The verdict in three sentences
For a PPE and workwear distributor, a generic B2B store is not enough: construction firms buy per job site, with budget caps and site manager approval. Value comes from these business rules and from automatic replenishment of consumables (gloves, earplugs, masks), not from the storefront. With 3,500 SKUs across sizes and a EUR 450 average order, the project pays back within months if order administration sheds half of its manual orders.
What construction buyers actually expect
A 120-person structural contractor opens 8 to 15 job sites a year. Every foreman wants to order quickly from a phone without exceeding the site's PPE allowance. Procurement wants one invoice per site and a record of named PPE issued to each worker for health and safety compliance.
| Need | Standard B2C or B2B store | Construction-specific B2B store |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-user accounts | One account per customer | Company, sites, users with roles |
| Budget cap | None | Per site, per month or per worker |
| Order approval | None | Site manager above a threshold, e.g. EUR 300 |
| Sizes | Simple selector | Per-worker kit with stored sizes |
| Consumable replenishment | Manual | Automatic recurring order, adjustable |
| Invoicing | One invoice per order | Grouped by site, cost code |
| Pricing | Public list | Negotiated by account and product family |
The feature that wins customers is named kit issuance, because it removes the paperwork that safety officers dread during site audits. The foreman picks a worker, the store suggests their sizes and kit (helmet, S3 safety boots, hi-vis vest, gloves), and the history serves as proof that PPE was issued.
Costs and options in 2026
Market figures are 2026 orders of magnitude for a catalogue this size in Europe; US costs are comparable in USD.
| Option | Setup cost | Recurring cost | Handles site rules? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS e-commerce with B2B module | EUR 8,000 to 25,000 | EUR 300 to 2,500 per month | Partly, via extensions |
| Vendor B2B commerce suite | EUR 40,000 to 120,000 | Licence EUR 2,000 to 6,000 per month | Yes, after heavy configuration |
| Kolonell custom, medium tier | 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (EUR 6,100 to 10,670) | Maintenance 75,000 FCFA per month (EUR 114) | Site accounts, approval, catalogue |
| Kolonell custom, complex tier | 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (EUR 10,670 to 22,870+) | Maintenance 120,000 FCFA per month (EUR 183) | Everything, plus replenishment, kits and ERP |
Our simple tier (2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA, EUR 3,810 to 6,100) suits a small catalogue with no approval flow. For 1,400 accounts, 3,500 SKUs and per-site budgets, the project is complex tier. Specific ERP connector, native mobile app and hosting are on quote. Timeline: 3 to 5 months, starting with 20 pilot customers.
Recommended roadmap
- Month 1: catalogue migration (3,500 SKUs, sizes, data sheets and EN ISO 20345, EN 388, EN ISO 20471 standards), per-account price grids.
- Month 2: company, site and user structure, caps and approval flow.
- Month 3: named kits, automatic replenishment, per-site invoicing.
- Month 4: stock and order sync with the ERP, pilot with 20 firms.
- Month 5: rollout to all accounts, support for field sales reps.
Mini case study
Daniel runs a PPE distributor in Manchester: 1,400 customer firms, about 2,600 orders a month at a EUR 450 average, EUR 14 million in annual revenue. His sales admin team keys every order received by phone, email or text, at 8 minutes on average.
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Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
- Target: 50% of orders placed online, 1,300 a month
- Time freed: 1,300 x 8 min = 173 hours a month
- Value: 173 h x EUR 32 loaded x 12 = about EUR 66,400 a year
- Automatic replenishment on 300 accounts: +6% purchase frequency on EUR 3 million of revenue, EUR 180,000 in extra sales, about EUR 54,000 margin at 30%
- Complex-tier project, top of range: 15,000,000 FCFA (EUR 22,870), maintenance 120,000 FCFA a month (EUR 183)
Counting only sales admin time, payback comes in 4 to 5 months. With replenishment, it drops below 3 months.
FAQ
Will foremen really order online?
Yes, if ordering takes under 2 minutes on mobile with kits and sizes already stored. Plan a 15-minute training per firm during the pilot.
How does the per-site budget cap work?
Each site gets an allowance, for example EUR 4,000 for its duration. Above 80% the buyer is alerted; above 100% the order goes to the site manager for approval.
Can we handle negotiated prices for 1,400 customers?
Yes, through family discounts or net prices per SKU, imported from the ERP. An annual update of every grid takes a few hours.
Do we need a native mobile app?
Rarely: a responsive store installable on the home screen covers 90% of site use. A native app is priced on quote if you need offline barcode scanning.
Is payment handled?
Most construction accounts pay on 30 to 60 day invoice terms, with cards used for new customers. Direct debit can be added to reduce late payments.
Let's scope your project. Send us your SKU count, account count and ERP, and we will scope site accounts, the approval flow and a 3 to 5 month plan. 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.
