The verdict in three sentences
In Berlin in 2026, a standard ERP (Odoo, vertical distribution ERP) costs EUR 25-75/user/month + EUR 30,000-90,000 integration, while custom modules run between EUR 40,000 and 120,000. Standard wins on common processes (purchasing, sales, accounting); custom becomes essential for your distribution specifics (tiered pricing, route management, framework contracts). Decide on 3-year TCO, not entry price.
Make vs buy: the deciding calculation
A market ERP quickly covers 80% of needs; the remaining 20% — often your business differentiation — costs dearly in forced configuration or add-ons. Custom flips the logic: slower to start, but 100% aligned and owned.
| Item | Standard ERP + integration | Custom modules |
|---|---|---|
| Licences (20 users) year 1 | EUR 6,000-18,000/yr | 0 (owned code) |
| Integration / initial dev | EUR 30,000-90,000 | EUR 40,000-120,000 |
| Adapting the 20% business rules | Add-ons + limits | Native |
| Support / maintenance | 10-18%/yr | 10-18%/yr |
| Vendor lock-in | High | None |
| Go-live | 4-7 months | 6-9 months |
3-year TCO (SME with 20 users)
Over three years the gap narrows more than expected. Standard carries recurring licences; custom concentrates cost upfront then eases off.
| Scenario | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3-year TCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard ERP (Odoo) + EUR 60,000 integration | EUR 72,000 | EUR 15,000 | EUR 15,000 | ~EUR 102,000 |
| Premium vertical ERP + EUR 90,000 integration | EUR 108,000 | EUR 22,000 | EUR 22,000 | ~EUR 152,000 |
| Custom modules EUR 80,000 | EUR 80,000 | EUR 12,000 | EUR 12,000 | ~EUR 104,000 |
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Claire, CFO of an industrial distribution SME in Berlin (20 users, EUR 9M revenue), compares configured Odoo (EUR 60,000 integration, EUR 12,000/yr licences) with custom modules (EUR 80,000, EUR 12,000/yr support). Over 3 years, TCO lands at ~EUR 102,000 for Odoo versus ~EUR 104,000 custom. Negligible gap: Claire decides on code ownership and 100% alignment of her tiered pricing, saving ~2 days/month of Excel rework, i.e. ~EUR 9,600/year.
FAQ
Odoo or custom for industrial distribution? Odoo if your processes are standard; custom once pricing or logistics rules are a competitive advantage. The 3-year TCO is often close (~EUR 100,000-105,000).
What integration cost for Odoo/vertical ERP? Between EUR 30,000 and 90,000 depending on modules and data migration.
How much are licences? From EUR 25 to 75/user/month, i.e. EUR 6,000 to 18,000/year for 20 users.
What is the timeline? 4 to 7 months for configured standard, 6 to 9 months for custom.
What maintenance budget? Support runs 10 to 18% per year of project cost, i.e. EUR 4,000 to 21,600/year by scenario.
Let's scope your project. Send us your user count, key modules and distribution specifics, and we will compare standard vs custom over 3 years. 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.
