The verdict in three sentences
An executive BI dashboard costs between EUR 12,000 and EUR 35,000 in 2026 in Amsterdam, with a 5 to 8 week deployment. The real question is build or buy: a Power BI Pro licence at ~EUR 10/user/month is enough to visualise, but a custom dashboard connected to the ERP eliminates manual exports and makes data reliable. The main gain is not aesthetic, it's ~6 hours/week of reporting removed and faster decisions.
How much a BI dashboard costs in 2026
The budget depends on the number of sources to connect, the volume of indicators and the level of visual customisation. 2026 orders of magnitude in Amsterdam.
| Level | Connected sources | Budget | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential dashboard | 1 to 2 (ERP or spreadsheet) | EUR 12,000 - 18,000 | 5 - 6 wks |
| Consolidated dashboard | 3 to 4 (ERP + CRM + bank) | EUR 20,000 - 28,000 | 6 - 8 wks |
| Advanced decision dashboard | 5+ with data warehouse | EUR 30,000 - 35,000 | 8 wks |
| Indicator changes (support) | — | EUR 350 - 800/mo | ongoing |
A senior data / BI consultant's daily rate sits between EUR 500 and 700 in 2026.
Off-the-shelf Power BI or custom dashboard
The comparison below clarifies the choice based on your data maturity.
| Criterion | Power BI Pro | Custom dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Licence cost | ~EUR 10/user/mo | 0 |
| Setup cost | EUR 6,000 - 15,000 | EUR 20,000 - 35,000 |
| Native ERP connection | Partial | Full |
| UX customisation | Limited to templates | Fully custom |
| Real time | Via scheduled refresh | Streaming possible |
| Vendor lock-in | Microsoft | None |
For 15 users, Power BI Pro represents EUR 1,800/year in licences, plus setup. Custom is justified when your KPIs are specific and your sources heterogeneous.
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Mini case study
Thomas, CFO of an 80-person distribution SME in Amsterdam, consolidated revenue, margin and cash flow every Monday from four Excel exports, i.e. ~6 hours/week. Over 46 weeks that is 276 hours/year, valued at ~EUR 65/loaded hour, i.e. ~EUR 18,000/year. The custom dashboard, quoted at EUR 26,000 with EUR 500/month support, removes 85% of that time. Annual saving: ~EUR 15,000, payback in ~20 months, excluding the decision-making gain.
FAQ
Is Power BI enough for an SME? Often yes for visualising, provided you accept upstream data-preparation work. Custom becomes relevant when sources are multiple and KPIs very specific.
How long until the dashboard is live? Allow 5 to 8 weeks depending on the number of sources, including KPI scoping, data connection and testing. Modelling the KPIs is the most structuring step.
Is the data real time? It depends on architecture: scheduled refresh (hourly) for most cases, streaming for critical indicators. Strict real time raises the budget by 15 to 25%.
What maintenance budget? Support runs between EUR 350 and 800/month. It covers adding indicators, source changes and connector monitoring.
Who uses this type of dashboard? Mainly the executive committee, the CFO and operational directors. A good executive dashboard fits on one screen with 6 to 10 key indicators, not 40.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your sources (ERP, CRM, bank), the number of users and your top 8 KPIs, and we'll scope the perimeter and budget. 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.
