlines) | Strongly reduced |
| Real cost/year | Lost time + errors | Amortised in 6-10 months |
Pricing by firm size
The cost depends on lawyer count and modules. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude and time recovered.
| Firm | Scope | Budget | Hours saved/week | Annual value (FCFA 12,000/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 lawyers | Cases + alerts | FCFA 5,000,000 | 18 h | FCFA 10,368,000 |
| 6 lawyers | + vault | FCFA 7,500,000 | 42 h | FCFA 24,192,000 |
| 10 lawyers | + billing | FCFA 9,500,000 | 70 h | FCFA 40,320,000 |
| 15 lawyers | + client portal | FCFA 12,000,000 | 105 h | FCFA 60,480,000 |
Indicative 2026 figures over 48 weeks. Even a single missed appeal deadline avoided can justify the investment on its own.
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Mini case study
Mr Kouassi, a partner at a 7-lawyer firm in Abidjan-Plateau, lost on average 6 hours per lawyer per week searching for documents and checking hearing dates, or 42 hours. At FCFA 12,000 per hour, that is over FCFA 24 million a year. He invests FCFA 7,500,000 in a custom platform with deadline alerts and an encrypted vault. By the second month, no hearing reminder is missed and document search time drops 70 %. Estimated payback in under 5 months.
FAQ
Why not just use free tools? Because a single missed deadline can cost a case and a client's trust. A custom platform centralises alerts, documents and billing, which no free patchwork reliably guarantees.
Is the document vault secure? Yes, with encryption at rest, access traceability and automatic backups. It is a decisive trust argument with corporate and institutional clients.
How long for deployment? A core of cases plus alerts delivers in 3 to 4 months. Vault, billing and client portal modules are then added in phases of 6 to 8 weeks.
Can existing paper files be migrated? Yes, via scanning and OCR. Budget FCFA 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 for migration depending on archive volume and desired indexing level.
What annual maintenance budget? Plan 12 to 18 % of the development cost, or FCFA 600,000 to 2,100,000 a year, including secure hosting, backups and support.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your lawyer count, priority modules (alerts, vault, billing) and budget, and we will price a custom platform. 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.
