The verdict in three sentences
A wholesaler still taking orders by phone, email and fax pays twice: in admin time and in data-entry errors. A B2B ordering portal with per-customer catalog, real-time stock and EDI costs 55,000 to 120,000 CAD in Toronto in 2026, EDI connector extra. The return comes from a 50 % drop in manual orders and stickiness from one-click reordering.
Cost by module
A portal is built in bricks; you often start with the catalog + orders core, then add EDI and advanced functions. 2026 order of magnitude for Toronto.
| Module | Cost (CAD) | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Portal core + customer accounts | 25,000 - 42,000 | Foundation |
| Catalog & per-customer pricing | 10,000 - 22,000 | Negotiated prices |
| Real-time stock (ERP) | 12,000 - 30,000 | No surprise stockouts |
| Recurring orders / reordering | 7,000 - 18,000 | Retention |
| EDI connector | 10,000 - 35,000 | Large / retail chains |
| Delivery & tracking portal | 6,000 - 15,000 | Fewer support calls |
Gains on order processing
The real ROI is measured on the cost of processing an order. 2026 order of magnitude.
| Metric | Before (manual) | After (portal) |
|---|---|---|
| Time per order | 12 min | 2 min |
| Processing cost / order | 8.50 CAD | 1.60 CAD |
| Data-entry error rate | 4 - 6 % | < 1 % |
| After-hours orders | 0 % | 25 - 40 % |
| Confirmation delay | 2 - 24 h | immediate |
At 1,500 orders/month, moving from 8.50 to 1.60 CAD processing cost saves 10,350 CAD/month, nearly 124,000 CAD/yr.
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Mini case study
David, operations director at a food wholesaler in Toronto, processes 1,800 orders/month with 3 people on the phone. Processing cost is 8.50 CAD/order, i.e. 15,300 CAD/month. He invests 100,000 CAD in a portal with per-customer catalog, real-time stock and EDI. The portal absorbs 60 % of orders at 1.60 CAD: monthly cost drops to ~7,700 CAD, i.e. 7,600 CAD saved/month. Payback in ~13 months, excluding retention gains.
FAQ
What does EDI actually bring? EDI lets your large customers (retail chains, buying groups) send orders directly from their system to yours, with no re-keying. It becomes essential the moment a customer requires it as a listing condition.
Do we have to build everything at once? No: we deliver the catalog + orders + per-customer pricing core first (2 to 3 months), then add real-time stock and EDI in sprints based on ROI.
Does the portal integrate with my ERP? Yes, that is the heart of the project: stock, prices and orders must flow in real time with your ERP. Plan 12,000 to 30,000 CAD for this integration.
How long to go live? Plan 3 to 5 months for a solid portal with per-customer catalog and real-time stock; add 4 to 8 weeks for the EDI connector.
Will my customers adopt it? Adoption depends on usability and one-click reordering from past orders. Well designed, a portal captures 40 to 60 % of orders within a few months.
Let's scope your project. Give us your monthly order volume, your ERP and your EDI requirements: we will price the portal by module and the 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.
