The verdict in three sentences
When a developer sells 350 units a year on 24 to 36 month instalment plans, a shared spreadsheet becomes a liability: double bookings, missed reminders, late collections. Off-plan sales software that centralises the unit grid, reservations and payment schedules protects billions of FCFA in receivables. For a developer whose buyers are 40% overseas, an online buyer portal is no longer optional.
A sales director's day in Dakar
The sales director runs 12 agents across several projects: Diamniadio, Ngor, Mermoz, Lac Rose. Apartments range from 35 M FCFA (around 53,000 EUR, a two-bedroom on the outskirts) to 150 M FCFA (around 229,000 EUR, a four-bedroom on the Corniche). Buyers reserve with a 10 to 30% deposit, then pay staged calls tied to construction progress. Many of them live in Paris, Milan, New York or Montreal and buy from a distance.
Typical problems:
- Two agents promise the same unit on the same day because the grid is out of date.
- An overseas buyer does not receive a payment call in time and pays 45 days late.
- Finance cannot tell, on any given day, how much remains to be collected per project.
- The notary waits for documents sitting in an agent's inbox.
| Indicator | Without software (order of magnitude) | With off-plan sales software |
|---|---|---|
| Unit grid update lag | 1 to 3 days | Real time |
| Double bookings per year | 5 to 15 | Near zero (unit lock) |
| Average instalment delay | 30 to 60 days | 10 to 20 days |
| Instalments reminded on time | 50 to 70% | 95% and above (automatic) |
| Monthly reporting time | 3 to 5 days | Minutes |
| Arrears over 90 days | 6 to 10% | 2 to 4% |
The modules of off-plan sales software
Real-time unit grid. Each apartment has a status (available, on hold, reserved, sold, handed over). A hold placed by an agent locks the unit for 48 to 72 hours, then releases automatically.
Buyer file. ID documents, reservation contract, financing plan, bank and notary correspondence, all in one record.
Instalment schedule. Payment calls calculated automatically by construction stage (foundations, structure, weathertight, handover), with email, SMS and WhatsApp reminders 15 days, 7 days and 1 day before each due date.
Buyer portal. For the overseas buyer: payment history, site photos, downloadable documents, receipts. International transfers and card payments, plus Wave or Orange Money for relatives paying locally, are reconciled automatically.
Management dashboard. Sales per project, collections, outstanding balances, performance per agent and per channel (sales office, diaspora fair, website).
What off-plan sales software costs in 2026
| Option | Entry cost | Recurring cost | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared spreadsheet | Free | Staff time | Double bookings, no audit trail |
| Adapted generic CRM | 0 to 3,000 EUR | 40 to 90 EUR per user per month | No native instalment logic |
| International real estate suite | 7,500 to 23,000 EUR setup | 75 to 180 EUR per user per month | Weak on FCFA, Wave, Orange Money |
| Kolonell custom, simple | 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (3,810 to 6,100 EUR) | Maintenance from 35,000 FCFA (53 EUR) a month | Grid and reservations only |
| Kolonell custom, medium | 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR) | Maintenance 75,000 FCFA (114 EUR) a month | Adds schedules and reminders |
| Kolonell custom, complex | 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (10,670 to 22,870+ EUR) | Maintenance 120,000 FCFA (183 EUR) a month | Buyer portal, payments, accounting |
Third-party costs are 2026 orders of magnitude. At Kolonell, hosting, banking integrations and portal languages are set in the quote. Delivery takes 3 to 5 months for the full scope. More on our custom web applications.
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Mini case study
Mr Ndiaye, sales director of a Dakar developer. He sells 350 units a year at an average 65 M FCFA (about 99,000 EUR), or 22.75 bn FCFA in sales. Instalments represent 70% of the price after deposit.
- Receivables in progress over the year: about 15.9 bn FCFA.
- Current average delay: 45 days. Target with automatic reminders: 15 days. Gain: 30 days of cash.
- Value of 30 days on 15.9 bn FCFA at a 9% annual cost of funds: 15.9 bn × 9% × 30/365, about 118 M FCFA (around 180,000 EUR) a year.
- Investment: complex build at 12 M FCFA plus Premium maintenance at 1.44 M FCFA a year.
Result: about 13.4 M FCFA in year one against an estimated 118 M FCFA cash gain, before counting avoided double bookings. Payback in under two months.
FAQ
Can overseas buyers pay online?
Yes. The portal shows the schedule and accepts card and bank transfer, plus Wave or Orange Money for relatives in Senegal. About 90% of payments reconcile automatically; finance validates the rest.
How do you stop a unit being sold twice?
The software locks the unit as soon as a hold is placed, for 48 to 72 hours depending on your rule. Only the sales director can lift a lock early.
Can the notary access the file?
Yes, through read-only access limited to the files they handle. This typically shortens deed preparation by 1 to 2 weeks.
Can you import our existing spreadsheets?
Yes, migrating existing units, buyers and payments is part of the project. Allow 2 to 4 weeks depending on data quality.
How long to train 12 sales agents?
A half-day session plus a week of support is usually enough. The tool is mobile-first because 80% of viewings happen on site.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your projects, sales volume and share of overseas buyers, and we will scope the build and delivery timeline. 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.
