The verdict in three sentences
A London geotechnical consultancy loses most of its productivity between the borehole, the laboratory and the report, because the same data is keyed in three times. Software that links tablet field logging, lab results, AGS format data exchange and generated borehole logs can give engineers back a large share of the 25 to 35 % of time spent on formatting. The market budget runs from GBP 90,000 to 250,000 (2026 ballpark), and success depends on a specification with measurable requirements.
The consultancy's context
The illustrative firm employs 50 people in London and the South East: drilling supervisors, an in house soils laboratory, and ten geotechnical engineers. It runs 300 to 700 site investigations a year for developers, contractors and infrastructure clients, often on tight urban plots with basements, piled foundations and party wall constraints. Each job produces a factual report with exploratory hole logs and lab results, then an interpretive report designed under Eurocode 7 (BS EN 1997) and its UK National Annex.
Clients and principal contractors increasingly ask for data in the AGS format published by the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists, so it can flow into their own ground models. Today the firm logs on paper, the lab works in spreadsheets, and engineers rebuild logs by hand.
The specification template
Every requirement must be testable at acceptance. Fill in the Target column with your own numbers.
| Ref. | Requirement | Measurable criterion | Target | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Offline field logging on tablet | Works a full shift underground or offsite, no data loss on sync | 0 records lost over 100 syncs | Must have |
| F2 | Digital borehole log | Strata, depths, groundwater strikes, samples, in situ tests, photos | 30 m borehole logged in under 20 min | Must have |
| L1 | Lab test register | Samples linked to holes by unique ID | 3,000 to 9,000 tests a year, no rekeying | Must have |
| L2 | Automated calculations | Moisture content, Atterberg limits, PSD, compaction | Zero variance with the lab reference method | Must have |
| D1 | AGS data export and import | Valid AGS4 files for each project | Passes the AGS checker with no errors | Must have |
| R1 | Generated logs | Borehole and trial pit logs to house style | Under 1 min per log | Must have |
| R2 | Prefilled reports | Factual report and Eurocode 7 interpretive template | Formatting time cut by at least 50 % | Should have |
| S1 | Security and backups | Role based access, daily backups, UK hosting | Restore tested every quarter | Must have |
The specification also states volumes, export formats (PDF, AGS, spreadsheet), UK GDPR obligations for client and personal data, and the tablet fleet in use.
Budget and release plan
| Release | Scope | Market budget (2026 ballpark) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release 1 | Offline field logging and borehole records | GBP 25,000 to 60,000 | 8 to 10 weeks |
| Release 2 | Lab register and calculations | GBP 20,000 to 55,000 | 8 to 10 weeks |
| Release 3 | AGS exchange | GBP 12,000 to 35,000 | 5 to 8 weeks |
| Release 4 | Generated logs and report templates | GBP 20,000 to 65,000 | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Release 5 | Job tracking, migration and onboarding | GBP 13,000 to 35,000 | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Total | GBP 90,000 to 250,000 | 8 to 12 months |
As a nearshore benchmark, Kolonell's prices for custom applications are 3,810 to 6,100 EUR (2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA) for a simple app, 6,100 to 10,670 EUR (4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA) for a mid-sized one and 10,670 to 22,870 EUR and more (7,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA and more) for a complex one, with Premium maintenance at 183 EUR (120,000 FCFA) a month. A focused release 1 can be priced and delivered alone to prove field adoption first.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Illustrative example: Rachel, technical director of the London consultancy, manages ten engineers working 1,650 hours a year each. They spend 28 % of their time formatting logs and reports, or 4,620 hours. The software removes 55 % of that, 2,540 hours at a loaded GBP 65 an hour: about GBP 165,000 a year. On a GBP 170,000 build with GBP 25,000 a year in maintenance and hosting, the net gain of GBP 140,000 a year pays the project back in about 15 months, before counting faster turnaround on competitive bids.
FAQ
How much does geotechnical boring and lab test software cost in London?
The 2026 market ballpark is GBP 90,000 to 250,000 for a full scope. A first field logging release can start between GBP 25,000 and 60,000.
Why insist on AGS format support?
Many clients and contractors require AGS data so they can load it into their own ground models. The specification should require files that pass the AGS checker with zero errors on every project.
Can the software generate Eurocode 7 reports?
It prefills an interpretive report template with logs, test results and design parameters, while engineers keep full control of judgement. That module typically costs GBP 20,000 to 65,000 with generated logs.
How do we write measurable requirements?
Give each requirement a criterion you can test at acceptance: a time, a volume or an error rate. For example, a 30 m borehole logged in under 20 minutes.
How long does the project take?
A full scope takes 8 to 12 months in 5 releases. Field logging can be in use within 2 to 3 months.
Let's scope your project. Send us your yearly job count, test types and indicative budget, and we will quote the software release by release with a realistic timeline. 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.
