The verdict in three sentences
A custom ERP-CRM connector costs, in 2026, between 3,500,000 and 9,000,000 FCFA (about 5,300-13,700 EUR) over 4 to 7 weeks. It synchronises customers, orders and stock both ways via API and webhooks, where double entry wastes time and creates errors. A subscription iPaaS (200-800 EUR/month) helps, but bills forever and handles specific business fields poorly.
Why double entry is so expensive
When ERP and CRM do not talk, every rep re-types orders, every invoice is re-keyed, and discrepancies pile up. A custom connector wires the two systems once and for all.
| Line item | FCFA range (2026) | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Field mapping | 400,000 - 1,000,000 | ERP <-> CRM mapping, priority rules |
| API/webhook development | 1,500,000 - 4,000,000 | Bidirectional sync |
| Error handling & queue | 500,000 - 1,500,000 | Retry, logs, alerts |
| Sync monitoring board | 400,000 - 1,000,000 | Monitoring, manual replay |
| QA & cutover | 700,000 - 1,500,000 | Tests, migration, go-live |
| Project total | 3,500,000 - 9,000,000 | 4 to 7 weeks |
Maintenance: 200,000 to 500,000 FCFA/month (monitoring, adapting to Odoo/SAP/CRM API updates).
Custom connector vs subscription iPaaS
An iPaaS rents at 200 to 800 EUR/month (around 130,000 to 525,000 FCFA). Quick to start for standard flows, it gets costly and rigid as soon as business objects are specific.
| Criterion | Custom connector | Subscription iPaaS |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 3.5 - 9 M FCFA | Low to medium |
| 3-year cost | 200-500 k/month maint. | 4,700,000 - 18,900,000 FCFA |
| Specific business fields | Built | Often impossible |
| Record volume | No per-line surcharge | Billed by volume |
| Sync direction | Fine-grained bidirectional | Depends on connector |
| Ownership & reversibility | Code delivered | Vendor dependency |
| Update lag | Near real time | Depends on plan |
Mini case study
Wei, IT manager of a 70-person mid-market firm in Singapore, suffers double entry between Odoo and the CRM: 3 reps spend 1 h/day each, i.e. 60 h/month at an estimated internal cost of 420,000 FCFA/month, plus order errors. He invests 6,200,000 FCFA in a bidirectional connector plus 320,000 FCFA/month. At cutover, update lag drops from 24 h to seconds and re-keying errors fall to zero. Entry saving: 5,040,000 FCFA/year; year-one outlay: 6,200,000 + 3,840,000 = 10,040,000 FCFA. Break-even arrives before 14 months, before counting avoided customer disputes.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Is the sync truly bidirectional?
Yes: an order created in the CRM flows into the ERP, and a stock or invoicing update flows back into the CRM. Priority rules prevent conflicts.
What happens if the API goes down?
A retry queue preserves operations and replays them. A monitoring board flags failures for manual replay.
Do we need to change ERP or CRM?
No. The connector adapts to Odoo, SAP, a local ERP or a market CRM. That is the whole point of custom.
How many records can be synced?
No contractual volume cap, unlike a per-line iPaaS. The architecture sizes batches to handle the load.
What about future software updates?
Maintenance (200,000 - 500,000 FCFA/month) covers adapting to vendor API changes.
Let's scope your project. Give us your two systems, the objects to sync and monthly volume, and we will price a connector in the 3.5 - 9 M FCFA range. 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.
