The verdict in three sentences
A custom ERP-CRM connector (Sage/Odoo ↔ HubSpot) costs in 2026 between 11,000,000 and 26,000,000 FCFA (~16,800-39,700 EUR) in London, scoping and acceptance included, over a 6-to-12-week timeline. The iPaaS alternative (Make/Zapier) starts at 30-150 EUR/month but hits a ceiling once volumes rise or sync logic gets complex. Custom wins when the sync is bidirectional, critical and high-volume.
The budget line by line
| Item | 2026 range (FCFA) | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Flow scoping | 1,500,000 - 3,000,000 | Mapping customers/products/orders |
| Bidirectional development | 6,000,000 - 16,000,000 | Two-way sync |
| Error handling and logs | 2,000,000 - 4,000,000 | Retry, alerts, logging |
| Acceptance | 1,500,000 - 3,000,000 | Tests on real cases |
| Typical project total | 11,000,000 - 26,000,000 | 6-12 week timeline |
Error handling (duplicates, API failures, retry) is the most underestimated line: a connector without reliable retry creates data inconsistencies that are expensive to fix.
Custom vs iPaaS (Make/Zapier)
| Criterion | iPaaS (Make/Zapier) | Custom connector |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 30 - 150 EUR/month (~20,000-100,000 FCFA) | 11,000,000 - 26,000,000 FCFA |
| Cost at high volume | Grows fast (per operation) | Fixed hosting |
| Complex bidirectional sync | Limited | Complete |
| Fine error handling | Basic | Advanced |
| Vendor lock-in | High | None |
| Best for | Low volumes, simple flows | High volumes, critical flows |
iPaaS is perfect to start with low volumes and simple flows. Once sync becomes bidirectional, critical and high-volume, per-operation cost and iPaaS limits make custom cheaper.
Annual maintenance costs
| Solution | Annual maintenance |
|---|---|
| iPaaS | Subscription 360 - 1,800 EUR/year + volume overage |
| Custom | 12-18 % of build (~1,500,000 - 4,000,000 FCFA/year) |
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Mini case study
Aminata, sales director at a distribution firm in London (60 staff), wants to sync Odoo (ERP) and HubSpot (CRM) for 8,000 orders/month. In iPaaS, at that volume, the plan quickly climbs past 150 EUR/month and bidirectional product/order sync stays shaky. She picks a custom connector at 16,000,000 FCFA + 2,400,000 FCFA/year maintenance. Benefit: the end of double entry (2 reps spent 1.5 h/day on it, i.e. ~3,900,000 FCFA/month of reallocated time) and zero customer inconsistency between the two systems — payback in 4 to 5 months.
FAQ
How long for a custom connector? 2026 order of magnitude: 6 to 12 weeks depending on the number of synced objects (customers, products, orders) and the quality of the Sage/Odoo/HubSpot APIs.
Can iPaaS be enough? Yes, for low volumes and simple, one-way flows. Beyond a few thousand monthly operations or for fine bidirectional sync, custom becomes more cost-effective.
What happens on a sync error? A good connector includes automatic retry, alerts and logging. It's a 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA line you should never cut.
Can I connect tools other than Sage/Odoo/HubSpot? Yes, as long as they expose an API: Salesforce, Dynamics, Sellsy, Pipedrive, etc. The budget varies with API richness and stability.
How much is maintenance? Plan 12 to 18 % of the build per year, about 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA, to absorb API changes and new fields to sync.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your two systems (ERP and CRM), the monthly volume and the objects to sync: we'll frame a budget between 11,000,000 and 26,000,000 FCFA and a 6-to-12-week timeline. 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.
