The verdict in three sentences
For a microfinance institution with 38,000 clients and 120 loan officers, paper is expensive: incomplete files, disputed handwritten receipts, data entry at head office days later. An offline field app that builds the file, applies simple scoring and issues a receipt for every repayment lowers PAR30 and speeds up disbursement. The project usually sits in the medium to complex bracket of Kolonell's grid, 4,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (6,100 to 22,870+ EUR), with a 4 to 6 month timeline.
The paper circuit and its real cost
Today the officer leaves in the morning with paper forms, visits the applicant's shop at Rood Woko market or in Tampouy, fills in the form, photocopies the ID card, then brings the file back to the branch. The credit committee meets once a week. Disbursement happens 10 to 15 days after the first visit. For repayments, cash collected in the field produces paper receipts, entered the next day or later, leaving room for errors and fraud.
| Indicator (2026 order of magnitude) | Paper circuit | With field app |
|---|---|---|
| Time from first visit to disbursement | 10 to 15 days | 3 to 5 days |
| Files sent back for a missing document | 20 to 30% | Under 5%, mandatory fields |
| Time to record collected repayments | 1 to 3 days | Real time or at sync |
| Portfolio PAR30 | 7% | 4 to 5% targeted |
| Files handled per officer per month | 25 to 30 | 40 to 45 |
| Cash discrepancies on field collections | Frequent | Numbered receipt, daily check |
On a 38,000-client portfolio with an average outstanding balance of 450,000 FCFA, about 17.1 billion FCFA (around 26 million EUR), each PAR30 point represents 171 million FCFA of portfolio at risk.
What the app does
The officer works on an Android tablet, fully offline during the round. They create the prospect, photograph the ID and the business, record the GPS position, and enter declared revenue, expenses and collateral. A simple scoring engine, based on rules approved by risk management (repayment history, repayment capacity, years in business), suggests an amount and a term. The committee then approves from a web interface, possibly the same day.
For collections, the officer selects the instalment, takes cash or records a mobile payment, and the app issues a numbered receipt by SMS or Bluetooth printer. Arrears generate a prioritised visit list every morning.
| Module | Function | Kolonell grid level |
|---|---|---|
| Offline loan file builder | Forms, photos, GPS, documents | Simple: 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (3,810 to 6,100 EUR) |
| Scoring and online committee | Risk rules, approval, history | Medium: 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR) |
| Collections with receipts and cash closing | Payment capture, SMS, printing | Medium |
| PAR dashboard and recovery rounds | Arrears, priorities, officer performance | Medium to complex |
| Core banking system integration | Loan and ledger sync | Complex: 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (10,670 to 22,870+ EUR) |
| Ongoing maintenance | Support, regulatory updates | 35,000 / 75,000 / 120,000 FCFA per month (53 / 114 / 183 EUR) |
Hardware, about 90,000 to 150,000 FCFA per tablet depending on the model as a 2026 order of magnitude, is borne by the institution, as are data plans.
Schedule and compliance
The institution remains subject to the BCEAO framework for decentralised financial systems and to Burkina Faso's personal data protection law. Data is encrypted on the tablet, each officer only sees their own portfolio, and every change is logged.
| Phase | Duration | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping, scoring rules and forms | 3 to 4 weeks | Reference model approved by risk management |
| Offline app and synchronisation | 6 to 8 weeks | Pilot version |
| Web committee, collections and receipts | 4 to 6 weeks | Complete circuit |
| Pilot in 2 branches, 20 officers | 4 weeks | Measured lead time and PAR |
| Rollout to 120 officers | 3 to 4 weeks | Training, reinforced support |
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Mini case study
Mrs Ouédraogo, head of operations, picks a complex-level project at 9,500,000 FCFA including core system integration, plus premium maintenance at 120,000 FCFA per month, 10,940,000 FCFA in year one. If PAR30 drops from 7% to 5% on 17.1 billion FCFA outstanding, portfolio at risk falls by 342 million FCFA. Assuming a quarter of that would have ended as losses, the institution avoids about 85 million FCFA of provisions and write-offs. Productivity comes on top: 120 officers moving from 28 to 40 files a month handle 1,440 extra files without hiring. The investment is covered several times in year one, even with assumptions twice as cautious.
FAQ
Does the app work offline for a full day?
Yes, the whole round runs offline, and sync happens back at the branch or whenever coverage is available. A day of 15 visits typically uses under 20 MB of data with compressed photos.
Does scoring replace the credit committee?
No, it suggests an amount and flags risks, while the committee keeps the decision. For small loans, for example under 300,000 FCFA, some institutions delegate approval to the branch manager to save 3 to 5 days.
Can clients repay by mobile money?
Yes, Orange Money or Moov Money payments can be matched to instalments, reducing the cash officers carry. In urban areas, 30 to 50% of repayments often move to mobile within a year.
What if a tablet is lost or stolen?
Data is encrypted and the officer's account can be blocked remotely in seconds. Only that day's unsynced data needs to be re-entered.
Do we need to replace our core banking system?
No, the app connects to it through an API or exchange files. If the system has no interface, a daily export sync is enough to start.
Let's scope your project. We define forms, scoring rules and collections with you, then run a pilot in two branches within four months. 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.
