The verdict in three sentences
For a cosmetics manufacturer selling to 1,900 pharmacies, a B2B ordering portal costs 35,000 to 65,000 EUR, plus about 10,000 EUR of ERP integration. The key to success is faithfully reproducing commercial terms by buying group (discounts, free goods, delivery thresholds) and equipping reps with tablet order taking connected to the same tool. Done well, the project shifts 45% of orders online and frees nearly a quarter of rep time for in-store advice.
The features that get pharmacists to adopt the portal
A pharmacy owner orders between customers, often on mobile, and will not go online if their discounts are missing. The portal must show their net price at login, handle promotional campaigns and allow quick reorder from history.
| Feature | Role for the pharmacy | Indicative 2026 cost (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Catalog with net prices per pharmacy and buying group | See their terms immediately | 8,000 to 14,000 |
| Cascading discounts, free goods, bonus units | Find their group agreements | 6,000 to 12,000 |
| Quick order and replenishment from history | Order in 2 minutes | 3,000 to 6,000 |
| Rep-assisted ordering on tablet | Rep keys orders on visits, offline if needed | 8,000 to 15,000 |
| Seasonal campaigns and display kits | Prepare summer and winter | 4,000 to 8,000 |
| Order tracking, invoices, credit notes | Self-service without calling customer service | 3,000 to 6,000 |
| ERP integration (stock, prices, orders) | Reliable real-time data | 10,000 |
Order of magnitude for 2026: 45,000 to 75,000 EUR including ERP integration, then 600 to 1,200 EUR a month for hosting and maintenance.
Off-the-shelf solution or custom portal
| Criterion | Standard B2B SaaS | Custom portal |
|---|---|---|
| Launch cost | 20,000 to 35,000 EUR | 35,000 to 65,000 EUR |
| Subscription | 1,000 to 2,500 EUR per month | 600 to 1,200 EUR per month |
| Buying group terms | Partial, often through heavy configuration | Modelled on your actual agreements |
| Offline rep tablet | Rarely included | Included |
| 3-year cost | 56,000 to 125,000 EUR | 57,000 to 108,000 EUR |
| Timeline | 2 to 3 months | 4 months |
Both options converge over 3 years. Custom takes the lead when buying group agreements are numerous and change at every annual negotiation, which is the case for most dermocosmetic brands.
Mini case study
Sanne, sales director of a cosmetics manufacturer in Amsterdam, manages 1,900 pharmacies and 12 reps. Pharmacies place about 19,000 orders a year by phone, email or through their rep, at an estimated admin cost of 18 EUR per order. Online, that cost drops to 5 EUR.
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With 45% of orders online, 8,550 orders shift: 8,550 x 13 EUR = 111,150 EUR saved per year. Reps, who spent nearly 25% of their time keying orders, each gain about 3 advisory visits a week. For a 65,000 EUR project including integration, payback lands around 7 months after launch.
FAQ
How do we handle pharmacy chains and buying groups?
Each pharmacy is linked to its group and automatically inherits its terms, with possible exceptions per store. Initial setup of 15 to 30 groups takes 2 to 3 weeks.
Will reps lose their commission?
No, online orders from their territory are credited to them. That is the condition for them to promote the portal on visits, which speeds adoption by 6 to 12 months.
Does the portal need to follow pharmacy-specific rules?
For cosmetics, there is no medicine-specific obligation, but you need batch numbers, expiry dates and GDPR compliance on pharmacist data. Budget 3,000 to 5,000 EUR for batch traceability.
Which ERP is compatible?
Most market ERPs (Exact, AFAS, SAP Business One, Dynamics) offer APIs or file exchange. The 10,000 EUR covers price, stock and order sync.
Let's scope your project. We define your buying group terms, the rep tablet and ERP integration, with a budget of 45,000 to 75,000 EUR and a 4-month 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.
