The verdict in three sentences
Migrating a shared Excel/Access tool to a multi-user web application costs, in Algiers in 2026, between 1,200,000 and 4,500,000 DZD depending on business-rule volume, plus 250,000 to 800,000 DZD for data migration. The realistic timeline is 6 to 12 weeks, team training included. The real gain isn't cosmetic: it's the end of re-keying errors, simultaneous multi-user access and full traceability.
What the migration costs in 2026
A manager in Algiers who has hit the limits of a shared file (duplicate copies, lockout on simultaneous open, no mobility) must budget the build AND the history migration.
| Line item | 2026 cost (DZD) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Simple web app (few rules) | 1,200,000 - 2,000,000 | 6 - 8 wks |
| Medium web app (workflows) | 2,000,000 - 3,200,000 | 8 - 10 wks |
| Complex web app (business calc) | 3,200,000 - 4,500,000 | 10 - 12 wks |
| Data migration (clean + import) | 250,000 - 800,000 | 1 - 2 wks |
| Team training | included | 2 - 4 days |
| Cloud hosting | 15,000 - 45,000 /mo | - |
Cost mostly depends on the number of business rules hidden in the current file's formulas and macros: that is what must be faithfully reproduced.
Before / after: what really changes
A shared Excel/Access file looks free but is expensive in lost hours and errors. The web app transforms reliability and mobility.
| Criterion | Shared Excel/Access | Web application |
|---|---|---|
| Simultaneous users | 1 (lockout otherwise) | unlimited |
| Re-keying errors | frequent | near zero (validation) |
| History / traceability | none | full (who, when, what) |
| Mobile / field access | no | yes (browser) |
| Backup | manual, risky | automatic cloud |
| Re-keying hours/week | 10 - 20 h | 1 - 3 h |
At 10-20 hours of re-keying avoided each week, the app often pays for itself in under a year on staff time alone.
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Mini case study
Karim, manager of an import company in Algiers (12 staff), runs order tracking on a shared Access file that crashes as soon as two people open it. He migrates to a medium web app: build 2,600,000 DZD + migration 400,000 DZD, hosting 25,000 DZD/month. Investment 3,000,000 DZD + 300,000 DZD/year. Before, the team lost 15 h/week on re-keying and fixes. After: 2 h/week. On 13 hours saved per week at an estimated 800 DZD/h staff cost, he recovers ~540,000 DZD/year, plus the end of stock errors. Payback in about 18 months, excluding the reliability gain.
FAQ
Will we lose our historical data? No: data migration (250,000-800,000 DZD) cleans and imports the existing file's history into the new database, with verification.
How long without our tool during migration? Zero: we build in parallel, then switch over in a short window. The old file stays available read-only during transition.
Must everything be rebuilt at once? No. You can migrate the most critical module first (orders or stock), validate it, then add the rest in phases.
Will the team be able to use it? Training (2-4 days) is included. A well-designed web app looks like a simple form, more intuitive than a file of columns and macros.
Can we access it from a phone? Yes, that's a major gain: the app is reachable from any browser, at the office or in the field.
Let's scope your project. Send us your current Excel/Access file and user count: we assess the business rules to reproduce and price the migration. 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.
