The verdict in three sentences
For a food plant with 150 assets and a maintenance team of 8 to 12 people, a SaaS CMMS such as Mobility Work or Carl Source remains the best starting point if your processes are standard. A custom CMMS at EUR 35,000 to 80,000 excl. VAT becomes profitable once you need to link maintenance to HACCP traceability, line stoppages and IFS or BRC audits without double entry. The deciding criterion is the cost of one hour of unplanned downtime: above EUR 3,000 per hour, every stoppage avoided funds the project.
SaaS or custom build: the 2026 figures
Market CMMS tools cover the basics well (asset register, work orders, preventive maintenance, spare parts). They hit their limits when the plant needs food-industry rules: clean-in-place, lockout before work in high-hygiene zones, links to production batches.
| Criterion | Mobility Work (SaaS) | Carl Source (package) | Custom CMMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | EUR 0 to 3,000 setup | EUR 15,000 to 40,000 integration | EUR 35,000 to 80,000 excl. VAT |
| Recurring cost | EUR 40 to 60 per user per month | EUR 60 to 90 per user per month or licence | Maintenance 12 to 15% a year |
| 5-year cost, 20 users | EUR 48,000 to 72,000 | EUR 87,000 to 148,000 | EUR 56,000 to 140,000 |
| HACCP and batch traceability | Manual export | Module to configure | Native |
| QR code preventive maintenance | Yes | Yes | Yes, mapped to your zones |
| PLC and MES connection | Limited | Possible via connectors | Per specification |
| Time to start | 2 to 4 weeks | 3 to 6 months | 4 to 6 months |
A custom build is therefore not always more expensive over 5 years. It costs more upfront and demands real scoping work.
Functional scope and cost
A custom CMMS for a 3-line plant is built module by module. The core (asset register, work orders, QR code preventive) is about half the budget.
| Module | Content | Indicative 2026 cost (EUR excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Assets and hierarchy | 150 assets, line, hygiene zone, criticality | 5,000 to 9,000 |
| Mobile work orders | Tablet app, photos, signature, time spent | 8,000 to 15,000 |
| QR code preventive | Routines, frequencies, labels, reminders | 6,000 to 12,000 |
| Spare parts stock | Thresholds, reservations, supplier links | 5,000 to 10,000 |
| HACCP traceability and audits | Work linked to batches, IFS or BRC evidence | 5,000 to 14,000 |
| KPIs | MTBF, MTTR, preventive ratio, cost per line | 4,000 to 10,000 |
| PLC connection | Hour counters, alarms, condition-based triggers | 2,000 to 10,000 |
A EUR 35,000 scope covers the first four modules. At EUR 80,000, the plant gets traceability, KPIs and condition-based maintenance connected to PLCs.
A 4 to 6 month schedule
The project opens with three weeks of shop-floor audit with the maintenance manager and quality team. Eight weeks of core development follow, with go-live on a pilot line. Traceability and KPI modules come next, then rollout to all three lines and migration of existing routines, often stored in spreadsheets or a legacy CMMS.
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Julien, maintenance manager at a ready-meals plant, records 60 hours of unplanned downtime a year across his 3 lines. One hour of downtime costs about EUR 4,000 (lost output, labour, downgraded materials), or EUR 240,000 a year. The target of 20% fewer stoppages through systematic preventive work is worth EUR 48,000 a year. Add 6 hours a week of data entry and audit preparation saved, about EUR 12,000 a year. For a EUR 60,000 custom CMMS with EUR 8,000 annual maintenance, the net gain is EUR 52,000 a year: payback in 14 months.
FAQ
How much does a custom CMMS for a food plant cost in 2026?
Between EUR 35,000 and 80,000 excl. VAT depending on modules and PLC connections. Annual maintenance is 12 to 15% of that amount.
Should we start with Mobility Work or Carl Source?
If your processes are standard and you have fewer than 10 users, a SaaS at EUR 40 to 90 per user per month is often enough. Custom is justified when HACCP traceability and IFS audits force more than 5 hours a week of double entry.
How long until go-live?
Allow 4 to 6 months overall, with a pilot line running from week twelve.
Does the CMMS work offline on the shop floor?
Yes, the tablet app records work offline and syncs when Wi-Fi returns. This mode usually adds EUR 3,000 to 6,000.
Can we migrate data from our old CMMS?
Yes, migrating 150 assets, routines and 3 years of history takes about 2 weeks and costs EUR 2,000 to 5,000 excl. VAT.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of lines, assets and users, and we will price a CMMS between EUR 35,000 and 80,000 with a 4 to 6 month schedule. 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.