The verdict in three sentences
A solid B2B customer portal costs between 22,000 and 60,000 EUR in 2026, depending on the number of self-service functions and how deeply it connects to your ERP. It pays off first through fewer calls and emails (-25 to -40 %), which frees up sales and admin time. Plan for 10 to 16 weeks of work and ongoing maintenance of 450 to 1,100 EUR/month to keep it alive.
What each tier covers
A portal is not a brochure site: it is a connected application where your business customers view negotiated prices, place orders and track deliveries. Price depends mostly on the number of functions and the degree of automation.
| Tier | Key features | 2026 budget (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | Secure login, catalogue, online quotes, PDF documents | 22,000 - 32,000 | 10-12 wks |
| Business | + real-time order tracking, fast reorder, history, multi-user | 33,000 - 48,000 | 12-14 wks |
| Advanced | + per-customer pricing, credit/limits, ERP connection, notifications | 49,000 - 60,000 | 14-16 wks |
The ERP connection (Sage, SAP Business One, Dynamics) is often the underestimated line item: it adds 6,000 to 15,000 EUR depending on the available API and the number of synced objects (customers, products, prices, orders, stock).
The ROI: sales time given back
The main gain is not cosmetic. Every order placed independently, every delivery status checked online, is a call avoided.
| Item | Without portal | With portal | Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Follow-up calls/emails per month | 900 | 560 | -38 % |
| Sales-admin time on follow-up | 65 h/mo | 40 h/mo | -25 h |
| Orders entered by the customer | 0 % | 55 % | double entry avoided |
| Average quote turnaround | 48 h | 6 h | -87 % |
| ERP integration cost | - | 6,000-15,000 EUR | one-off |
Mini case study
Herve, sales director of an industrial supplies distributor (14 staff, 320 active business customers), invests 41,000 EUR in a Business portal with a Sage connection. His order-desk team spent 65 h/month on phone follow-up. After 3 months, the portal absorbs 55 % of orders and drops follow-up to 40 h/month, i.e. 25 hours freed. At a loaded cost of 26 EUR/h, that is 650 EUR/month of direct savings, plus a quote turnaround cut from 48 h to 6 h that won two tenders. Estimated payback: around 14 months, including 700 EUR/month of maintenance.
FAQ
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Is a customer portal different from an e-commerce site?
Yes. The portal handles per-customer negotiated prices, credit limits, payment terms and recurring reorders, whereas e-commerce sells at list price. In B2B, 60 to 80 % of the basket comes from repeat purchases: self-service matters more than discovery.
Do I have to connect the ERP?
Not at launch, but that is what avoids double entry. Without a connection, someone re-keys orders: expect 15 to 25 h/month lost. A nightly batch sync is often enough and costs less than real time.
How long before go-live?
Between 10 and 16 weeks depending on the tier. The longest task is almost always migrating the catalogue and customer pricing, not the development itself.
What maintenance budget should I plan?
Maintenance of 450 to 1,100 EUR/month covers secure hosting, fixes, minor evolutions and monitoring. It is essential once a portal becomes a daily ordering tool.
Can we start small then extend?
Yes, and it is recommended: an Essential tier at 25,000 EUR shipped fast generates real feedback before you invest in per-customer pricing and the ERP connection.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of business customers, your current ERP and the 3 priority self-service functions: we will size a suitable tier, indicative budget 22,000-60,000 EUR. 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.

