The verdict in three sentences
For a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar company run from Dubai and tracking 8,000 customers in African markets, customer management software drives the arrears rate and therefore cash flow. A custom application built by Kolonell falls into the complex projects bracket, from 7,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA (10,670 to 22,870 EUR), delivered in 14 to 20 weeks. Return on investment is measured in collection points: with 160,000 USD collected every month, a single point of arrears recovered is worth about 1,600 USD monthly.
The must-have modules of PAYG solar software
The PAYG model rests on a simple rule: the customer pays small instalments through mobile money, and the kit locks automatically when credit runs out. Everything else in the software exists to make that rule reliable in the field, with sales agents spread across Nairobi, Lagos, Abidjan and secondary towns, while management sits in Dubai.
| Module | Key function | Priority | Indicative share of budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer record and contract | Identity, kit, payment schedule, guarantor, geolocation | Essential | 12 % |
| Mobile money collection | M-Pesa, MTN MoMo, Orange Money, Wave, automatic reconciliation | Essential | 18 % |
| Remote lock and unlock | Credit token generation, open protocol such as OpenPAYGO Token or manufacturer API | Essential | 15 % |
| Collection agent app | Routes, reminders, field collection, offline mode | Essential | 20 % |
| Arrears dashboard | Delays by age (D+7, D+30, D+60), by country, zone and agent | Essential | 10 % |
| SMS and WhatsApp reminders | Pre-due-date reminders, post-lock messages | Recommended | 8 % |
| Stock and after-sales | Serial numbers, returns, parts, technical visits | Recommended | 12 % |
| Agent commissions | Automatic calculation per sale and per collection | Optional | 5 % |
The agent module must work offline: in rural areas 3G coverage remains patchy and agents sync their collections when back in town. It is also the heaviest budget line, because it requires a robust Android app and duplicate-free sync logic.
Off-the-shelf PAYG platform or custom application
Specialised PAYG platforms exist, usually billed per active kit per month. They work well to get started, but their cost rises with the fleet and their integration with local mobile money operators can be partial depending on the country.
| Criterion | Off-the-shelf PAYG platform | Custom Kolonell application |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | Low, 0 to 5,000 USD of setup (market estimate) | 7,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA (10,670 to 22,870 EUR) |
| Recurring cost for 8,000 kits | 0.30 to 1.00 USD per kit per month, i.e. 2,400 to 8,000 USD (market estimate) | Maintenance 75,000 to 120,000 FCFA per month, plus hosting |
| Local mobile money | Varies by vendor and country | Chosen integrations: M-Pesa, MTN MoMo, Orange Money, Wave |
| Kit compatibility | Often limited to partner brands | Multi-manufacturer via API or open tokens |
| Data ownership | With the vendor | With the distributor |
| Time to go live | 4 to 8 weeks | 14 to 20 weeks |
Above 3,000 to 5,000 active kits, the per-kit subscription usually exceeds the annualised cost of an owned application. Below that, an off-the-shelf platform often remains the sensible choice. On compliance, a Dubai holding is subject to the UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on personal data protection, and each African market adds its own rules (for example the Ivorian law 2013-450 or the Kenyan Data Protection Act 2019): data mapping and secure hosting belong in the specification from day one.
Typical 14 to 20 week plan
| Phase | Duration | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping and field workshops | 2 weeks | Flow map, approved specification |
| Mock-ups and agent journeys | 2 weeks | Clickable prototype tested by 3 to 5 agents |
| Back-office and contracts development | 4 to 6 weeks | Customer records, schedules, arrears dashboard |
| Mobile money and token integrations | 3 to 5 weeks | Automatic collection and remote locking tested |
| Offline agent app | In parallel, 4 to 6 weeks | Android app published internally |
| Migration and pilot | 2 weeks | Import of 8,000 customers, pilot in one country |
| Full rollout | 1 week | Team training, complete switch-over |
Migrating existing data, often scattered between spreadsheets and exports from the old tool, is the most underestimated phase. Cleaning duplicates and phone numbers before import saves weeks of corrections.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Omar, COO of a PAYG solar company headquartered in Dubai with operations in Kenya and Côte d'Ivoire, tracks 8,000 customers with an average instalment of 20 USD per month, i.e. 160,000 USD expected monthly. His 60-day arrears rate stands at 18 %. With an arrears dashboard per agent, automatic reminders and reliable locking, he targets a 3-point reduction, to 15 %.
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- Monthly gain: 3 % × 160,000 = 4,800 USD.
- Investment: application at 11,000,000 FCFA (16,770 EUR), plus 120,000 FCFA (180 EUR) of maintenance per month.
- Payback: about 16,770 EUR ÷ roughly 4,200 EUR of net monthly gain ≈ 4 months.
Even with a gain of only 1.5 points, the project pays for itself in under 9 months.
FAQ
How much does custom PAYG solar software cost in 2026?
At Kolonell, a project of this scope sits in the complex applications bracket, from 7,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA (10,670 to 22,870 EUR). The amount depends mostly on the number of mobile money integrations, the offline agent app and the number of kit brands to control.
Can we remotely lock kits from different brands?
Yes, if each manufacturer provides an API or uses an open token protocol. Allow 1 to 3 weeks of integration per kit family, depending on the quality of the documentation provided.
What arrears rate is realistic for a PAYG distributor?
As a market estimate, well-equipped distributors keep portfolio at risk under 10 to 12 % at 30 days, against 15 to 25 % without structured follow-up. Software alone is not enough: agent discipline and customer screening matter just as much.
Do collection agents need a mobile app?
Above 20 field agents, yes. An offline Android app prevents untracked collections and calculates commissions automatically, which represents about 20 % of the overall budget.
What does maintenance cost after delivery?
Kolonell maintenance plans range from 35,000 to 120,000 FCFA per month (about 50 to 180 EUR). For an 8,000-customer fleet with payment integrations, the Standard plan at 75,000 FCFA or Premium at 120,000 FCFA fits best.
Let's scope your project. Describe your kit fleet, payment operators and field organisation on our quote form: we scope the perimeter, priorities 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.
