The verdict in three sentences
A B2B distributor portal costs between 8,000,000 and 24,000,000 FCFA in 2026, for 7 to 13 weeks, depending on scope and ERP/billing integration. Good requirements structure the project into prioritised functional lots: customer accounts, zone catalogues, credit terms, history and reorder. The central KPI to track is the cost of processing an order, which the portal must cut measurably.
Functional scope by lot
Splitting into lots lets you launch a useful core fast, then enrich it. Here are the typical lots and their 2026 cost.
| Lot | Features | 2026 cost (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 - Accounts & access | Signup, roles, reseller validation | 1,500,000 - 3,500,000 |
| Lot 2 - Zone catalogue | Range per region, prices, stock | 2,000,000 - 4,800,000 |
| Lot 3 - Ordering & reorder | Cart, reorder, lists | 1,800,000 - 4,200,000 |
| Lot 4 - Credit & payment | Credit cap, deferred payment, Wave/OM | 1,500,000 - 3,800,000 |
| Lot 5 - History & documents | Invoices, notes, order tracking | 1,200,000 - 3,000,000 |
| Lot 6 - ERP/billing integration | Sync products, prices, orders, invoices | 2,500,000 - 6,000,000 |
A useful MVP (lots 1 to 3) sits around 8,000,000 FCFA. The full portal with credit terms, history and ERP reaches 20,000,000 to 24,000,000 FCFA.
KPIs to write into the requirements
Requirements without quantified goals steer nothing. Here are the before/after KPIs to set.
| KPI | Before portal | Target after |
|---|---|---|
| Processing cost / order | 1,800 - 3,000 FCFA | 600 - 1,000 FCFA |
| Entry time / order | 8 - 14 min | < 3 min (self-service) |
| Order error rate | 6 - 8% | < 3% |
| Share of self-service orders | 0% | 55 - 75% |
| Reorder lead time | 1 - 2 days | < 2 h |
These targets make ROI verifiable and align the provider on results, not just deliverables.
Mini case study
Ms Fouda, sales manager of a cosmetics distributor in Toronto, handles 2,600 orders/month at an average cost of 2,200 FCFA/order (entry, verification, follow-up), i.e. ~5,720,000 FCFA/month. She targets 65% self-service at 800 FCFA/order.
New cost: (0.35 x 2,600 x 2,200) + (0.65 x 2,600 x 800) = 2,002,000 + 1,352,000 = 3,354,000 FCFA/month, i.e. ~2,366,000 FCFA/month saved, ~28.4M FCFA/year. For a 16,000,000 FCFA portal and 600,000 FCFA/month maintenance, ROI is reached in under 9 months.
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FAQ
What should a distributor portal's requirements contain?
Scope by lots (accounts, zone catalogue, ordering, credit, history, ERP), quantified KPIs, technical constraints (3G, Mobile Money) and a per-lot timeline.
How much does a B2B distributor portal cost?
Between 8,000,000 and 24,000,000 FCFA in 2026 depending on the number of lots and the depth of ERP/billing integration.
Can we launch an MVP then enrich it?
Yes, it is recommended. Lots 1 to 3 form a useful core from 8,000,000 FCFA; credit terms, history and ERP are added later.
How is reseller deferred payment handled?
Via a per-account credit cap, automatic blocking on overrun and dunning; Wave and Orange Money cover cash payment.
What is the right KPI to judge the project?
The processing cost per order, targeted to drop from 1,800-3,000 FCFA to 600-1,000 FCFA thanks to self-service.
Let's scope your project. Send us your order volume, zones and ERP: we'll help frame the requirements and quote the portal by lots. 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.
