The verdict in three sentences
For an agricultural machinery parts distributor near Toronto with 45,000 SKUs, a custom B2B e-commerce portal costs 60,000 to 150,000 CAD with a nearshore team in 2026, versus 2,200 to 4,500 CAD a month for a SaaS B2B platform. What sells a part online is serial number search and exploded views: a dealer or farmer must find the right part in under 2 minutes without calling the counter. The project takes 5 to 8 months, a good share of it spent on catalog data quality.
Why the phone is no longer enough
During harvest or planting, a stopped combine is expensive, and the parts counter is swamped between 7 and 9 am. Dealers want to order at 10 pm, check stock and lead time, and see their negotiated net prices. Farmers, increasingly equipped, want to identify the part from the field on their phone.
The decisive features for this trade:
- Search by serial number or machine model, filtering compatible parts.
- Interactive exploded views: click the callout, add to cart.
- Cross references OEM, aftermarket, equivalents.
- Customer net prices and terms (free freight thresholds, discounts by family), from the ERP.
- Real-time stock and lead time by warehouse, order before 4 pm for next-day delivery.
| Buyer profile | Typical revenue share | Main expectation | Key feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dealers | 55 % | Net prices, volume ordering | List import, quick order |
| Farmers and custom operators | 25 % | Find the right part fast | Serial number, exploded view |
| Farm co-ops | 10 % | Multiple users, approval | Multi-user accounts |
| Independent shops | 7 % | Cross references | Aftermarket equivalents |
| Municipalities | 3 % | Purchase orders, invoices | Approval workflow |
Custom or SaaS platform: the 2026 comparison
| Criterion | SaaS B2B | Custom build | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | 15,000 to 45,000 CAD | 60,000 to 150,000 CAD | ERP integration included |
| Recurring cost | 2,200 to 4,500 CAD/month | 900 to 2,200 CAD/month | Maintenance and hosting |
| 5-year cost | 147,000 to 315,000 CAD | 114,000 to 282,000 CAD | Estimate |
| Exploded views | Third-party module, often paid | Native | Decisive for this trade |
| Serial number search | Limited | Full | Depends on data quality |
| Timeline | 3 to 5 months | 5 to 8 months | Catalog data included |
| Sales commission | Sometimes 0.5 to 1 % | None | Check the contract |
The hidden workstream is data: 45,000 SKUs to enrich (photos, compatibility, licensed OEM exploded views). Plan 12,000 to 37,000 CAD of catalog preparation whatever the technical choice.
ERP integration and B2B payment
The portal reads stock, net prices and customer credit from the ERP in real time and pushes orders back. Payment is mostly on account (net 30), with cards for new customers. Canadian buyers expect GST/HST and provincial taxes computed correctly by ship-to address, and invoices sent electronically to their accounts payable.
Mini case study
Sarah, sales director of a fictional distributor in Ontario (45,000 SKUs, 18 million CAD revenue, 6 counter staff), handles 600 calls a day in season. She launches a custom portal at 110,000 CAD plus 22,000 CAD of catalog preparation.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
If 30 % of orders move online, 180 fewer 6-minute calls a day, the counter recovers 18 hours daily, the equivalent of 2 staff redeployed to advice and prospecting. With 2 % additional sales from night and weekend orders, 360,000 CAD of revenue at a 30 % gross margin, the gain exceeds 100,000 CAD a year. Illustrative calculation.
FAQ
How much does a B2B spare parts portal cost in 2026?
Between 60,000 and 150,000 CAD custom with a nearshore team, plus 12,000 to 37,000 CAD of catalog preparation. In SaaS, count 2,200 to 4,500 CAD a month after a 15,000 to 45,000 CAD setup.
Can each dealer see their net prices?
Yes, the portal reads pricing terms from the ERP at login. Each customer sees their net price, family discounts and freight threshold.
How do we get exploded views?
Manufacturers provide them under license or through their parts databases. Interactive integration costs 7,500 to 30,000 CAD depending on the number of models.
What timeline should we plan?
Count 5 to 8 months, including 2 to 3 months of data enrichment. A launch by part family lets you open the portal earlier.
Does the portal handle taxes and e-invoicing?
Yes, it computes GST/HST by destination and sends invoices to the ERP or to buyer procurement systems. A procurement connector costs 4,500 to 12,000 CAD.
Let's scope your project. Share your SKU count, ERP and customer profiles for a precise estimate with an indicative budget and phased 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.
