The verdict in three sentences
A custom TMS costs between EUR 60,000 and EUR 160,000 in London in 2026, versus EUR 6,000 to 30,000/year for an off-the-shelf tool that never quite fits your routes. The value comes from three concrete levers: -15 % empty miles, -20 % invoicing time and a digital proof of delivery that eliminates disputes. For a carrier running 15 to 40 vehicles, the investment pays back in 12 to 18 months.
What a custom TMS costs in London
Price depends on the number of modules and the depth of route optimisation. Here are 2026 orders of magnitude per module.
| Module | Indicative cost (EUR) | Timeline | Main gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orders + planning core | 15,000 - 30,000 | 2-3 months | Operational base |
| Route optimisation | 18,000 - 40,000 | 2-3 months | -15 % empty miles |
| Mobile driver app | 10,000 - 22,000 | 1-2 months | Real-time tracking |
| Proof of delivery (e-POD) | 7,000 - 15,000 | 1 month | -80 % disputes |
| Auto-invoicing + accounting sync | 10,000 - 25,000 | 1-2 months | -20 % invoicing time |
| Fleet monitoring + dashboards | 8,000 - 18,000 | 1-2 months | KPI steering |
A full project stacks these bricks over 6 to 11 months, usually delivered in batches to produce value from month 3.
Custom or off-the-shelf?
| Criterion | Off-the-shelf TMS (SaaS) | Custom TMS |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 cost | EUR 6,000 - 30,000 | EUR 60,000 - 160,000 |
| Year 3 cost (cumulative) | EUR 18,000 - 90,000 | EUR 60,000 - 175,000 |
| Fit to your routes | Limited | Total |
| Accounting/ERP integration | Depends on connectors | Native |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
| Fine business optimisation | Standard | On your constraints |
Beyond 3 years, custom becomes competitive on total cost while matching your business rules exactly.
Mini case study
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Antoine, director of a regional haulage firm in London, runs 28 trucks and invoices EUR 4.2M/year. His trucks run empty on 18 % of miles and invoicing ties up 1.5 admin staff. He invests EUR 112,000 in a custom TMS (planning, optimisation, driver app, e-POD, auto-invoicing).
Outcome over 12 months: empty miles drop from 18 % to 15 %, roughly EUR 68,000 saved in fuel/wear; invoicing time falls 20 %, freeing 0.5 FTE (~EUR 18,000/year). Combined annual gain: ~EUR 86,000. The investment amortises in ~16 months.
FAQ
What is the minimum budget to start? Budget EUR 35,000 to 50,000 for an orders + planning + driver app core, then add optimisation and invoicing in later batches.
How long to go live? A first usable batch ships in 3 months; the full project spans 6 to 11 months depending on modules and integrations.
What real ROI to expect? On a 15-40 vehicle fleet, -15 % empty miles and -20 % invoicing time typically deliver payback in 12 to 18 months.
Can you integrate our existing accounting? Yes, native integration with Sage, Xero or an ERP is designed in from the start, with automatic invoice export and reconciliation.
What if our volume doubles? A custom TMS is sized for your growth: adding vehicles, depots and pricing rules with no per-user licence surcharge.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your fleet, route volumes and accounting tools: we will price the priority scope (indicative budget EUR 60,000-160,000) and the batch delivery 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.
