The verdict in three sentences
A custom BI dashboard consolidating several sources costs between 12,000 and 40,000 EUR in 2026, with the data pipeline often half the budget. For a standard need, Power BI or Metabase cover 80 % of cases at lower cost. Custom is justified when sources are heterogeneous or calculation logic is specific.
How much a decision dashboard costs
Cost breaks into three parts: data collection and transformation (pipeline), modeling (metrics, margin rules), and the visualization layer. The pipeline weighs most.
| Solution type | Connected sources | 2026 cost | Monthly cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted Metabase | 1 - 2 | 8,000 - 15,000 EUR | 50 - 200 EUR | 3 - 5 wks |
| Power BI (licences + setup) | 2 - 4 | 10,000 - 20,000 EUR | 10 EUR/user | 4 - 6 wks |
| Custom BI (web) | 3 - 6 | 18,000 - 30,000 EUR | 200 - 500 EUR | 5 - 7 wks |
| Custom BI + advanced pipeline | 6+ | 30,000 - 40,000 EUR | 400 - 900 EUR | 6 - 8 wks |
Build vs buy: how to decide
An off-the-shelf tool starts faster and cheaper but stumbles on unplanned cases. Custom costs more upfront but pays off when needs evolve often.
| Criterion | Off-the-shelf (Power BI) | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Low (10-20k EUR) | High (18-40k EUR) |
| Timeline | 4-6 wks | 5-8 wks |
| Exotic sources | Limited | Unlimited |
| Specific calculation logic | Constrained | Total |
| Cost per user | Rising | Flat |
| Autonomy on changes | Medium | High |
Mini case study
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Helen, CFO of a 120-person distribution firm in London, consolidated sales, margin and cash across three Excel files, 2 days late and error-prone. A custom dashboard at 24,000 EUR (about 20,000 GBP) wired to the ERP and CRM delivers those metrics in real time. Gain: 3 days/month of reporting saved and faster stock decisions, an estimated ROI in 10 months.
FAQ
Isn't Power BI enough? For standard reporting on 2-3 sources, yes, for 10,000 to 20,000 EUR. Custom becomes relevant beyond 4-5 heterogeneous sources or for specific margin rules.
What is the most expensive part? The data pipeline (collection, cleaning, syncing) is often 40 to 60 % of the budget, far more than visualization.
Is real time essential? Rarely. Hourly refresh suffices in most cases and cuts pipeline cost. True real time is reserved for critical flows.
How long for a first version? A usable first dashboard arrives in 4 to 6 weeks; refinements follow over 2 to 4 weeks.
Who maintains the metrics? A 200 to 900 EUR/month contract covers source changes, new metrics and data-freshness monitoring.
Let's scope your project. Share your sources (ERP, CRM, e-commerce), your 5 key metrics and refresh frequency: we will price build vs buy. 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.
