The verdict in three sentences
A Singapore wholesaler of cables, switchgear and solar equipment serving 900 electricians and contractors through WhatsApp and email loses time on every order: a photo of a handwritten list, a stock check, a typed quote, a payment chase. A B2B webshop with trade accounts costs between 60,000 and 150,000 SGD in 2026 depending on catalog size and ERP integration, with approved credit limits, 6,000 SKUs with technical datasheets, payment on account, by PayNow or card, and branch pickup. Wholesalers who move most recurring orders online cut order handling cost by a factor of 3.
What an electrical B2B webshop must include
An electrician ordering for a job wants to find the right cable size, breaker or inverter quickly, see their trade price and know whether they can pick it up today. A contractor wants purchase orders, invoices and a clear credit balance. The shop must therefore feel more like a trade counter than a consumer store. In Singapore, products must also carry the right Enterprise Singapore safety mark where required, so certification data belongs on each product page.
| Feature | Value for the trade customer | 2026 ballpark (SGD) |
|---|---|---|
| 6,000 SKU catalog with datasheets | Size, rating, standard, PDF datasheet | 10,000 - 28,000 |
| Trade accounts and pricing by category | Electrician price, contractor price, discounts | 7,000 - 17,000 |
| Approved credit and payment on account | Order within your credit limit | 8,000 - 20,000 |
| PayNow, card and bank transfer | Pay online without visiting a branch | 5,000 - 13,000 |
| Stock by branch and branch pickup | Know where to collect today | 7,000 - 17,000 |
| Quick order by list or quote | Paste a 40 line list, reorder in one click | 5,000 - 12,000 |
| ERP integration (SAP Business One, Odoo, other) | Stock, invoices and credit synced | 12,000 - 28,000 |
These amounts are 2026 ballpark figures for a custom build in Singapore. A limited first version (catalog, trade accounts, online payment, pickup) can start around 60,000 SGD; full integration with credit control and several branches pushes toward 110,000 to 150,000 SGD.
Payment methods to plan for
| Payment method | Typical use | Indicative 2026 fees | Watch point |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayNow (via gateway) | Small contractors, quick payments | Around 0.5 - 1% | Automatic reconciliation by API |
| Corporate card | Mid sized contractors | 2.5 - 3.5% | Useful for urgent orders |
| GIRO or bank transfer | Larger contractors, projects | Low | Manual matching, 1 - 2 days |
| Payment on account | Rated regular customers | Customer risk cost | Limit, due date and automatic hold |
| Buy now pay later for business | New accounts without history | 2 - 4% | Shifts credit risk to the provider |
Credit terms remain the dominant settlement mode for electrical wholesalers. The portal makes them visible: the customer sees their limit and overdue invoices, and orders beyond the limit are held automatically instead of depending on a call to the director. Prices must be shown with 9% GST clearly separated for trade buyers.
Mini case study
Wei Ling, managing director of an electrical wholesaler in Singapore, handles about 1,800 orders a month by WhatsApp, email and phone with 6 counter staff. She estimates each order costs 18 SGD in handling time, so 32,400 SGD a month. If 60% of orders go through the webshop at 6 SGD each, the monthly cost falls to about 19,400 SGD, saving 13,000 SGD a month. For a 100,000 SGD webshop with 2,000 SGD of monthly maintenance, payback lands at a little over 9 months. Bad debt also falls, since orders above the credit limit are held automatically.
Launch timeline
| Step | Duration | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery, catalog and ERP audit | 2 - 4 weeks | SKU list, pricing and credit rules |
| Datasheet cleanup | 3 - 6 weeks | 6,000 product pages with photos and attributes |
| Webshop and payment development | 8 - 12 weeks | Trade accounts, PayNow, cards, credit |
| Pilot with 50 electricians | 3 - 4 weeks | Fixes, counter staff training |
| Opening to all customers | 2 - 4 weeks | WhatsApp and email campaign to 900 accounts |
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FAQ
How much does a B2B webshop for an electrical wholesaler cost in Singapore?
As a 2026 ballpark, plan on 60,000 to 150,000 SGD depending on SKU count, branches and ERP integration. Maintenance runs 1,000 to 3,500 SGD a month.
Will electricians order online instead of WhatsApp?
Some will, mostly for recurring orders. Keeping WhatsApp as a support channel with a link to quick order typically gets 40 to 60% of orders online within a year.
Can we sell on credit through the webshop?
Yes. Each account gets a credit limit and a due date; the shop holds orders over the limit and shows invoices due.
Which payment methods matter most?
PayNow and payment on account cover most trade orders, with cards for urgent purchases. Gateway fees for PayNow are around 0.5 to 1%, compared with 2.5 to 3.5% for cards.
How long does it take to launch?
Plan 4 to 6 months from discovery to full opening, including 3 to 6 weeks to bring datasheets up to standard.
Let's scope your project. We price your B2B webshop from your catalog, your credit rules and your ERP, with an indicative budget and a pilot schedule. 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.
