The verdict in three sentences
A REST/webhook connector between your web app and your ERP costs between €6,000 and €14,000 in 2026, versus €12,000 to €30,000 for a dedicated real-time API integration. The hidden line item isn't the code but the per-entity mapping (€800-1,500 each) and the monitoring (€250/month) that keeps flows from breaking silently. For a Berlin IT director, the decision hinges on data volume and latency tolerance, not the first invoice.
Off-the-shelf connector vs custom API integration
A native connector (or an iPaaS middleware like Workato, Boomi or Make) is fast but constrains scope. A dedicated integration costs more but fits your exact business logic — useful when your SAP or ERP objects are heavily customised.
| Item | iPaaS connector | Custom dedicated API |
|---|---|---|
| Initial build | €6,000 – 14,000 | €12,000 – 30,000 |
| Platform subscription | €400 – 900/mo | €0 (self-hosted) |
| Implementation time | 4 – 8 weeks | 8 – 14 weeks |
| Per-entity mapping | €800 – 1,200 | €1,000 – 1,500 |
| Sync latency | 5 – 15 min (batch) | real time (webhook) |
| Vendor lock-in | high | none |
| Monitoring/yr | partly included | €250/month |
The 2026 line items
Day rates for a senior integrator in Berlin sit between €550 and €750. An ERP integration typically takes 15 to 30 person-days depending on the number of entities (customers, items, orders, stock, invoices).
| Item | 2026 range | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Senior integrator day rate | €550 – 750 | per day |
| Flow mapping | €2,500 – 4,500 | fixed |
| Mapping 5 entities | €4,000 – 7,500 | €800-1,500/entity |
| Error handling + replays | €2,400 – 3,600 | 4-6 days |
| iPaaS middleware | €400 – 900/mo | subscription |
| Monitoring + alerting | €250/month | supervision |
| End-to-end testing | €3,000 – 5,000 | fixed |
Budget a 2026 ballpark of €18,000 to €28,000 all-in for a first robust ERP integration with supervision, before recurring costs.
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Mini case study
Thomas, IT director of a 90-person industrial SME in Berlin, wants to connect his new web production-tracking tool to his ERP. He picks an iPaaS connector: €9,500 build, mapping of 4 entities (items, work orders, stock, invoices) at €1,100 each = €4,400, plus €650/month for iPaaS and monitoring. Initial spend: €13,900, recurring €7,800/year. The manual data entry he removes was 22 h/week at €28/h loaded, i.e. €32,000/year — payback in under 8 months.
FAQ
What's the cheapest ERP connector? A simple one-way REST connector on a few entities starts around €6,000. Below that, be wary: mapping and error handling are often out of scope.
iPaaS or dedicated development? iPaaS pays off up to ~5 flows and €900/month. Beyond that, a dedicated API becomes cheaper over 3 years because you cut €4,800-10,800/year of subscription.
How long does it take? Expect 4 to 8 weeks for an iPaaS connector and 8 to 14 weeks for a dedicated integration, testing included.
Is monitoring really necessary? Yes. A silently failing sync can corrupt stock and invoicing. Monitoring at €250/month pays for itself with the first prevented incident.
Who owns data responsibility? You do. The integrator secures the flows (TLS encryption, logging), but GDPR compliance of the transiting data stays under your governance.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your ERP, the number of entities to sync and your latency tolerance: we'll price an iPaaS connector and a dedicated API side by side. 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.
