The verdict in three sentences
For an auto parts distributor serving 1,500 garages in Dubai, a B2B webshop costs between 200,000 and 500,000 AED in 2026 (excluding 5 % VAT), depending on how deeply it integrates with your ERP and logistics. The feature that gets mechanics to adopt it is search by plate or chassis number (VIN), backed by the TecDoc catalogue at 3,000 to 8,000 EUR a year. The return comes mainly from fewer wrong parts and less time spent taking orders by phone.
The budget for an auto parts B2B webshop in Dubai
Here is a typical project, in 2026 orders of magnitude on the UAE market, excluding VAT.
| Item | 2026 range (AED) | What drives the price |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery and workshops with sales teams | 15,000 to 30,000 | Number of brands and part families |
| TecDoc catalogue and internal reference integration | 40,000 to 90,000 | OE cross-references, non-TecDoc parts |
| Plate or VIN search | 25,000 to 75,000 | Vehicle data source, coverage of the GCC fleet |
| Garage accounts, per-garage and per-family discounts | 30,000 to 75,000 | Number of discount tiers, trade credit |
| Real-time multi-warehouse stock (ERP link) | 40,000 to 100,000 | ERP (Odoo, SAP B1, in-house), sync frequency |
| 2-hour delivery: slots, routes, tracking | 25,000 to 60,000 | Number of drivers, zones (Al Quoz, Ras Al Khor, Jebel Ali) |
| Mobile app or PWA for mechanics | 25,000 to 70,000 | VIN scan, WhatsApp notifications |
| Total | 200,000 to 500,000 |
Plate search is the most delicate item: you need a reliable source linking a UAE plate to the vehicle type. Failing that, VIN search or search by model, engine and year covers most of the need, including the many GCC-spec vehicles on Dubai roads.
Running costs and expected gains
The annual running budget weighs as much in the decision as the build.
| Running item | 2026 cost | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TecDoc data licence | 3,000 to 8,000 EUR a year (12,000 to 32,000 AED) | Depends on brands and access type |
| Vehicle data (plate or VIN) | Order of magnitude 0.2 to 0.8 AED per query | To negotiate with the data provider |
| Hosting and backups | 1,000 to 3,000 AED a month | Morning traffic peaks |
| Maintenance and changes | 4,000 to 10,000 AED a month | Catalogue updates, new features |
| Online payment (cards) | 2 to 3 % per transaction | Bank transfer and trade credit remain dominant |
| SMS and WhatsApp notifications | 0.15 to 0.40 AED per message | Confirmation, delivery, reminders |
On the gains side, distributors moving to a portal typically see wrong-part rates drop from 5 % to 2 % and 40 to 60 % of orders shift online within twelve months (order of magnitude).
The features that matter to a garage
The right part first time. The mechanic enters the plate or scans the VIN from the registration card (Mulkiya), then sees only compatible parts, with cross-references between brands (OE, Bosch, Denso, TRW).
Stock and lead time on screen. In stock in Al Quoz, at the Jebel Ali warehouse or at the supplier: the garage knows before ordering whether delivery takes 2 hours or the next day.
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The garage's own discount. Each account sees its net price, based on its discount per family (brakes, filters, clutch) and its volume. 30-day trade credit stays managed with a per-customer limit.
Mini case study
Faisal, managing director of a parts distributor in Al Quoz, receives 6,000 orders a month from 1,500 garages, almost all by phone. At 7 minutes per order, that is 700 hours a month, or about 4 call agents.
If 50 % of orders move online, he frees 350 hours, or 2 roles at 7,000 AED loaded: 14,000 AED a month. Thanks to VIN search, the wrong-part rate falls from 5 % to 2 % overall: 180 returns avoided at 60 AED each (transport, restocking, goodwill), or 10,800 AED a month.
Total gain: 24,800 AED a month, about 297,600 AED a year. For a 350,000 AED project with 60,000 AED of annual running costs, payback comes around month seventeen, before counting the garages won through the online service.
FAQ
Does TecDoc cover the UAE fleet? It covers the large majority of European and Asian vehicles sold in the UAE, such as Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia and Mercedes. Some GCC-spec versions need manual cross-references, to plan within the 40,000 to 90,000 AED integration budget.
How long does it take to launch? Allow 4 to 7 months, including 6 to 8 weeks for catalogue and stock integration. Launching in waves of 100 pilot garages limits risk.
Do we need a mobile app? A PWA is usually enough: it installs from the browser, runs on entry-level Android phones and costs 25,000 to 70,000 AED, about half the price of two native apps.
How do we manage garage credit? The portal shows the outstanding balance, blocks orders above the limit and offers card or transfer payment to unblock. 30-day credit remains the norm for 70 to 80 % of regular garages.
Can we keep our field sales reps? Yes: they order from a tablet on behalf of the garage and track their territory. The portal lists garages inactive for more than 30 days so reps can follow up.
Let's scope your project. Send us your number of garages, SKUs and your ERP, and we will scope the build, an indicative budget in AED and a go-live date. 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.