The verdict in three sentences
A taxi or motorbike fleet still running on phone calls loses 30 to 50 % of its rides to aggregators, and pays 15 to 25 % commission on whatever it hands them. A proprietary app — booking, geolocation, automatic dispatch, mobile money payment — keeps the margin and the customer relationship. For 2,000,000 to 8,000,000 FCFA, a 20-vehicle fleet recovers in one season what it was paying in commissions.
Aggregator versus proprietary app
The math is simple: every ride routed through Yango or Bolt leaves 15 to 25 % in the aggregator's pocket. Multiplied over thousands of rides, that's the budget of an entire app, every year.
| 2026 criterion | Phone / aggregator | Proprietary app |
|---|---|---|
| Commission per ride | 15 to 25 % (aggregator) | 0 % |
| Share of rides lost | 30 to 50 % | recovered |
| Ride assignment | manual / verbal | automatic dispatch |
| Fare | verbally negotiated | calculated by distance/time |
| Payment | cash | mobile money + cash |
| Rate of completed rides | 60 to 75 % | 85 to 95 % |
| Customer relationship | owned by aggregator | owned by the fleet |
Cost, dispatch and fares
The app is more than a map: it automatically assigns the ride to the nearest driver, calculates the fare by distance and time, and takes payment via mobile money. The owner keeps the customer data, which is gold for retention.
| Item | Key function | 2026 ballpark |
|---|---|---|
| Customer booking | App + geolocation | included |
| Automatic dispatch | Nearest driver | included |
| Fare pricing | By distance + time | included |
| Ride payment | Mobile money | ~1 to 1.5 % fee |
| Fleet tracking | Real-time position | included |
| Starter app (booking + dispatch) | Small fleet | 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA |
| Full app (multi-service + payment + stats) | Established fleet | 5,000,000 to 8,000,000 FCFA |
Mini case study
Sarah, who runs a 20-vehicle fleet in Kampala, completes 6,000 rides a month at 2,500 FCFA on average, or 15,000,000 FCFA in revenue. Routing half her rides through an aggregator at 20 % commission, she gives up 1,500,000 FCFA a month, or 18,000,000 FCFA a year. Her full proprietary app at 6,000,000 FCFA pays for itself in 4 months, after which the saved commission stays in her cash flow.
Become a Kolonell referral partner
Do you know fleet owners, restaurateurs or agencies that need an app? The Kolonell referral (apporteur d'affaires) program pays you on every project you bring: 15 % + 5 % recurring on showcase sites, 12 % on e-commerce, 10 % on marketplaces and 8 % on institutional projects. A single fleet app at 6,000,000 FCFA earns a four-figure euro commission — without you writing a line of code.
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FAQ
How much does a fleet give up to aggregators?
Between 15 and 25 % commission on every ride handed to Yango or Bolt, plus the loss of the customer relationship. For an average fleet, that often means over 15,000,000 FCFA a year.
How much does a transport app cost in 2026?
Between 2,000,000 and 4,000,000 FCFA for booking and dispatch, and 5,000,000 to 8,000,000 FCFA for a full solution with payment and analytics. Payback is generally 3 to 6 months for an active fleet.
How does automatic dispatch work?
The app assigns the ride to the nearest available driver via geolocation, with no human intervention. That lifts the completed-ride rate from 60-75 % to 85-95 %.
Can the customer pay by mobile money?
Yes, via mobile money, with fees of about 1 to 1.5 %, while keeping the cash option. Payment is traced, which simplifies accounting and driver settlements.
Why keep the customer relationship?
With a proprietary app, customer data (history, addresses, preferences) belongs to the fleet, not the aggregator. That enables retention, follow-up and subscriptions, raising customer lifetime value.
Let's talk about your project. We build your fleet app with automatic dispatch, distance-based fares and mobile money payment. 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.
