Executive dashboard for a group in London 2026: Power BI vs custom build

The verdict in three sentences

For a London group with 5 subsidiaries consolidating four data sources, Power BI is the right choice in most cases: 14 USD (about 11 GBP) per user per month for a Pro licence and about 5,200 to 10,400 GBP of setup (4 to 8 million FCFA, 2026 order of magnitude with a nearshore or offshore team). A custom build, about 11,700 to 19,500 GBP (9 to 15 million FCFA), makes sense when the dashboard must reach hundreds of users, sit inside a portal or drive processes. Either way, the goal is the same: move from KPIs received on the 20th of the following month to a day-5 close.

Why reporting arrives on the 20th

The delay almost never comes from the visualisation tool. It comes from collection: each subsidiary extracts figures from its accounting system, reworks them in Excel and emails them, then group financial control harmonises charts of accounts and fixes discrepancies. An effective dashboard automates those steps first.

Four sources (accounting, sales, payroll, banks) is a classic scope, manageable in 8 to 12 weeks.

Power BI or custom build: the numbers

The choice depends on the number of users, the need for external distribution and the complexity of adjustments.

Below 60 users, Power BI almost always wins. Beyond that, or if the dashboard becomes a steering tool shared with subsidiary heads, sales teams and lenders, custom becomes more cost-effective from year three. Kolonell delivers both: our custom applications range from 4 to 7 million FCFA (about 6,100 to 10,670 EUR) for a medium scope and from 7 to 15 million FCFA and more (about 10,670 to 22,870 EUR and more) for a complex scope such as a multi-subsidiary group.

The KPIs that deserve the home screen

A good executive dashboard fits on one screen: revenue and margin by subsidiary against budget, consolidated cash and a 13-week forecast, receivables and days sales outstanding, payroll as a share of revenue, and three to five business-specific KPIs for each activity. Every figure should let you drill down to the subsidiary, customer or ledger account in two clicks.

Mini case study

Amelia, CFO of a 5-subsidiary distribution group in London (hypothetical persona), has her controllers spend 120 hours a month on reporting. After automating with Power BI, 30 remain: 90 hours saved, or 4,050 GBP a month at 45 GBP per loaded hour. The 25 licences cost about 275 GBP a month, so the net gain is about 3,775 GBP. With a setup at 8,000 GBP, the investment pays back in just over 2 months, before counting the value of decisions made fifteen days earlier, such as collection calls that cut receivables by a few days.

FAQ

How much does a Power BI executive dashboard cost for a group in London?

Budget about 5,200 to 10,400 GBP of setup for 5 subsidiaries and 4 data sources with a nearshore team, plus 14 USD per user per month. For 25 users, licences come to about 3,300 GBP a year.

Are our accounting systems compatible?

Yes in most cases, through a direct database connection or an automated export. A specific connector adds about 650 to 2,000 GBP depending on the system.

Can we really close KPIs on day 5?

Yes, if subsidiary books are closed on day 3 and adjustments are configured. Groups that achieve it first publish provisional KPIs on day 5, then final ones on day 10.

Do we need a data warehouse?

For 4 sources and 5 subsidiaries, a light staging database is enough, hosted for about 65 to 200 GBP a month. A full warehouse becomes useful beyond 10 sources.

Who maintains the dashboard after delivery?

A financial controller trained in 3 to 5 days can manage reports. For connectors and changes, Kolonell maintenance runs from 35,000 to 120,000 FCFA a month (about 50 to 180 EUR) depending on service level.

Let's scope your project. List your subsidiaries, data sources and top 10 KPIs, and we will return a scope, an indicative budget for Power BI and custom, and a go-live timeline. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.