The verdict in three sentences
A wholesaler who digitises professional order intake halves entry errors and cuts processing time by 40 %. A custom B2B e-commerce platform — per-client pricing, recurring orders, credit exposure and ERP sync — costs 20,000 to 70,000 EUR in 2026 and ships in 12 to 20 weeks. Against off-the-shelf solutions, custom pays off as soon as your pricing and stock logic is specific to your trade.
B2B is not B2C with a login
A B2B portal must handle rules no consumer store knows: per-client price lists, volume discounts, quotas, logistics units (pallet, case), deferred payment and credit exposure. This is where most generic solutions crack.
| B2B feature | Off-the-shelf | Custom 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Per-client / group pricing | Partial, plugins | Native, unlimited |
| Fast order (by reference) | Rare | Yes, CSV import |
| Recurrence / reorder | Paid add-on | Built in |
| Credit & deferred payment | No | Yes, per-client cap |
| Real-time ERP / stock sync | Limited connector | Two-way |
| Online quote + approval | Basic | Full workflow |
The budget line by line
| Line item | Scope | 2026 order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping & B2B UX | Pro buyer journey | 3,000-8,000 EUR |
| Catalogue & per-client pricing | Grids, discounts, quotas | 5,000-15,000 EUR |
| Order intake & reorder | Fast order, favourites | 4,000-12,000 EUR |
| ERP / stock integration | Products, prices, stock sync | 5,000-18,000 EUR |
| Payment & credit | Deferred, card, transfer | 3,000-9,000 EUR |
| Acceptance, migration, training | Tests, data, adoption | 3,000-8,000 EUR |
An off-the-shelf SaaS (BigCommerce B2B, Shopify Plus) can start faster and cheaper, but monthly fees (500-3,000 EUR) and functional limits catch up over 3 years.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Martine, head of a hospitality-supplies wholesaler in Lyon, handles 90 orders a day, 70 % by phone and fax. Each order ties up 12 minutes of an order-desk assistant, i.e. 18 hours a day across 3 people. Moving 60 % of volume online (45,000 EUR project) saves ~7 order-desk hours a day, about 3,500 EUR of monthly cost, and cuts picking errors by 30 %. The investment is recouped in roughly 18 months, before counting the extra revenue from orders placed outside opening hours.
FAQ
Custom or off-the-shelf? Below 200 pro customers and without complex pricing logic, off-the-shelf often suffices. Beyond that, or with a structuring ERP, custom is more profitable over 3 years.
Can we connect our ERP (Sage, SAP, Cegid)? Yes, via API or a dedicated connector. It is the most sensitive line: budget 5,000 to 18,000 EUR depending on flow richness.
How is deferred payment handled? The platform applies a per-client exposure cap and blocks on overrun, with automatic invoice reminders.
What is a realistic timeline? 12 to 20 weeks for full scope, less if delivered in two lots (catalogue then ERP).
Will pro customers adopt it? Yes if fast reference ordering and one-click reorder are polished: those two functions save buyers the most time.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your ERP, your number of pro customers and your order volume: indicative budget 20,000-70,000 EUR, deployment 12-20 weeks. 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.
