The $N$-Koszul algebras are $N$-homogeneous algebras satisfying a homological property. These algebras are characterised by their Koszul complex: an $N$-homogeneous algebra is $N$-Koszul if and only if its Koszul complex is acyclic. Methods based on computational approaches were used to prove $N$-Koszulness: an algebra admitting a side-confluent presentation is $N$-Koszul if and only if the extra-condition holds. However, in general, these methods do not provide an explicit contracting homotopy for the Koszul complex. In this article we present a way to construct such a contracting homotopy. The property of side-confluence enables us to define specific representations of confluence algebras. These representations provide a candidate for the contracting homotopy. When the extra-condition holds, it turns out that this candidate works. We make explicit our construction on several examples.