The verdict in three sentences
A custom decision dashboard costs 15,000 to 45,000 EUR in 2026 and ships in 5 to 10 weeks depending on the number of connected sources. Wired into your ERP, CRM and accounting, it shows real-time KPIs with automatic alerts. It saves several days on key decisions because consolidated figures no longer depend on a manual Excel export.
What drives the price
Cost depends mostly on the number of connectors and indicator complexity. Here is a 2026 order of magnitude per line item.
| Line item | Cost (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| KPI scoping and mockups | 2,000 - 5,000 | 1 - 2 wks |
| ERP connector | 3,000 - 8,000 | 1 - 3 wks |
| CRM connector | 2,500 - 6,000 | 1 - 2 wks |
| Accounting connector | 2,500 - 6,000 | 1 - 2 wks |
| Data model + aggregations | 3,000 - 9,000 | 2 - 3 wks |
| Real-time UI + alerts | 4,000 - 11,000 | 2 - 4 wks |
A full project with three sources generally lands in the 15,000 to 45,000 EUR range.
Off-the-shelf tool or custom build
Power BI and Metabase cover standard needs fast. Custom becomes relevant when you want an integrated experience, fine-grained business rules or an action-oriented interface.
| Criterion | Power BI / Metabase | Custom dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | 3,000 - 12,000 EUR | 15,000 - 45,000 EUR |
| Monthly licence | 10 - 25 EUR/user | 0 (hosting 50 - 200 EUR) |
| Native real-time | Partial | Yes |
| Complex business rules | Limited | Unlimited |
| User experience | Standard | Tailored |
| Ideal case | Classic reporting | Operational steering |
Many SMEs start on Metabase then move to custom for real-time operational steering.
Mini case study
Thomas, head of a 60-employee distribution SME in Amsterdam, waits every Monday for a hand-built consolidated Excel report that arrives 3 days late. He invests 31,000 EUR in a real-time dashboard wired into his ERP, CRM and accounting. He saves 3 days of latency per week on stock and margin decisions, and the person who produced the report recovers 12 hours per month. Over a year, faster purchasing decisions avoid several stockouts and overstocks.
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FAQ
How much does a custom BI dashboard cost in 2026?
Between 15,000 and 45,000 EUR depending on the number of connectors. A single-source dashboard can start around 10,000 EUR.
What is the delivery timeline?
5 to 10 weeks: 1 to 2 weeks of scoping, then development of connectors and the real-time interface.
Should we prefer Power BI or custom?
Power BI or Metabase suffice for classic reporting at 10-25 EUR/user/month. Custom wins for real-time and complex business rules.
Can several tools be connected?
Yes: ERP, CRM, accounting, e-commerce and internal tools. Each connector costs 2,500 to 8,000 EUR depending on the available API.
How is data secured?
European hosting, encryption, fine-grained role management and logging. Access to sensitive KPIs is restricted by profile.
Let's scope your project. Share your data sources, the 6 to 10 KPIs you need to steer and your indicative budget, and we'll price connectors and interface at the right scope. 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.
