The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, a custom BI dashboard consolidating several sources costs 15,000 to 50,000 EUR depending on the number of connectors and ETL complexity. A tooled solution (Power BI, Metabase) runs to 10-25 EUR/user/month plus an integration cost of 8,000 to 20,000 EUR. In both cases, the real gain is moving from manual weekly reporting to automatically refreshed data.
Custom or tooled: the costs in Amsterdam
The choice depends on the number of sources, customisation needs and user volume. Power BI/Metabase cover 80% of needs; custom is justified for proprietary business metrics or product integration.
| Item | Power BI / Metabase | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Setup / build | 8,000 - 20,000 EUR | 15,000 - 50,000 EUR |
| Per-user licence | 10 - 25 EUR/month | 0 (hosted) |
| Connectors (per source) | 1,500 - 3,500 EUR | 2,000 - 5,000 EUR |
| ETL / data pipeline | partly included | 5,000 - 12,000 EUR |
| Delivery timeline | 4-6 weeks | 6-10 weeks |
| UI customisation | limited | full |
For an SME of 5 to 15 users, Power BI is often the best value. Above 30 users or with a product-integration need, custom becomes competitive because it removes the per-seat licence.
Consolidated sources and time saved
A dashboard's value comes from consolidation: one view instead of five Excel exports. Each connected source removes a recurring manual entry.
| Connected source | Connector cost (EUR) | Refresh frequency | Hours/month saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales (CRM) | 2,000 - 3,500 | real time | 12 h |
| Stock (ERP) | 2,500 - 4,500 | hourly | 10 h |
| Cash (bank/accounting) | 3,000 - 5,000 | daily | 14 h |
| Marketing (Ads/Analytics) | 1,500 - 3,000 | daily | 8 h |
| Support (ticketing) | 1,500 - 3,000 | real time | 6 h |
Consolidating 4 sources, an SME typically recovers 40 to 50 hours per month of manual reporting, not counting faster decisions from reliable data.
Mini case study
Marc, CFO of a distribution SME in Amsterdam, produced a 6-hour Excel report every Monday, consolidating CRM, ERP and accounting by hand. We deliver a Power BI dashboard with 3 connectors for 17,000 EUR build plus 15 EUR/user/month for 12 users (2,160 EUR/year).
Gain: 36 h/month freed (at 40 EUR/h loaded manager cost) = 1,440 EUR/month = 17,280 EUR/year. Year-1 cost: 17,000 + 2,160 = 19,160 EUR. Payback in 13.3 months, then a net gain of over 15,000 EUR/year, with faster decisions as a bonus.
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FAQ
Power BI or a custom dashboard?
For fewer than 30 users and standard metrics, Power BI or Metabase (build 8,000-20,000 EUR) are enough. Custom (15,000-50,000 EUR) wins above 30 seats or for product integration.
How much is an extra connector?
Between 1,500 and 5,000 EUR per source depending on API availability and data complexity. Cash and ERP are usually the most expensive.
How long to deliver?
Budget 4 to 6 weeks for a tooled solution and 6 to 10 weeks for custom, source audit included.
Is the data refreshed in real time?
It depends on the source: real time for a CRM via API, daily or hourly for accounting or stock. We tune frequency to your decision needs.
What annual maintenance cost?
Budget 10 to 18% of build per year for evolutions and connector monitoring, i.e. roughly 1,700 to 9,000 EUR/year by scope.
Let's scope your project. Give us the sources to consolidate, user count and an indicative budget (15,000-50,000 EUR): we compare Power BI and custom for you. 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.
