IT Sourcing for West Africa Export: 12-point checklist before purchasing

Purchasing IT equipment for West Africa carries more risks than a standard French domestic purchase. Here are 12 points to verify before any order.

Before purchase

1. Exact manufacturer reference, not a generic reference. Verify on the official website.
2. Assignable serial number, supplier must be able to provide you with the SN upon delivery.
3. Internationally applicable warranty, verify with the manufacturer (Dell ProSupport International, HP CarePack International, etc.).
4. 220V voltage compliance, verify the supplied adapter covers 100-240V (standard case, but confirm).
5. CE + RoHS compliance: mandatory to pass customs.

Commercial documents

6. Proforma invoice with excl. VAT value, EUR currency, payment terms.
7. Final commercial invoice (same content + amount paid).
8. Detailed packing list: number of cartons, dimensions, weight.
9. Certificate of origin (Form A for GSP countries, EUR.1 for ECOWAS if applicable).

Logistics

10. Incoterm chosen and understood: EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP, DDP. Each option changes who pays for what.
11. Transport insurance ad valorem for high-value equipment (workstations, servers).

Commissioning

12. Post-delivery support plan: who calls whom in case of failure? What replacement procedure? Target timeframe.

Conclusion

This 12-point checklist covers 95% of common issues in IT exports to West Africa. KOLOSALTech integrates these checks by default in every export quote.