The verdict in three sentences
Automating a business workflow in London costs between EUR 12,000 and EUR 30,000 in 2026, deployed in 5 to 9 weeks. The spec matters more than the technology: poorly scoped, a project slips; well scoped, it recovers up to ~10 hours/week of re-keying. The low-code versus custom choice is settled on the volume and specificity of the process, not on a technical preference.
What the specification must contain
A good specification structures the project and secures the budget. Here are the essential sections and their weight.
| Section | Key content | Weight in project |
|---|---|---|
| Process mapping | Steps, actors, rules | 20% |
| Forms and fields | Captured data, validations | 15% |
| Approval circuit | Roles, thresholds, notifications | 20% |
| Integrations | ERP, mail, DMS | 25% |
| Reporting | Indicators, exports | 10% |
| Testing and training | Tests, skills ramp-up | 10% |
A serious one-to-two-week scoping phase avoids most budget overruns.
Off-the-shelf low-code or custom application
Both paths are valid depending on the number of users and business specificity. 2026 comparison.
| Criterion | Low-code platform | Custom application |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | EUR 12,000 - 18,000 | EUR 20,000 - 30,000 |
| Licence | EUR 15 - 40/user/mo | 0 (hosting ~EUR 50/mo) |
| Timeline | 5 - 6 weeks | 7 - 9 weeks |
| Business specificity | Medium | Full |
| Scalability | Fast on standard cases | Unlimited |
| Best for | Common processes | Very specific processes |
For 30 users at EUR 30/month, low-code represents EUR 10,800/year in licences. On a stable, specific process, custom pays off over 3 years.
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Mini case study
Karim, operations manager of a 90-person industrial SME in London, digitises purchase orders and mission orders still handled on paper. The process ties up ~10 hours/week of re-keying and generates ~3% costly errors. Over 46 weeks that is 460 hours/year (~EUR 30,000 loaded). The custom project, quoted at EUR 24,000 with EUR 500/month support, removes 80% of that time and the re-keying errors. Annual saving: ~EUR 24,000, payback in ~15 months.
FAQ
Why is a specification essential? Because it locks the scope and business rules before development. A one-to-two-week scoping phase avoids most overruns and back-and-forth.
Low-code or custom: how to decide? Low-code suits common processes with few users; custom is required beyond 30 users or for a very specific business. Licence cost is the tipping point.
How long to digitise a paper process? Allow 5 to 9 weeks depending on approval-circuit complexity and the number of integrations. Integrations often represent 25% of the budget.
Does the application connect to our ERP? Yes, via API or a dedicated connector. It's often the most technical part and must be explicitly in the spec.
What concrete gain can I expect? Removing re-keying recovers up to ~10 hours/week and cuts errors from 2 to 3% to near zero, paying the project back in 12 to 18 months.
Let's scope your project. Describe the paper process to digitise, the number of users and the systems to connect, and we'll draft the spec and quote the project. 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.
