The verdict in three sentences
A B2B ordering portal for a wholesaler costs 7 to 20 M FCFA (10,670-30,490 EUR) and ships in 10 to 16 weeks, at a daily rate of 250,000 to 450,000 FCFA. It replaces phone and notebook with an up-to-date catalog, per-client pricing and real-time stock, which cuts order errors by about 35% and halves the processing cost. The payment gateway (1.8-3% commission) speeds up collection and secures cash flow.
What a wholesale portal costs in 2026
The budget depends on the number of clients, catalog richness and stock sync. 2026 ranges:
| Tier | Scope | Budget FCFA | Budget EUR | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple portal | Catalog, per-client pricing, ordering | 7-10 M | 10,670-15,245 | 10-12 wks |
| Portal + stock | + real-time stock, reorder, alerts | 10-15 M | 15,245-22,865 | 12-14 wks |
| Full portal | + multi-warehouse, payment, ERP connector | 15-20 M | 22,865-30,490 | 14-16 wks |
| Maintenance | Monthly support | 350,000-1 M | 535-1,525 | monthly |
The measured gains of going digital
The ROI of a wholesale portal shows up on three concrete lines. Observed orders of magnitude:
| Metric | Before (manual) | After (portal) | Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order errors | 8% of lines | 5.2% | -35% |
| Processing time/order | 16 min | 8 min | -50% |
| Confirmation delay | 3-6 h | instant | -95% |
| Payment commission | cash/cheque | 1.8-3% | reliable collection |
| Out-of-hours orders | 0% | 20-30% | +revenue |
Fewer errors have a double effect: fewer returns and credit notes, and a better reseller relationship.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Emmanuel, manager of a hygiene-products wholesaler in Douala, processes 600 orders/month. Each order error (8% of lines, ~48 orders affected) triggers a return, a credit note and a re-ship, costing on average 12,000 FCFA in logistics and time. That's 576,000 FCFA/month in error cost. Dropping to 5.2% errors brings it to ~31 orders, i.e. 372,000 FCFA: a saving of 204,000 FCFA/month, on top of processing time halved. With a 12 M FCFA portal + 600,000 FCFA/month maintenance, the error and time gains alone pay back the project in about 3 years, before counting revenue from out-of-hours orders.
FAQ
Will our resellers adopt the portal? Adoption depends on mobile simplicity and support. A fast catalog, favorites and one-click reorder move 60 to 80% of orders online within a few months.
Is real-time stock essential? For a wholesaler, yes: it prevents selling what doesn't exist. The stock module adds 3 to 5 M FCFA but removes surprise st-outs and cancellations.
Can we keep different prices per client? Yes, that's the core of B2B: group grids, volume rebates, negotiated prices. The platform automatically applies the right price to each reseller.
Which payment channel for wholesalers? Mobile money and transfer for large baskets, via a gateway at 1.8-3%. Payment on terms is often kept for trusted clients, managed through credit limits.
How much is maintenance? Expect 350,000 to 1 M FCFA/month depending on scope: monitoring, catalog updates and enhancements. That's what keeps the portal reliable over time.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of resellers, order volume and management tool, and we'll size a right-budget 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.
