The verdict in three sentences
The most profitable automation starts with three processes: quotes, follow-ups and stock. A typical SME project costs between 4,000,000 and 11,000,000 FCFA to build, with a 6-15 h/week saving that repays the investment in under a year. The French-speaking nearshore model gives you GDPR-compliant EU hosting while keeping a contact in a nearby time zone.
FCFA budget for an automation project in 2026
The ranges below cover a 5-50 employee SME.
| Line item | 2026 range (FCFA) | Lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery + specification | 800,000 - 1,800,000 | 1 - 2 weeks |
| Automate 1-2 processes | 4,000,000 - 6,500,000 | 4 - 6 weeks |
| Automate 3-4 processes | 7,000,000 - 11,000,000 | 6 - 10 weeks |
| Connector per source | 500,000 - 1,500,000 | 3 - 8 days |
| Monthly maintenance | 200,000 - 500,000 /month | ongoing |
| EU hosting (GDPR) | 40,000 - 130,000 /month | ongoing |
A clear discovery phase prevents overruns: it freezes business rules (discounts, follow-up delays, stock thresholds) before development.
Which processes to prioritise first
Prioritise by volume, repetitiveness and cash impact. Here's the recommended order.
| Process | Estimated saving | Cash impact | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automated quotes | 3 - 6 h/week | Faster sales cycle | 1 |
| Customer follow-ups | 2 - 5 h/week | Shorter payment delay | 1 |
| Stock tracking / alerts | 2 - 4 h/week | Fewer stockouts | 2 |
| Recurring billing | 1 - 3 h/week | Reliable collections | 2 |
| Sales reports | 1 - 2 h/week | Better decisions | 3 |
Starting with quotes + follow-ups delivers the fastest, most visible cash ROI.
Mini case study
Mr. Ouedraogo, owner of a 22-person trading SME, loses 10 h/week on manual quotes and phone follow-ups. At a loaded cost of 3,000 FCFA/h, that's 30,000 FCFA/week, i.e. ~1,440,000 FCFA/year. Automation at 6,000,000 FCFA + 300,000 FCFA/month support removes 8 h/week and cuts average payment delay by 12 days. Year-1 time saving: about 1,150,000 FCFA, before the cash freed by systematic follow-ups.
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FAQ
Why a French-speaking nearshore agency?
You keep a contact in a nearby time zone, in French, with GDPR-compliant EU hosting and controlled costs versus overloaded local providers.
Which process should we start with?
Quotes and follow-ups: the most repetitive and the fastest to improve cash. Stock comes next.
How much is maintenance?
Between 200,000 and 500,000 FCFA/month depending on processes and connectors, covering fixes and evolutions.
Is my data secure?
Yes, EU hosting (Scaleway or OVHcloud), GDPR-compliant, with backups and access logging.
How long to go live?
From 4 to 10 weeks depending on the number of processes, discovery included.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your 3 priority processes and an indicative budget (4-11 million FCFA): we come back with a costed scope. 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.
