The verdict in three sentences
Beyond 200 systems, a solar installer can no longer run maintenance with Excel and WhatsApp groups: faults are discovered by the customer, often 7 to 21 days after production drops. Custom O&M software at 8,000,000 to 22,000,000 FCFA excl. VAT brings inverter monitoring via API, work orders, contracts and alerts into one place. The realistic target is 98% availability across the fleet, against 93% to 94% with manual management, with payback under 18 months.
Features and cost: three software tiers
The Senegalese market mixes several inverter brands (Huawei, Growatt, SMA, Victron, Deye) on very different sites: commercial rooftops in Dakar and Thies, rural schools, water pumping stations. The software must read data from each manufacturer platform through its API and bring it into a single dashboard.
| Feature | Core 8,000,000 FCFA | Standard 14,000,000 FCFA | Full 22,000,000 FCFA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site and equipment inventory | yes | yes, with warranties and serial numbers | yes, with full history |
| Inverter monitoring via API | 1 brand | 3 brands | all brands and batteries |
| Production-drop alerts | fixed threshold | compared with daily irradiation | diagnosis per panel string |
| Work orders | yes | yes, with technician scheduling | yes, with route optimisation |
| Maintenance contracts and billing | no | yes | yes, with automatic renewals |
| Offline technician app | no | yes | yes, with photos and customer signature |
| Customer portal | no | monthly PDF report | real-time portal |
| Delivery time | 3 months | 4 to 5 months | 6 to 7 months |
In euros, the range is roughly EUR 12,200 to 33,500. Add hosting (50,000 to 150,000 FCFA a month) and connectivity for inverters that are not online: a data SIM costs 2,000 to 5,000 FCFA per site per month.
What monitoring changes on a 450-system fleet
The value of O&M software is not measured by the number of screens but by the indicators it moves. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude seen at West African installers moving from manual management to centralised monitoring.
| Indicator | Manual management | With O&M software |
|---|---|---|
| Average fleet availability | 93% to 94% | 98% |
| Time to detect a fault | 7 to 21 days | under 24 h |
| Site visits without prior diagnosis | 30% | 10% |
| Preventive visits done on time | 60% | 95% |
| Admin time per intervention | 45 min | 10 min |
| Contracts lost through missed renewal | 15% | under 3% |
The key feature is the production-drop alert. The software compares actual output with expected yield, calculated from the day's irradiation: in Dakar a system produces about 1,600 kWh per kWp per year. A gap above 15% over 48 hours automatically opens a ticket, before the customer even calls.
Contracts, payments and data: points to scope
Maintenance contracts (twice-yearly preventive visits, panel cleaning, response within 48 or 72 h) must be linked to tickets to measure whether commitments are met. The software can collect instalments through Wave or Orange Money, which cuts late payments from small customers. Customer data (contacts, addresses, consumption) falls under Senegal's Law 2008-12 on personal data: registration with the CDP and secure hosting belong in the specification from day one.
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Moussa, managing director of a solar installer in Dakar, maintains 450 systems averaging 30 kWp and carries out 1,100 interventions a year. Going from 30% to 10% of visits without diagnosis saves 220 trips at 40,000 FCFA, or 8,800,000 FCFA a year. Saving 35 minutes of admin per intervention represents 640 hours, about 2,240,000 FCFA. With the Standard tier at 14,000,000 FCFA (about EUR 21,300) and 2,100,000 FCFA of annual maintenance, payback falls under 18 months, before counting saved contracts: 12% more renewals on 450,000 FCFA contracts represent 24,300,000 FCFA a year.
FAQ
Does the software work with every inverter brand?
Huawei, SMA, Growatt, Victron and most recent brands offer an API or data export. Each additional connector costs 600,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA depending on documentation quality.
What about sites without an internet connection?
A 4G module is installed with a data SIM at 2,000 to 5,000 FCFA a month. The technician app works offline and syncs as soon as the network returns.
How long does it take to reach 98% availability?
Allow 6 to 9 months after go-live: the first quarter is spent fixing dormant faults uncovered by monitoring. The average gain is 4 availability points.
Can we start with the Core tier and upgrade later?
Yes, the architecture is modular. Moving from the 8,000,000 FCFA Core tier to Standard then costs 6,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA, without rebuilding what exists.
Can customers pay their maintenance contract by mobile money?
Yes, Wave and Orange Money integration costs 800,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA. It clearly reduces late payments on school and SME contracts.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of systems, inverter brands and standard contracts: we will price software between 8,000,000 and 22,000,000 FCFA excl. VAT, delivered in 3 to 7 months. 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.
