The verdict in three sentences
Integrating ERP, CRM and business tools costs 10,000 to 45,000 EUR excl. VAT in 2026 depending on the number of flows and the reliability required. Two routes: an iPaaS (integration platform like Make, n8n, Workato) fast to deploy, or custom connectors more robust for high volumes. The concrete gain: 60% less manual re-keying, the end of discrepancies between systems and reliable data to steer by.
iPaaS or custom connectors
The choice depends on data volume, criticality and your ability to maintain. An iPaaS is enough to sync a few hundred records a day between CRM and billing. The moment you exchange thousands of rows in real time between an ERP and e-commerce, custom becomes more reliable and cheaper to run.
| Approach | Setup cost (EUR excl. VAT) | Recurring cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| No-code iPaaS (Make, n8n) | 6,000 - 15,000 | 40 - 400 /mo | Simple flows, moderate volumes |
| Enterprise iPaaS (Workato) | 15,000 - 30,000 | 800 - 2,500 /mo | Multi-flow, governance |
| Custom API connectors | 15,000 - 45,000 | Hosting 50-300 /mo | High volumes, real time |
| Self-hosted middleware | 12,000 - 35,000 | 80 - 400 /mo | Sovereignty, full control |
| One-off batch load | 3,000 - 10,000 | - | Migration, nightly sync |
One tip: start with iPaaS to validate priority flows, then move critical flows to custom once needs stabilize.
Scope flows by priority
The classic trap is wanting to connect everything at once. The right method is to list flows, assess their value and complexity, then handle them in batches. A flow that removes a daily double entry pays off immediately; a "nice to have" flow waits.
| Flow | Direction | Priority | Indicative cost (EUR excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRM -> ERP (customers, orders) | One-way | High | 2,000 - 5,000 |
| ERP -> CRM (stock, invoicing) | One-way | High | 2,000 - 4,500 |
| E-commerce -> ERP (orders) | One-way | High | 3,000 - 7,000 |
| ERP -> BI (reporting) | One-way | Medium | 1,500 - 3,500 |
| CRM <-> marketing tool | Two-way | Medium | 1,500 - 4,000 |
| Payroll <-> accounting | Two-way | Low | 1,000 - 3,000 |
By prioritizing, an SME gets 80% of the value from the first 3 flows, often under 15,000 EUR, before expanding.
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Mini case study
A CIO at a 90-person distribution company in Nantes handled re-keying orders from e-commerce into the ERP by hand: 1.5 FTE tied up and a 4% error rate. We deployed a custom middleware syncing e-commerce, ERP and CRM for 28,000 EUR excl. VAT in 3.5 months, plus 180 EUR/month of hosting. Re-keying dropped by 60%, freeing about 0.9 FTE (roughly 35,000 EUR/year loaded) and the error rate fell below 0.5%. Return on investment in under 10 months.
FAQ
iPaaS or custom development, which is cheaper? iPaaS costs less to set up (from 6,000 EUR) but its subscriptions climb with volume. Custom costs more upfront but its recurring cost is limited to hosting. Beyond ~1,000 EUR/month of iPaaS subscription, custom becomes worthwhile.
How long does an integration take? From 2 to 5 months depending on the number of flows and API access. A first critical flow can ship in 3-4 weeks, then you add the rest in batches.
What if a system has no API? We use file export/import, direct database access or an RPA connector. It's doable but more fragile; budget 3,000 to 7,000 EUR extra per system without an API.
How do you guarantee data reliability? Through logs, failure alerts, a retry queue and daily reconciliation. That's what sets a pro integration apart from a simple script: it warns you when a flow fails.
Can we keep our current tools? Yes, that's the whole point: integration makes existing tools talk without replacing them. We only change your software if one of them technically blocks any connection.
Let's scope your project. List your systems (ERP, CRM, e-commerce, payroll) and the 3 flows that waste you the most time; we'll propose an iPaaS or custom architecture priced per flow. 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.
