The verdict in three sentences
A building materials distributor in Berlin with 4 depots and 1,500 SKUs should plan EUR 20,000 to 30,000 for a catalogue website with quote requests, and EUR 32,000 to 45,000 with ERP stock import, BMEcat product data feeds and a trade account area for contractors and developers. Hosting in Germany or elsewhere in the EU keeps GDPR simple, while BMEcat import turns supplier data into product pages without manual re-keying. The payoff shows in calls absorbed, faster quotes and larger B2B baskets.
Two project levels, two budgets
Most distributors still receive price requests by phone or email. A salesperson spends 10 to 15 minutes per request checking stock and calling back. An online catalogue structures those requests.
| Component | Level 1: catalogue + quotes | Level 2: ERP + trade accounts |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500-SKU catalogue | Families, filters (size, brand, DIN/EN norm), product pages | Same, auto-updated |
| Quote request | Quote basket sent to the depot salesperson | Quote with account-specific pricing |
| Stock | "Available" flag set manually | Hourly ERP import, stock per depot |
| Product data | CSV import | BMEcat 2005 feeds from suppliers, ETIM classes |
| Trade accounts | Not included | Contractor accounts, history, negotiated discounts, purchase orders |
| Languages | German and English | German, English, Polish or Turkish option |
| Lead time | 8 to 10 weeks | 14 to 18 weeks |
| 2026 price (EUR, ex VAT) | 20,000 to 30,000 | 32,000 to 45,000 |
Moving to level 2 makes sense once a large share of revenue comes from regular accounts (developers, finishing trades, public bodies). Their buyers want to see stock at the Spandau or Marzahn depot before they call.
Hosting, data and recurring costs
Under GDPR and the German BDSG, a catalogue without customer accounts is light on obligations; with trade accounts, you need a data processing agreement with your host and a clear retention policy. Hosting in Germany is common for B2B buyers who ask about it in procurement.
| Recurring item | Hosting in Germany | Hosting elsewhere in the EU |
|---|---|---|
| Server and CDN | EUR 120 to 300 per month | EUR 80 to 200 per month |
| Latency from Berlin | 5 to 15 ms | 20 to 40 ms |
| GDPR formalities | DPA with host, records of processing | Same, plus check of sub-processors |
| Application maintenance | EUR 600 to 1,200 per month | EUR 600 to 1,200 per month |
| ERP and BMEcat sync (level 2) | EUR 250 to 500 per month | EUR 250 to 500 per month |
| Target uptime | 99.9% | 99.9% |
These are 2026 orders of magnitude, excluding 19% German VAT. Online payment by card, SEPA direct debit or invoice purchase via a B2B payment provider can be added for smaller customers, for EUR 3,000 to 6,000 of integration.
Mini case study
Stefan, managing director of a Berlin distributor with 4 depots, receives 1,200 price requests a month by phone. He chooses level 2 at EUR 38,000. By month four, 45% of requests come through the site, or 540 quotes. At 12 minutes saved per quote, his sales team regains 108 hours a month, about a part-time position. Trade accounts that see live stock move from an average basket of EUR 2,600 to EUR 2,950. Over 60 monthly trade orders, that is EUR 21,000 of extra revenue a month; at a 12% margin, the project pays back in about 15 months, or roughly 6 months once the saved sales hours (valued at EUR 35 each) are counted.
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FAQ
Should public prices be shown?
For common products (cement, rebar, standard tiles), showing an indicative price lifts requests by 20 to 40%. For trade accounts, negotiated prices only appear after login.
Is our ERP compatible?
Common ERPs in the German building trade (SAP Business One, Microsoft Dynamics, sector solutions such as A.eins or Moser) export via API or CSV. Hourly sync takes 3 to 4 weeks to set up and is included in level 2.
Who creates the 1,500 product pages?
BMEcat feeds from manufacturers and your ERP usually cover 80% of the data. Missing photos and descriptions cost EUR 2 to 5 per page depending on volume.
Do we need other languages?
In Berlin, many site crews speak Polish or Turkish. Adding one language costs about EUR 3,000 to 5,000 and often brings in smaller trades who order by phone today.
How long until launch?
Allow 8 to 10 weeks for level 1 and 14 to 18 weeks for level 2. The quality of the product data supplied at the start is the main factor in the timeline.
Let's scope your project. Send us your SKU count, depots and ERP: we will price the right level between EUR 20,000 and 45,000 with an 8 to 18 week 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.
