The verdict in three sentences
A B2B ordering portal for an industrial distributor runs between 40,000 and 100,000 EUR (excl. VAT) depending on catalogue depth and ERP. The goal is not to replace sales reps but to free their time by automating reordering and routine orders. Budget 4 to 7 months, real-time availability and ERP integration included.
What the budget covers
| Module | Scope | Estimate EUR (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Per-customer catalogue | Allowed SKUs, negotiated prices | 7,000 - 16,000 |
| Real-time availability | Live stock, lead times, multi-warehouse | 6,000 - 14,000 |
| Quick order / reordering | Reorder, lists, CSV import | 5,000 - 12,000 |
| Pro accounts & roles | Multi-buyer, approval | 5,000 - 11,000 |
| ERP integration | Products, stock, orders, prices | 12,000 - 30,000 |
| Order-tracking portal | Statuses, invoices, delivery notes | 4,000 - 9,000 |
| Maintenance (yearly) | Evolutions, support | 7,000 - 15,000 / year |
Operational gains
| Indicator | Before portal | After portal (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Reorder calls / day | 120 | 35 |
| Average basket | 100 (base) | 112 - 125 |
| Off-hours orders | 0 % | 18 - 30 % |
| Data-entry errors | ~4 % | < 1 % |
| Sales time / order | 9 min | 2 min |
The portal captures night and weekend orders, suggests complementary products and removes re-keying: the combination often lifts average basket by 12 to 25 %.
Timeline
| Phase | Indicative duration |
|---|---|
| Scoping & specs | 3 - 5 weeks |
| Core development | 8 - 12 weeks |
| ERP & stock integration | 4 - 7 weeks |
| UAT & deployment | 3 - 4 weeks |
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Mini case study
Lars, sales director of a components distributor in Berlin (2,100 pro customers, 340 orders/day), deploys a portal at 78,000 EUR (excl. VAT). Reorder calls fall from 120 to 35/day, freeing the equivalent of 1.5 FTE in sales support (~55,000 EUR/year). Average basket gains 15 % on portal orders, adding ~210,000 EUR of margin annually. Payback in under 6 months.
FAQ
Will the portal bypass my sales reps? No: it absorbs routine reordering so reps focus on advice and new accounts, where they create value.
Is real-time availability essential? For industrial, yes: wrong stock triggers cancellations and calls. Live stock sync is a central budget line.
Can we limit the catalogue per customer? Yes, it is native: each customer sees only their allowed SKUs and negotiated prices.
How many fewer calls realistically? On routine reordering, a 60 to 75 % drop in calls is common after adoption.
What annual running budget? Hosting, monitoring and maintenance: budget 9,000 to 18,000 EUR/year for a high-volume active portal.
Let's scope your project. Send us your order volume, ERP and number of pro customers and we will scope a portal and its expected ROI. 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.