The verdict in three sentences
Custom distribution software puts catalogue, per-customer pricing, orders and multi-warehouse stock in a single flow, with a portal where customers order themselves. Budget 50,000 to 120,000 EUR (excl. VAT) of build over 16 to 26 weeks, depending on the number of warehouses and pricing-grid complexity. The gain is measured in order errors avoided and margin finally tracked customer by customer.
Distribution ERP vs custom: the real trade-off
Sage 100, Divalto or EBP cover the base but impose their data model and charge per user. Custom follows your rules (volume rebates, free-freight thresholds, picking warehouse) and belongs to you. 2026 orders of magnitude for a wholesaler of 15 to 60 users.
| Criterion | Distribution ERP (Sage/Divalto) | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | 40,000 - 120,000 EUR | 50,000 - 120,000 EUR |
| Licences | 400 - 900 EUR/user/yr | 0 EUR (hosting) |
| Complex pricing grids | Limited config | Total |
| B2B ordering portal | Paid module | Included, custom |
| Multi-warehouse + replenish | Standard | On your rules |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
For 40 users at 600 EUR/yr, the ERP adds 24,000 EUR/year in licences, i.e. 120,000 EUR over 5 years on top of setup: custom pays off when your rules fall outside the standard boxes.
The B2B ordering portal: the line that pays back
A space where the customer sees THEIR price, history and outstanding balance and orders 24/7 removes calls and manual entry. Indicative 2026 breakdown.
| Portal feature | Effort (days) | Cost (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Catalogue + dynamic customer price | 12 - 18 | 9,000 - 14,000 EUR |
| Cart, order, quick reorder | 10 - 15 | 7,500 - 12,000 EUR |
| Balance, invoices, credit notes online | 8 - 12 | 6,000 - 10,000 EUR |
| Real-time multi-warehouse stock | 8 - 14 | 6,000 - 11,000 EUR |
| Sales rep order-taking space | 6 - 10 | 4,500 - 8,000 EUR |
A full portal represents 30,000 to 55,000 EUR, but absorbs a share of orders now taken by phone.
Measured gains
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| Metric | Before | After | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order errors | 6% | 3% | -50% |
| Order-desk entry time | 20 h/wk | 8 h/wk | -60% |
| Out-of-hours orders | 0% | 25% | +revenue |
| Margin/customer visibility | Quarterly | Real time | Steering |
| Warehouse stockouts | 8% | 4% | -50% |
Mini case study
Sophie, head of a technical-supplies wholesaler in Nantes, 42 staff and 3 warehouses, handles 900 orders/month, 6% of which contain an error (wrong price, wrong warehouse). Each error costs about 45 EUR on average (credit note, re-delivery, order-desk time), i.e. 2,430 EUR/month. Cutting errors to 3% through the portal and automated pricing saves 1,215 EUR/month, i.e. 14,600 EUR/year, before any order-desk time saved. Her custom software costs 85,000 EUR plus 14,000 EUR/year; combining errors avoided, order-desk time and new web orders, payback lands around 20 months.
FAQ
Can we keep our current accounting? Yes. Distribution software connects to your accounting (Sage, Cegid, QuickBooks) via export or API; it handles sales and stock while accounting stays master of the ledger.
How many warehouses can it manage? As many as needed: multi-warehouse is native in custom. Cost varies mainly with replenishment and inter-warehouse transfer rules, not with the number.
Is per-customer pricing really automatable? Yes, including volume rebates, negotiated net prices, free-freight and per-family conditions. This is the core value of custom over standard ERPs.
How long for the B2B portal? Expect 8 to 14 weeks for a working ordering portal, often delivered after the internal stock/orders base.
Must we deploy everything at once? No: start with the orders/stock base, then the customer portal, then margin analytics. Each increment is budgeted separately.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of warehouses, users, pricing-grid complexity and indicative budget: we will frame the base and the B2B portal. 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.
