The verdict in three sentences
A solar installer serving businesses and clinics, whether in Miami or Dakar, that runs quotes, projects and maintenance on WhatsApp and spreadsheets is leaking its recurring margin. Custom software at 10-25 million FCFA (about 17,000-42,000 USD), with hosting at 50,000-120,000 FCFA (85-200 USD) a month, links sizing, quotes, projects, production monitoring and maintenance contracts. The main gain is commercial: maintenance contracts renewed thanks to production monitored in real time and proven to the client.
A fast-growing market, processes still handmade
In Miami, hurricane resilience and rising commercial power rates push clinics, hotels, food plants and office buildings toward solar plus storage. In Dakar, the drivers are outages and high tariffs for large consumers, and the workflows are identical. A mid-sized installer delivers 30 to 60 systems a year, from 20 kWp to 500 kWp, often with lithium storage for clinics that cannot tolerate any outage.
The full cycle is long: site survey, utility bill analysis, sizing, quote, financing, sourcing panels and inverters, installation, commissioning, then 5 to 10 years of maintenance. Without a shared tool, each step lives in a different file. A clinic notices an 18% production drop before the installer does, and the maintenance contract is not renewed.
| Stage | WhatsApp and spreadsheets | Integrated software |
|---|---|---|
| Time from survey to quote | 7 to 15 days | 2 to 3 days |
| Quote conversion rate | 20 to 25% | 30 to 35% |
| Average project delay | 3 to 5 weeks | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Detecting a production drop | Client complaint, 1 to 3 months | Automatic alert within 24 h |
| Preventive visits done on time | 40 to 50% | 90% and above |
| Maintenance contract renewals | 50 to 60% | 80 to 90% |
Modules and their 2026 cost
The software is built in modules, so you start with the most profitable one. The ranges below are 2026 estimates for development by a Dakar-based team, hosting extra.
| Module | Key features | Indicative budget |
|---|---|---|
| Sizing and quotes | Utility bill import, kWp and battery sizing, PDF quote | 2.5 to 5 million FCFA (4,200 to 8,400 USD) |
| CRM and sales tracking | Pipeline, follow-ups, financing, e-signatures | 1.5 to 3.5 million FCFA (2,500 to 5,900 USD) |
| Project management | Crew planning, stock, geotagged photos, handover reports | 2.5 to 6 million FCFA (4,200 to 10,000 USD) |
| Production monitoring | Inverter API connections, alerts, monthly client reports | 2 to 6 million FCFA (3,400 to 10,000 USD) |
| Maintenance contracts | Schedules, visits, invoicing, online or mobile money payment | 1.5 to 4.5 million FCFA (2,500 to 7,500 USD) |
| Client portal | Real-time output, savings, history | 1 to 3 million FCFA (1,700 to 5,000 USD) |
| Hosting and maintenance | Servers, backups, updates, support | 50,000 to 120,000 FCFA (85 to 200 USD) a month |
A first release at 10 million FCFA usually covers quotes, projects and contracts. Monitoring and the client portal take the total to 18 to 25 million FCFA for an installer managing more than 150 sites.
Monitoring: the lever that funds everything else
Most inverters on the market expose their data through an API or a manufacturer portal. The software aggregates every brand in one dashboard, compares real output with expected output for local irradiance (around 1,650 to 1,750 kWh per kWp per year in Dakar, slightly lower in Miami), and triggers an alert as soon as the gap exceeds 10%. The client receives a monthly savings report. That quantified argument justifies a maintenance contract at 3 to 5% of the system price per year.
Mini case study
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Mr. Ndiaye runs a solar installation company that monitors 120 systems, 14 of them in clinics. His maintenance contracts bring in about 1.2 million FCFA (2,000 USD) per site per year, but only 55% are renewed. With custom software at 18 million FCFA and 90,000 FCFA of monthly hosting, renewals rise to 82%. Across 120 sites, that is 32 contracts saved, about 38.4 million FCFA (64,000 USD) of extra recurring revenue a year. Payback comes in under 7 months, before counting gains on quotes.
FAQ
How much does solar installer software cost in 2026?
Custom software costs 10 to 25 million FCFA (about 17,000 to 42,000 USD) depending on modules. Hosting and maintenance add 50,000 to 120,000 FCFA a month.
Does monitoring work with every inverter brand?
It works with brands that offer an API or data export, which covers the vast majority of commercial inverters. Each new brand takes 300,000 to 800,000 FCFA (500 to 1,350 USD) to integrate.
Can technicians work offline on site?
Yes, the mobile app stores photos, readings and signatures offline. Data syncs as soon as a 3G or 4G connection returns.
Can maintenance be paid online or by mobile money?
Yes, each contract instalment generates a payment link, by card, Wave or Orange Money. The paid status flows into accounting automatically.
How long does it take to start?
A first release with quotes, projects and contracts ships in 10 to 14 weeks. Monitoring and the client portal follow within 6 to 8 additional weeks.
Let's scope your project. We scope your solar project and maintenance software: priority modules, inverter integrations, indicative budget of 10 to 25 million FCFA, first release in 10 to 14 weeks. 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.
