The verdict in three sentences
For a team of 25 field sales reps taking orders at bars, hotels and restaurants, a PWA (progressive web app) costs USD 28,000 to 60,000 (EUR 25,000 to 55,000), half the price of a native iOS and Android app. It works offline in cellars and back rooms with no signal, then syncs orders with Salesforce as soon as connectivity returns. Delivered in 3 to 4 months, it saves about 20 minutes per visit by eliminating paper order re-entry.
PWA, native or SaaS: the comparison
A Miami beverage distributor whose reps visit 6 to 8 on-premise accounts a day weighs three options. Miami agency rates sit close to these ranges; a nearshore team can come in 25 to 40% lower.
| Criterion | Custom PWA | Native app | Order-taking SaaS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | USD 28,000 to 60,000 | USD 65,000 to 130,000 | USD 0 to 5,500 setup |
| Annual cost | USD 4,500 to 10,000 (hosting, maintenance) | USD 11,000 to 22,000 | USD 45 to 100 per user per month, i.e. USD 13,500 to 30,000 |
| Offline mode | Yes, cached catalogue and orders | Yes, the most robust | Varies, often partial |
| Salesforce sync | Custom, exact business rules | Custom | Standard connector, limited fields |
| Time to go live | 3 to 4 months | 5 to 7 months | 2 to 6 weeks |
| App store publishing | Not needed, installed from the browser | Apple and Google, 1 to 2 weeks review | No |
| Fit with account-specific pricing | Full | Full | Limited to built-in options |
SaaS wins over a 12-month horizon; the PWA becomes cheaper from year two or three and matches discounts, deposits and per-account terms exactly.
What offline mode means technically
Offline is not a checkbox: it requires a precise architecture. The catalogue (often 800 to 2,000 SKUs with compressed images) is stored in the browser via IndexedDB, about 50 to 150 MB. Orders entered without signal are queued and sent by a service worker. The tricky part is conflict handling: a price changed at headquarters while a rep is offline, or stock running out between order entry and sync.
| Offline feature | Complexity | Indicative extra cost | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalogue browsing | Low | USD 2,200 to 4,500 | Differential update every morning |
| Order entry | Medium | USD 4,500 to 9,000 | Queue and delivery receipt |
| Customer history and last orders | Medium | USD 3,300 to 6,600 | 12 months per account cached |
| Per-account prices and discounts | High | USD 5,500 to 11,000 | Rules recalculated server-side on sync |
| Stock conflict resolution | High | USD 4,500 to 10,000 | Alert to the rep and substitution suggestion |
| On-screen customer signature | Low | USD 1,600 to 3,300 | Stored then sent with the order |
Salesforce sync
The PWA reads accounts, contacts and pricing terms from Salesforce and writes back orders, visits and notes. Budget USD 6,600 to 15,500 depending on the number of custom objects. Salesforce API call limits require batched sync rather than one call per click.
Mini case study
Carlos, sales director of a 70-employee beverage distributor in Miami, equips 25 reps. Each makes 6 visits a day and spends 20 minutes per visit re-keying paper orders in the evening or calling sales admin. Theoretical gain: 2 hours per rep per day, or 10,000 hours over 200 working days.
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Conservatively counting half as time truly redirected to selling, 5,000 hours at USD 35 loaded cost equals USD 175,000 a year. The PWA costs USD 50,000 (including USD 12,000 for Salesforce) plus USD 7,700 a year. Payback in under 4 months, and entry errors, which caused about 3% of delivery disputes, drop sharply.
FAQ
Does a PWA work well on iPhone in 2026?
Yes, iOS supports home-screen install, offline storage and push notifications since iOS 16.4. Storage is capped based on free space, which is enough for a 2,000-SKU catalogue.
What happens if a rep stays offline all day?
Orders stay on the device and are sent on reconnection. Plan a visible indicator and an alert if an order is not synced after 24 hours.
Do we need to supply tablets?
No, the PWA runs on existing smartphones. If you do equip reps, a rugged business Android tablet costs USD 280 to 500 each.
Can we start with SaaS and move to custom later?
Yes, it is a sensible way to validate usage. Budget USD 3,300 to 6,600 for data migration and check that the SaaS allows full order export.
What maintenance should we plan?
About 10 to 15% of the upfront cost per year, or USD 4,500 to 9,000, for browser updates, Salesforce API changes and small business requests.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of reps, catalogue size and your CRM: we price an offline PWA with sync, an indicative budget and a 3 to 4 month schedule. 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.
