The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, a decision-making BI dashboard for an Amsterdam SME costs 12,000 to 45,000 EUR, with half the budget going into source connections and modelling, not pretty charts. Licences (Metabase, Power BI) run from 0 to 30 EUR/user/month, marginal against the project cost. The real stake: moving from Excel exports at D+5 to real-time steering that speeds up decisions.
What the BI budget covers in 2026
A BI project is not just a screen: it is a data chain from source to decision. Here is the typical split for an SME of 20 to 100 staff.
| Item | 2026 range (EUR) | Share of budget |
|---|---|---|
| KPI scoping + business workshops | 2,000 - 5,000 | ~15% |
| Source connections (ERP, CRM, sales) | 4,000 - 12,000 | ~30% |
| Modelling + data warehouse | 3,000 - 10,000 | ~25% |
| Dashboards + visualisations | 3,000 - 12,000 | ~25% |
| Training + documentation | 1,000 - 3,000 | ~5% |
| Tool licences | 0 - 30 /user/month | recurring |
A 12,000 EUR project covers 2-3 sources and 3-4 dashboards; a 45,000 EUR project integrates 6+ sources, history and data governance.
SaaS BI vs custom platform
The choice depends on your sources and data volume. Off-the-shelf tools cover most SME needs.
| Criterion | SaaS BI (Power BI, Metabase, Looker) | Custom platform |
|---|---|---|
| Setup cost | 12,000 - 30,000 EUR | 30,000 - 45,000 EUR+ |
| Monthly licence | 0 - 30 EUR/user | 0 (self-hosted) |
| Time to deliver | 4-7 weeks | 7-12 weeks |
| UX customisation | medium | full |
| Best for | standard KPIs, reporting | client-facing data product, real time |
| Maintenance | low | moderate to high |
For most SMEs, self-hosted Metabase (0 EUR licence) or Power BI (from ~10 EUR/user/month) offer the best value. Custom is justified for a dashboard aimed at your own customers.
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Mini case study
Julien, director of a 60-staff trading SME in Amsterdam-West, decides weekly on Excel exports arriving 5 days late. Two bad stock decisions a month cost him around 3,500 EUR/month in overstock and shortages. A BI project at 24,000 EUR + Metabase (0 EUR licence) gives him indicators at D+1. By halving errors, he saves 21,000 EUR/year: return on investment in 14 months, plus faster, better-argued decisions.
FAQ
How long to deliver a first dashboard? A first useful dashboard is deliverable in 4 to 6 weeks. The longest phase is making the sources reliable, not building the charts.
Power BI or Metabase? Metabase (open source, 0 EUR licence) is ideal to start and share widely; Power BI (~10 EUR/user/month) wins if you are already in the Microsoft ecosystem. Both cover 90% of SME needs.
Do we need an in-house data engineer? Not to start: the integrator delivers the connections and modelling. Beyond 6 sources and hourly refresh, an internal data lead becomes useful.
What recurring cost after delivery? Expect 300 to 1,200 EUR/month for maintenance, new KPIs and source changes, licences included.
Does BI replace the ERP? No: it plugs into it to read and cross-reference data. The ERP stays the source, BI is the steering layer.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your sources (ERP, CRM, e-commerce), your 5 priority KPIs and an indicative budget: we design the dashboard that speeds up your decisions. 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.
