B2B E-Commerce for an Electrical Wholesaler: Cost (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

An electrical contractor orders SKUs they know by heart, at their negotiated price, often from a job site: the B2B site must be designed as an ordering tool, not a showcase. For 25,000 SKUs and 3,000 customer accounts, the budget runs from 40,000 to 110,000 EUR excl. VAT, with 30 to 40% spent on ERP integration. The right success metric is the share of orders placed online: 20% after one year is achievable and frees time for inside sales reps.

Budget by project level

Three approaches coexist: a configured B2B SaaS, an adapted open-source base, or custom development plugged into the ERP. SKU volume and pricing complexity drive the choice.

2026 order of magnitude observed with French integrators. Product data quality (ETIM classification, datasheets, photos) is often underestimated and delays launch by several weeks.

Features that make contractors order online

An electrician does not browse categories: they type a Legrand or Schneider reference, check stock at their branch and order. Every feature must cut clicks.

Customer credit limits must come from the ERP: if the limit is exceeded, the order goes to approval rather than being blocked, otherwise the customer goes to a competitor.

ERP integration: where the budget is decided

Prices, stock, credit, orders and invoices flow between the site and the ERP (Sage X3, Microsoft Dynamics, Cegid, Kerridge, Infor). A nightly file sync costs 8,000 to 12,000 EUR excl. VAT; a real-time API for prices and stock costs 20,000 to 40,000 EUR. For a wholesaler, the minimum viable setup is stock refreshed every 15 minutes and prices computed from the same grid as the ERP, with no double entry.

Mini case study

Nathalie, sales director of an electrical wholesaler in Lyon, generates 42 million EUR in revenue with 3,000 contractors and 12 inside sales reps. Each order taken by phone or email costs about 9 EUR in processing time. With 120,000 orders a year, moving 20% online, or 24,000 orders, saves 216,000 EUR a year in order entry, minus about 30,000 EUR in licences and maintenance. For an 85,000 EUR excl. VAT project, payback comes 6 months after ramp-up, not counting the 10% higher average basket from reorder lists.

FAQ

Should list prices be shown to logged-out visitors?

Most wholesalers show the catalogue without prices, or with an indicative list price, and reserve net prices for logged-in customers. This protects your terms and turns 5 to 10% of visitors into account requests.

How long to reach 20% online orders?

Allow 9 to 15 months, with sales reps actively creating accounts and training customers. The top 300 customers often represent 50% of online volume by month six.

Are 30-day terms compatible with e-commerce?

Yes, the customer orders on account and receives a standard invoice payable at 30 days end of month. Card or bank transfer is only used by occasional or cash customers, about 10 to 15% of orders.

What about manufacturer product data?

ETIM files and manufacturer catalogues cover 70 to 80% of SKUs. Enriching the remaining 20% costs on average 2 to 4 EUR per item.

Does France's 2026 e-invoicing mandate change the project?

Yes: from 1 September 2026, all French companies must be able to receive e-invoices, and mid-sized firms must issue them. The site must surface invoices issued by the ERP through the certified platform, which should be planned in the specification.

Let's scope your project. Tell us your ERP, SKU count and number of customer accounts: we will price a scope between 40,000 and 110,000 EUR excl. VAT with a 4 to 6 month plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.