The verdict in three sentences
An IT services company in Abidjan that waits 74 days on average to get paid is in effect financing its clients' cash flow. Adding a payment link to every PDF invoice, automatic reminders and automatic reconciliation in the accounts usually wins 20 to 30 days, for aggregator fees of 1.5 to 3.5 % on the share paid by mobile money or card. The custom project rolls out in 6 to 10 weeks, with a Kolonell budget starting at 2,500,000 FCFA (3,810 EUR) for a simple app, everything else set in the quote.
Why B2B invoices sleep in Abidjan
In IT services, the invoice usually goes out by email, the client forwards it to accounting, which asks for a purchase order, then an approval chain, then a transfer scheduled at month end. Each step adds a week. When you issue 300 invoices a month, the CFO spends her days chasing, working out which transfer matches which invoice and explaining to the CEO why the overdraft is not shrinking.
A payment link does not remove the approval chain, but it removes friction at the end of it: the client clicks, picks a payment method and the invoice turns to paid without anyone touching it.
| Payment method in the link | Indicative aggregator fee (2026 order of magnitude) | Time to reach the account | Typical B2B use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave | 1 to 2 % | minutes to 24 h | small invoices, micro business clients |
| Orange Money, MTN MoMo, Moov Money | 1.5 to 3 % | 24 to 48 h | invoices up to a few million FCFA |
| Visa or Mastercard card | 2.5 to 3.5 % | 2 to 5 days | international clients, subsidiaries |
| Bank transfer with prefilled reference | bank fees only | 1 to 3 days | large invoices, key accounts |
| Multi-method aggregator (CinetPay, PayDunya, Hub2 and similar) | 1.5 to 3.5 % by method | 24 to 72 h | one integration for every method |
The right setup shows every method in the link, but steers invoices above 5 M FCFA towards transfer with reference, to avoid paying 3 % on large amounts.
Reminders and reconciliation: where time is won
The link alone speeds up willing payers. Automatic reminders move the rest: a polite nudge at D-3, a reminder on the due date, another at D+7 with the link, then an alert to the account manager at D+15. Automatic reconciliation then closes the invoice in the accounting software as soon as the aggregator confirms payment, and matches transfers through the invoice reference.
| Function | Without a tool | With the platform | Estimated gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sending invoices | manual, one email at a time | automatic with built-in link | 15 to 20 h per month |
| Reminders | whenever the CFO remembers | D-3, D0, D+7, D+15 sequence | 10 to 20 days of DSO |
| Cash reconciliation | manual statement matching | automatic via reference and notification | 30 to 50 h per month |
| Overdue tracking | weekly Excel sheet | real-time dashboard | faster decisions |
| Disputes | lost in emails | history attached to the invoice | fewer bad debts |
Budget and timeline
| Scope | Features | Kolonell range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple app | payment link in PDFs, aggregator, paid status | 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (3,810 to 6,100 EUR) | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Medium app | + automatic reminders, accounting reconciliation, DSO dashboard | 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR) | 8 to 10 weeks |
| Complex app | + client portal, multi-entity, ERP, dispute workflow | 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (10,670 to 22,870+ EUR) | beyond 10 weeks |
| Maintenance | support and changes | 35,000 / 75,000 / 120,000 FCFA per month | ongoing |
| Aggregator fees, SMS, specific connectors | volume and contract based | in the quote or aggregator pricing | per scope |
For a CFO who wants results within a quarter, the medium band is often right: a link without reminders or reconciliation leaves half the gain on the table.
Mini case study
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Aïcha, CFO of an IT services company in Abidjan, issues 300 invoices a month averaging 1,200,000 FCFA, or 360 M FCFA monthly and 4.32 billion a year. Her DSO is 74 days.
With payment links and reminders, DSO falls to 45 days. The 29 days gained release about 348 M FCFA of cash (360 M × 29 / 30). At a 10 % overdraft cost, that avoids 34.8 M FCFA of interest a year. Bad debts fall from 2 % to 1 % of revenue: 43.2 M FCFA recovered. On the other side, 20 % of amounts go through paid methods at an average 2.5 % fee: 72 M × 2.5 % × 12 = 21.6 M FCFA of annual fees. The net gain exceeds 56 M FCFA a year, for a medium project quoted at 6,000,000 FCFA.
FAQ
Will key accounts agree to pay by link?
They rarely pay by mobile money, but they like transfer with a prefilled reference and one-click access to the invoice. On a mixed portfolio, 40 to 60 % of clients use the link in one way or another.
Who pays the aggregator fee?
Usually the supplier, as with a card terminal. Some companies add a service fee on card payments, which must be stated in the terms and conditions.
Does reconciliation work with Sage or local software?
Yes, through file import or a connector depending on the software. Automatic reconciliation commonly covers 85 to 95 % of receipts, with the rest handled manually.
How long before DSO improves?
First effects show from the second month, the full effect within 3 to 4 months as older invoices clear. A gain of 20 to 30 days is a realistic order of magnitude.
Do we need to change invoicing software?
No, the platform plugs into the existing tool and adds the link to the PDF. Switching only makes sense if your software allows no export at all.
Let's scope your project. Send us your invoice volume, payment methods and accounting software, and we will scope a platform delivered in 6 to 10 weeks. 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.
