The verdict in three sentences
A standard, documented ERP/CRM API integration costs 8,000 to 20,000 EUR in 2026; a custom connector with complex transformations climbs to 15,000 to 40,000 EUR. Expect 6 to 14 weeks delivery and 300 to 800 EUR/month connector maintenance. The real trade-off isn't the upfront price but vendor lock-in and long-term robustness.
What moves the price
Cost depends on the target API's maturity, data volume, and number of flows to sync. SAP and Salesforce expose rich but complex APIs (OAuth, nested business objects); HubSpot is friendlier. Every bidirectional flow doubles the testing load.
| Item | 2026 range (EUR) | Timeline | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 1-way read connector | 8,000 - 12,000 | 4-6 wks | Well-documented API, simple mapping |
| Standard bidirectional connector | 12,000 - 20,000 | 6-9 wks | Conflict handling + logs |
| Custom multi-object connector | 20,000 - 40,000 | 9-14 wks | Transformations, business rules |
| Initial data migration / dedupe | 2,000 - 6,000 | 1-2 wks | Clean existing data |
| Monthly maintenance | 300 - 800 /mo | ongoing | API changes, quotas |
iPaaS middleware or custom development?
Two routes compete. iPaaS (Make, Workato, Zapier Enterprise) speeds setup but creates a recurring subscription and lock-in. Custom costs more upfront but stays under your control.
| Criterion | iPaaS middleware | Custom development |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 3,000 - 10,000 EUR | 15,000 - 40,000 EUR |
| Recurring cost | 120 - 800 EUR/mo (subscription) | 300 - 800 EUR/mo (maintenance) |
| Setup time | 2-5 weeks | 6-14 weeks |
| High-volume robustness | Medium (quotas) | High |
| Vendor lock-in | Strong | Low |
| Complex business logic | Limited | Unlimited |
Simple rule: under 5,000 operations/day and standard flows, iPaaS wins. Beyond that, or with fine business rules, custom pays back in 18-24 months.
Mini case study
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Claire, CFO of an industrial SME in Lyon (85 staff), wants to sync her production-tracking app with Salesforce and SAP. Chosen quote: bidirectional Salesforce connector 16,000 EUR, SAP read 11,000 EUR, data migration 4,000 EUR, i.e. 31,000 EUR over 11 weeks. Maintenance: 550 EUR/month.
Previously, two staff re-keyed orders 3 h/day each. Savings: 6 h/day × 220 days × 32 EUR = 42,240 EUR/year. Payback in under 10 months, maintenance included.
FAQ
How much for a simple Salesforce integration? For a well-scoped one-way read flow, budget 8,000 to 12,000 EUR and 4-6 weeks. Price doubles once you add write-back and conflict handling.
Why pay monthly maintenance? SAP, Salesforce and HubSpot APIs change several times a year; a deprecated endpoint can break your flow overnight. Maintenance (300-800 EUR/mo) covers monitoring, updates and fixes.
iPaaS or custom to launch fast? iPaaS ships in 2-5 weeks but bills 120-800 EUR/mo forever. If the need is stable and lasting, custom pays back; if exploratory, start on iPaaS.
Do I need data migration? Almost always: dedupe and normalization stop errors from spreading. Budget 2,000 to 6,000 EUR depending on volume and initial quality.
Realistic timeline for SAP? Between 9 and 14 weeks for a custom multi-object connector, including authorizations and a SAP test environment. Securing technical access in week 1 avoids blockers.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your tools (ERP, CRM, web app), flow direction and daily volume: we price iPaaS vs custom with ROI. 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.
