The verdict in three sentences
For a basalt quarry shipping 1,500 tonnes a day to construction and road-building contractors, whether near Toronto or Thiès, custom weighbridge and delivery ticket software costs, as a 2026 order of magnitude, between FCFA 7,000,000 and 16,000,000 (about USD 11,500 to 26,500), with a timeline of 3 to 4 months. Connected directly to the weighbridge, it issues automatic delivery tickets, tracks customer accounts and credit exposure and blocks suspicious weighings. The expected gain is 2 to 4% of unbilled tonnage recovered, an amount that often exceeds the software cost in the first year.
Where tonnage leaks in a quarry
In many quarries, the weighbridge operator reads the indicator display, copies the weight into a carbon ticket book, then accounting re-enters the tickets in a spreadsheet at week end. Each step opens a leak: rounded weights, a truck tare declared from memory, a ticket never entered, a truck leaving unweighed during a rush, or a customer exceeding its credit limit without anyone noticing.
| Loss source | Without software | What the software changes | Estimated tonnage recovered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight copied by hand | Rounding, reading errors | Direct reading from the weighbridge indicator | 0.5 to 1% |
| Tares declared from memory | Understated tare, overloaded truck | Tare stored per plate number, periodic check | 0.5 to 1% |
| Tickets not entered or lost | Delivery never invoiced | Numbered ticket created at weighing, automatic invoice | 0.5 to 1% |
| Exits without weighing | Invisible | Barrier or traffic light tied to weighing, plate photo | 0.3 to 0.5% |
| Credit limit overruns | Deliveries to late-paying customers | Automatic block above the limit | Fewer bad debts |
| Realistic total | 2 to 4% |
These figures are estimates: the real share depends on current control levels. A quarry already using basic weighing software is closer to 2%.
Modules and their cost
| Module | Function | Indicative share | 2026 range (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weighbridge connection | Indicator reading, double weighing in and out | 20% | 1,400,000 to 3,200,000 |
| Delivery tickets | Numbered ticket, product, site, driver, print or SMS | 15% | 1,050,000 to 2,400,000 |
| Customer accounts and credit | Limits, deposits, statements, overrun alerts | 20% | 1,400,000 to 3,200,000 |
| Fraud control | Tares, plate photos, cancelled weighings, audit log | 15% | 1,050,000 to 2,400,000 |
| Invoicing and payments | Monthly invoices, bank transfer, Wave or Orange Money | 15% | 1,050,000 to 2,400,000 |
| Dashboards | Tonnage by product, customer and day, aggregate stockpiles | 15% | 1,050,000 to 2,400,000 |
The low end fits a site with one weighbridge and about ten products (0/4, 4/8, 8/16, 16/25, crusher run). The high end covers two weighbridges, a licence plate recognition camera and a customer portal to view tickets and statements.
Project plan and prerequisites
| Phase | Duration | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Weighbridge and flow audit | 2 weeks | Indicator model, communication protocol, truck circuit |
| Weighing and delivery tickets | 4 to 5 weeks | Double weighing, automatic ticket |
| Customer accounts and invoicing | 3 to 4 weeks | Credit, statements, invoices |
| Fraud control and dashboards | 2 to 3 weeks | Audit log, alerts, reports |
| Parallel-run pilot | 2 weeks | Paper book and software side by side, then switch-over |
Two technical prerequisites to check during the audit: the weighbridge indicator must have a data output (serial or network), and the weighing station needs backup power, since an outage during weighing must never produce an incomplete ticket.
Mini case study
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Moustapha, operations director of a basalt quarry, ships 1,500 tonnes a day over about 300 days, or 450,000 tonnes a year, at an average ex-quarry price of FCFA 11,000 per tonne (about USD 18). He chooses software at FCFA 11,000,000 (about USD 18,000), delivered in 4 months. With a cautious assumption of 2% tonnage recovered, 9,000 tonnes, he bills about FCFA 99,000,000 more per year. Even counting only half of that gain, the software pays for itself in under 3 months.
FAQ
Do we need a new weighbridge?
Rarely. Most recent indicators have a serial or network output. The 2-week audit checks this before the final quote.
What happens during a power or network outage?
The weighing station runs locally and syncs tickets once the network returns. Backup power prevents any incomplete weighing.
Can customers pay by mobile money?
Yes, Wave and Orange Money for small customers and deposits. Construction firms usually stay on monthly invoices paid by bank transfer, with a credit limit tracked automatically.
How does the software limit fraud?
It stores each truck's tare, photographs the plate, prevents weight edits and logs every cancelled weighing. This module is about 15% of the budget.
How long until it is operational?
Allow 3 to 4 months, including a 2-week parallel run with the paper book before full switch-over.
Let's scope your project. Give us your weighbridge model and daily tonnage: we will price software between FCFA 7,000,000 and 16,000,000 (about USD 11,500 to 26,500) with a 3 to 4 month plan. 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.
