The verdict in three sentences
A Burkinabe seed company tracking 3,000 contract seed growers, 250 resellers and its seasonal credit on paper loses certified seed, margin and cash every season. A custom business software costs between 15 and 30 million FCFA in 2026 (about 23,000 to 46,000 EUR), plus 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA per month for maintenance. The realistic target: 20% less seed loss and an input credit recovery rate raised from 75% to 92% by the second season.
The four flows a seed company must control
A seed company in Ouagadougou runs seed multiplication with growers (maize, sorghum, cowpea, rice), official lot certification, storage across several warehouses and credit-based distribution through resellers, all at the same time. Paper breaks the lot traceability chain at every transfer.
| Flow | Typical problem on paper | What the software does |
|---|---|---|
| Multiplication with growers | Plots, varieties and areas poorly tracked | Grower record, geolocated plots, mobile field visits |
| Quality control and certification | Germination and purity results in binders | Unique lot number, test results, certified or downgraded status |
| Stock per warehouse | Gaps between warehouses, expired lots forgotten | Real-time stock per warehouse and lot, expiry alerts |
| Distribution and input credit | Credit notebooks, verbal reminders | Limit per reseller or grower, schedule, post-harvest recovery |
| Payments | Untracked cash | Orange Money and Moov Money receipts reconciled automatically |
| Reporting | Season review takes weeks | Real-time dashboard by variety, area and reseller |
The field app must work offline: in production areas such as Boucle du Mouhoun or Hauts-Bassins, agents log visits without signal and sync once back.
What each option costs in 2026
| Option | Upfront cost | Monthly cost | Fit with seed business |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper + Excel | 0 FCFA | 0 FCFA (high losses and bad debt) | No continuous lot traceability |
| Configured general ERP | 10 to 20 million FCFA | 300,000 to 700,000 FCFA (licences) | Stock and sales yes, multiplication and seasonal credit no |
| Kolonell custom software | 15 to 30 million FCFA | 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA (maintenance, hosting) | Complete: lots, certification, credit, offline mobile |
| Go-live timeline | 4 to 6 months | n/a | Phase 1 delivered before the season starts |
| 3-year cost, general ERP | about 21 to 45 million FCFA | n/a | Custom development billed on top |
| 3-year cost, custom | about 22 to 44 million FCFA | n/a | Code ownership, no per-user licence |
Timing matters as much as budget: a project started in November or December has the credit and distribution module ready for May and June sales.
Measurable gains to expect
| Indicator | Before (paper) | After 2 seasons (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Seed losses (expiry, stock gaps) | 10% of stock | 8%, i.e. -20% |
| Input credit recovery rate | 75% | 92% |
| Time to produce season review | 4 to 6 weeks | 2 days |
| Lots without full history | 30 to 40% | under 5% |
| Field agent data entry time | 2 h per day | 45 minutes per day |
| Reseller balance disputes | 20 to 30 per season | under 5 |
Mini case study
Issouf, CEO of a seed company in Ouagadougou, extends about 600 million FCFA of input credit to resellers and growers each season. At 75% recovery, 150 million FCFA stays unpaid. Moving to 92% cuts bad debt to 48 million FCFA: 102 million FCFA recovered per season. On an average stock of 800 million FCFA, cutting losses from 10% to 8% saves 16 million FCFA. With software at 24 million FCFA and 300,000 FCFA monthly maintenance (3.6 million FCFA a year), the project pays for itself in the first season, even if recovery improves by only 5 points (30 million FCFA).
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FAQ
Does the software work in rural areas without signal?
Yes, the field agents' mobile app works offline. Visits, plot photos and sales sync as soon as signal returns, usually within 10 minutes.
Can we trace a seed lot from plot to reseller?
Yes, each lot gets a unique ID with plot of origin, grower, test results and every warehouse movement. A QR code printed on bags retrieves the history in 5 seconds.
How does the software improve credit recovery?
It sets a limit per client, sends SMS reminders before due dates and blocks new deliveries after 30 days overdue. Orange Money payments are reconciled automatically against the right balance.
When should we start the project for next season?
Ideally 5 to 6 months before seed sales. A December start delivers the stock and credit module in April, ahead of May and June distribution.
What does the 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA monthly maintenance include?
Hosting, daily backups, fixes, mobile app updates and support during peak season. New modules are quoted separately.
Let's scope your project. Send us your volumes (growers, resellers, warehouses, seasonal credit): we will price a scope between 15 and 30 million FCFA aligned with your season calendar. 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.
