Case Study: A Miami Manufacturer Moves 40% of Trade Orders Online, Cost and ROI (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

This case study describes an illustrative example, built from comparable projects, of a Miami manufacturer of outdoor and hospitality furniture that launched a 70,000 USD B2B portal for its US dealers. Within 12 months, 40% of trade orders moved online, order desk keying time fell by two thirds and the online average order grew 18%. Payback came in month 15, driven mostly by margin on larger orders rather than by labor savings alone.

Starting point and project

The manufacturer sells to around 450 dealers, designers and hotel procurement teams across Florida, Georgia and Texas. Before the portal, 500 orders a month came in by email, phone and PDF purchase orders, with an average order of 800 USD for replacement cushions, accessories and small pieces. Two order desk staff keyed every line into the ERP, about 90 hours a month, and sales tax exemption certificates were tracked in a spreadsheet.

The build ran 20 weeks, with a pilot on 30 dealers.

For context, the 2026 US market ballpark for a portal of this scope is 50,000 to 120,000 USD. As a nearshore option, Kolonell's prices for a complex custom application are 10,670 to 22,870 EUR and more (7,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA and more), with maintenance from 53 to 183 EUR a month. Sales tax rules vary by state, so tax logic should be validated by your accountant, and the portal should meet ADA accessibility expectations for public facing pages.

Results after 12 months

Keying time fell faster than the online share because phone orders are now entered through the same quick order screen, with dealer prices prefilled. The larger orders come from compatible accessory suggestions and free freight thresholds shown at checkout.

Three choices mattered most. Sales reps kept commission on their dealers' online orders, so nobody fought the portal. The catalogue was cleaned before development started. And the order desk signed off every test cycle.

Mini case study

Illustrative example: Daniel, VP of sales at this manufacturer, worked out the steady state monthly gain. The 60 order desk hours saved are worth 2,400 USD at a loaded 40 USD per hour. The order uplift is 200 orders x 144 USD, or 28,800 USD of extra monthly revenue, which yields 5,184 USD at an 18% contribution margin. After 800 USD of hosting and maintenance, the net gain is about 6,800 USD a month. With a gradual ramp (1,500 USD a month in the first quarter, 3,800 in the second, 5,500 in the third, 6,500 in the fourth, then 6,800), the cumulative gain reaches 65,500 USD at month 14 and passes the 70,000 USD invested during month 15.

FAQ

Is this a real client?

No, it is an illustrative example based on ranges seen in comparable projects. Your numbers depend on volume: below roughly 200 trade orders a month, payback usually stretches beyond 24 months.

Why do online orders get bigger?

Dealers see compatible accessories and free freight thresholds while ordering. A 10 to 20% online order uplift is a common 2026 B2B estimate, not a guarantee.

How long does it take to reach 40% online?

Twelve months here, starting with a 30 dealer pilot. Without sales rep buy in, online share often stalls below 20%.

Do we need the ERP connector from day one?

Yes, it is what removes re-keying: 19,000 USD of the 70,000 USD budget in this example. A portal without it simply moves data entry elsewhere.

What are the running costs?

About 800 USD a month for hosting and maintenance in this example. Kolonell's maintenance plans alone run from 53 to 183 EUR a month.

Let's scope your project. Send us your monthly trade order volume, average order value and ERP, and we will estimate the scope, budget and payback period of your B2B portal. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.