The verdict in three sentences
SMEs in Dakar are not asking for spectacular "autonomous agents": they want quotes, meeting minutes, follow-ups and WhatsApp reception to stop depending on one person who copies and pastes all day. According to the rates quoted by the program for Dakar in 2026, a simple automation is billed at 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA (about 230 to 610 EUR) and a fully documented process at 400,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA (about 610 to 1,525 EUR), excluding tool subscriptions and with no guaranteed volume. Kolonell Academy's level 4 Intermediate course (100,000 FCFA, 20 h) teaches you to build these processes with Make or Zapier, without writing a line of code.
The services SMEs actually ask for
In a Dakar SME (firm, distributor, real estate agency, training centre), the same pattern keeps coming back: a request arrives by form, email or WhatsApp, someone copies it into a spreadsheet, drafts a quote by hand, forgets to follow up, then rewrites meeting minutes in the evening. These are exactly the tasks the course teaches you to automate.
| Service | Concrete SME example | Course module | Indicative Dakar 2026 rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple automation | Form to spreadsheet, then Gmail notification | Module 4: Make and Zapier scenarios | 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA |
| Quote generator | Form to Google Docs quote as PDF, sent as a draft | Module 5: automatic documents and emails | 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA |
| Automatic meeting minutes | Meeting recording to a shared record of decisions | Module 5 | 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA |
| WhatsApp Business reception | Quick replies, 30 validated FAQs, follow-up at D+2 | Module 6 | 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA |
| Fully documented process | Request, quote, follow-up, invoice, with process sheet and monthly cost | Modules 4 to 8 | 400,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA |
| Monthly maintenance | Monthly review, error fixes, tool changes | Module 8 | 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA per month |
These amounts are 2026 orders of magnitude, depending on the profile and the client's size: no income is guaranteed, and tool subscriptions come on top, usually paid by the client. For yourself, the program mentions another possible gain: 4 to 10 hours saved per week on repetitive tasks, depending on their volume.
One point matters a lot to SMEs: human validation. Module 4 dedicates a lesson to the draft, approval, then send circuit, and module 6 covers what you never automate (complaints, payments, health) and the unofficial WhatsApp tools that get a number blocked. Being able to say "we don't automate this" reassures a manager far more than an impressive demo.
What the course has you build
The course on automating your work with AI without writing code, taught in French, has eight modules and thirty-two written lessons, with PDF handouts, quizzes and projects to submit. There is no video and no live class: you build in your own accounts, at your own pace.
| Project to submit | Module | What it proves to a client |
|---|---|---|
| Map of 20 tasks and diagram of 3 automations | 1 | You know how to pick what pays |
| Custom assistant tested on 10 cases | 2 | You test before handing over |
| 200-row spreadsheet processed by AI with quality control | 3 | You handle volume without losing quality |
| Three Make or Zapier scenarios, one with human validation | 4 | You deliver scenarios that run |
| Quote or minutes generator linked to a form | 5 | You automate a business document |
| WhatsApp Business reception flow with hand-off rules | 6 | You respect the customer relationship |
| A task delegated to an AI agent with its safeguards sheet | 7 | You control the risks |
| Complete automated process, documented and costed | 8 | You deliver a transferable file |
Tools used: Make, Zapier, ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, Google Sheets, Google Docs, Google Forms, Gmail, WhatsApp Business, Airtable and Notion. Exercises work on the free plans. In real use, the program mentions about 5,200 FCFA per month for Make (Core plan) or 11,500 FCFA for Zapier (Professional plan), plus 11,500 FCFA per month for an AI subscription, at September 2026 prices.
Two prerequisites deserve attention. First, a computer and a stable connection are mandatory: lessons can be read on a phone, but Make and Zapier cannot be configured on a smartphone. Second, level 3 "Generative AI for professionals" is recommended, or equivalent practice (structured prompts, a prompt library, a first simple scenario). No programming skills are required.
This level belongs to the Artificial intelligence track, just before level 5 "AI consultant: selling, scoping and delivering engagements". The full five-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
Mini case study
Consider a hypothetical learner: Moussa, 31, an administrative assistant at a Dakar firm, takes level 4 for 100,000 FCFA, plus about 16,700 FCFA per month in tools (Make and an AI subscription) once in real use.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
- Assumption: he then offers a quote generator to a nearby SME for 250,000 FCFA, at the low end of the simple automation range.
- Illustrative calculation: 250,000 − 100,000 = 150,000 FCFA margin over the cost of the course, before his working time.
- With a 30,000 FCFA monthly maintenance contract, the course would be covered by maintenance alone in just over three months.
This scenario is a calculation hypothesis, not an achieved result: landing the first client depends on your network and your sales approach.
FAQ
Do I need to know how to code for this level?
No. Everything is built by drag and drop in Make and Zapier, with forms, spreadsheets and document templates. When a need really requires development, the course tells you which questions to ask a provider.
How much time should I plan?
The program is 20 hours, about 3 hours a week for 7 weeks, projects included. Scenarios are best built in uninterrupted 45-minute sessions.
Can WhatsApp really be automated?
Partly. Module 6 covers the catalogue, quick replies, automatic messages, labels and a base of 30 validated answers, and explains why unofficial tools expose your number to being blocked.
What certificate do I get?
A numbered Kolonell Academy certificate, verifiable online (QR code), to add to LinkedIn, after passing the quizzes of the eight modules with at least 70%; your final project must also be approved by a reviewer. It is not a state diploma, but your documented projects form a portfolio you can show.
How do I enrol and pay?
Pay by Wave or Orange Money at +221 77 596 93 33; access is activated within 24 working hours, with lifetime access and updates. The course is not refundable once access is activated, so read module 1 first, which is free to preview.
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Take the next step. Enroll in Automating your work with AI, without writing code: 20 hours, 100,000 FCFA (about 152 EUR), Kolonell Academy certificate verifiable online. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? 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.
