The verdict in three sentences
An executive dashboard consolidating sales, finance and operations in real time costs 12,000 to 40,000 EUR in Toronto in 2026, over a 6 to 10 week timeline. The real cost lies in the source connections (ERP, CRM, accounting) and data reliability, not in the charts. The structuring choice: turnkey BI licence (fast, recurring) or custom build (upfront investment, near-zero marginal cost afterwards).
KPIs and sources: what an executive dashboard must consolidate
A good dashboard answers three leadership questions: where is revenue heading, where is cash going, where is execution stuck. Each KPI has its own source and refresh frequency.
| Executive KPI | Source | Refresh | Connection complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue / margin | ERP + billing | Daily | Medium |
| Sales pipeline | CRM | Real time | Low |
| Cash & DSO | Accounting + bank | Daily | High |
| Order book | ERP | Daily | Medium |
| Productivity / OTD | Ops tool / MES | Hourly | High |
| Customer satisfaction | Support / NPS | Weekly | Low |
The difficulty is never displaying a figure, but making it reliable at source and reconciling it across tools that do not speak the same language.
BI licence or custom build: the real 2026 trade-off
Two paths lead to the dashboard. The first relies on a BI platform (Metabase, Power BI, Looker), the second on custom development. The decision hinges on total cost over 3 years.
| Approach | Upfront cost (EUR) | Recurring cost | Timeline | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted Metabase | 12,000 – 20,000 EUR | Hosting 30-80 EUR/mo | 6 – 8 wks | SMEs, controlled budget |
| Power BI / Looker | 10,000 – 18,000 EUR | 10-60 EUR/user/mo | 5 – 8 wks | Microsoft-based teams |
| Custom build | 25,000 – 40,000 EUR | Maintenance 10-15 %/yr | 8 – 10 wks | Specific needs, own UX |
Metabase appeals with near-zero recurring cost. Power BI gets expensive with user count. Custom is only justified when experience and business logic fall outside the standard mould.
Mini case study
Thomas, CEO of a 120-employee distribution mid-cap in Toronto, ran the business on four Excel files hand-updated every Monday, tying up a controller 8 hours/week. He commissions a Metabase consolidating ERP, CRM and accounting for 22,000 EUR, plus 60 EUR/month hosting. Gain: 8 hours/week freed (≈ 14,000 EUR/year fully loaded) and, above all, decisions made on today's data rather than last week's. ROI in under 18 months on time saved alone, before any decision impact.
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FAQ
How long to connect our sources?
Connection accounts for 50 to 70 % of the project. Budget 6 to 10 weeks total, most of it on making ERP and accounting data reliable rather than on display.
Metabase or Power BI?
Metabase offers near-zero recurring cost (30-80 EUR/month hosting), ideal for broad access. Power BI fits teams already in the Microsoft ecosystem, but per-user billing climbs fast.
Does the dashboard update in real time?
It depends on the KPI: CRM pipeline can be real time, cash daily, production hourly. We calibrate each refresh to its decision use.
Who maintains the dashboard after delivery?
We deliver it documented and train your teams. Maintenance of 10 to 15 %/year covers source changes and new indicators.
Can we start small then expand?
Yes, the recommended approach: deliver 5-6 critical KPIs in 6 weeks, validate adoption, then enrich. This lowers risk and speeds the first ROI.
Let's scope your project. Share your 5-6 executive KPIs, your sources (ERP/CRM/accounting) and a budget (12,000 to 40,000 EUR), and we will frame scope and timeline. 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.
