The verdict in three sentences
A CIO who wants ERP and CRM to talk pays in 2026 a connector at 8,000-28,000 EUR depending on the number of entities (customers, products, orders, stock) and the sync direction. The iPaaS alternative (Make, Zapier, Workato) starts lower but bills by usage and caps out on conflict handling and volume. The decisive math: how much double entry, stock mismatch and billing disputes the connector removes every month.
iPaaS vs custom connector
iPaaS is perfect for simple, low-volume flows. As soon as conflict resolution, fine mapping and real time enter the picture, custom regains the edge.
| Criterion | iPaaS (Make / Workato) | Custom connector |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | 3,000 - 9,000 EUR | 8,000 - 28,000 EUR |
| Subscription / license | 40 - 800 EUR/month | 0 (hosting only) |
| Cost per synced entity | 1,000 - 2,500 EUR | 1,500 - 4,500 EUR |
| Conflict handling | Basic | Fine business rules |
| Real time / webhook | Plan-dependent | Native |
| High volume (>50k records) | Costs explode | Stable |
| Maintenance | Included (limited) | 150 - 400 EUR/month |
Below 3-4 simple entities and low volumes, iPaaS wins. Beyond that, or as soon as billing depends on the sync, custom is safer.
What shapes the quote
Price follows the number of entities, the sync direction (one-way vs two-way) and the freshness required.
| Parameter | 2026 order of magnitude | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 one-way entity | 1,500 - 3,000 EUR | Cheapest |
| 1 two-way entity | 3,000 - 5,500 EUR | Conflicts to arbitrate |
| Complex field mapping | +1,500 - 4,000 EUR | Formats, units, currencies |
| Real time (webhooks) | +20 to +35 % | Otherwise 15-60 min batch |
| Historical backfill | 2,000 - 6,000 EUR | Initial migration |
| Monitoring & alerts | 1,500 - 3,500 EUR | Catches broken flows |
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Mini case study
Nadia, CIO of a 90-employee industrial SME in Strasbourg, suffers ERP/CRM double entry: each order is re-keyed manually, i.e. ~15 min x 120 orders/month = 30 h/month at a loaded cost of 28 EUR/h, or 840 EUR/month plus recurring stock mismatches. She invests 19,000 EUR + 250 EUR/month in a two-way real-time connector on customers, products and orders. Double entry disappears (~10,080 EUR/year saved) and mismatch-driven billing disputes drop: payback in ~24 months on labor alone, before the quality effect.
FAQ
iPaaS or custom connector? iPaaS fits 3-4 simple flows and starts at 3,000-9,000 EUR; custom is required once volumes pass a few tens of thousands of records or conflict handling turns critical.
One-way or two-way? One-way (ERP to CRM) costs 1,500-3,000 EUR per entity and is often enough. Two-way nearly doubles the price because write conflicts must be arbitrated.
How long to set up? Budget 4 to 10 weeks depending on the number of entities and historical backfill. Most of the delay comes from field mapping, not code.
What does 150-400 EUR/month maintenance cover? Flow monitoring, adapting to API changes and reprocessing failed records. Without it, an ERP update can break the sync silently.
Can we skip the historical backfill? Yes, by syncing only from a cut-off date. But a 2,000-6,000 EUR backfill avoids inconsistencies on older orders still active.
Let's scope your project. Give us your entities to sync, the flow direction and your monthly volumes; we price iPaaS vs custom and the ROI of removed double entry. 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.
