The verdict in three sentences
A custom wholesale & distribution platform costs, in 2026, between 35,000 and 60,000 EUR (about 38,000-65,000 USD) for pricing management, multi-warehouse stock and an ordering portal. The payback comes from order-entry time (-30%) and from fewer stockouts, thanks to a portal where customers place their own orders on their negotiated prices. It frees your sales reps from data entry to refocus them on selling.
The scope of a custom distribution platform
| Functional module | Contents | 2026 order of magnitude (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & discounts | Per-customer prices, grids, tiers | 6,000 - 12,000 |
| Multi-warehouse stock | Availability, reservations, transfers | 8,000 - 15,000 |
| B2B ordering portal | Catalog, cart, negotiated prices | 10,000 - 18,000 |
| Field sales app | Order taking, offline | 6,000 - 12,000 |
| Accounting / EDI integration | Invoices, credits, EDI flows | 5,000 - 10,000 |
| Typical full scope | pricing + stock + portal | 35,000 - 60,000 |
The B2B ordering portal is the core of the ROI: it shows each customer their negotiated prices, real availability per warehouse and their history, turning order phone calls and emails into self-service entry. Reps stop re-keying: they sell.
Custom vs off-the-shelf
| Criterion | Distribution ERP SaaS | Custom Kolonell |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 40-90 EUR/user/month | 35,000-60,000 EUR once |
| Complex pricing | Often limited | Total (tiers, overrides) |
| Custom B2B portal | Rare / rigid | Fits your customers |
| Multi-warehouse stock | Per plan | Native, own rules |
| EDI with your partners | Via connectors | Custom |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
An off-the-shelf solution is enough for a simple catalog and standard prices. Custom wins when your pricing policy is complex (tiers, per-family discounts, sales overrides), when you run multiple warehouses with your own rules, or when partners impose specific EDI flows.
Mini case study
Sarah, managing director of a 28-person professional-equipment distributor near Birmingham, had 6 reps spending 2 hours/day re-keying orders received by phone and email. After deploying a B2B portal + custom pricing (budget 52,000 EUR / ~56,000 USD), 55% of orders move to self-service. Gain: about 6 hours/day of entry saved across the team, nearly 1,300 hours/year at a 35 EUR hourly cost, about 45,000 EUR/year. In parallel, multi-warehouse stock visibility cut stockouts by 18%. Estimated payback: around 14 months.
FAQ
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How much does custom distribution software cost in 2026?
Expect 35,000 to 60,000 EUR for pricing, multi-warehouse stock and a B2B portal. An ordering portal alone on an existing catalog can start around 18,000 EUR.
Does the B2B portal replace my sales reps?
No, it frees them from data entry. Recurring orders go self-service; reps focus on development, advice and key accounts.
Can we manage different prices per customer?
Yes, that is precisely custom's strength: per-customer grids, quantity tiers, per-family discounts and sales overrides, without a generic tool's limits.
Do you handle EDI with our partners?
Yes. EDI flows (orders, invoices, dispatch advice) integrate to your partners' formats; budget 5,000 to 10,000 EUR.
What deployment timeline?
A usable ordering portal in 8-12 weeks, then iterations. Full scope (pricing + stock + EDI) in 4-6 months.
Let's scope your project. Describe your catalog, pricing policy and number of warehouses with an indicative budget, and we'll prioritize the B2B portal and pricing engine. 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.
