The verdict in three sentences
For a group of 5 subsidiaries consolidating sales, stock and margin in Excel, Power BI Pro at USD 14 per user per month with integration at EUR 4,600 to 10,700 (3 to 7 million FCFA in our West African reference projects) remains the fastest option if ERP data is clean. A custom dashboard at EUR 9,100 to 18,300 is justified when sources are heterogeneous (ERP, tills, depot spreadsheets), when some sites have unreliable connectivity, or when the board wants a simple mobile tool. Either way, the realistic goal is to cut the monthly close by 6 days.
Power BI or custom: the numbers
The real cost of a reporting project is not the licence, it is data preparation. In a distribution group, store tills, head office ERP and regional depot files rarely share the same product codes.
| Criterion | Power BI Pro + integration | Custom dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | EUR 4,600 to 10,700 | EUR 9,100 to 18,300 |
| Licences | USD 14 per user per month | None |
| Annual cost for 25 users | About USD 4,200 (EUR 3,900) in licences | EUR 2,700 to 5,500 (hosting, maintenance) |
| 3-year cost | EUR 16,300 to 22,400 | EUR 17,200 to 34,800 |
| ERP and till connection | Standard connectors, scripts for legacy tills | Connectors built for each source |
| Offline mode for depots | No | Deferred sync possible |
| Board mobile experience | Decent, dense | Screens designed around 5 key metrics |
| Team autonomy | High once an analyst is trained | New views through the provider |
As a 2026 order of magnitude, Power BI is cheaper over three years while users stay under 40 to 50. Beyond that, or if dashboards are opened to store managers, custom gets closer.
The metrics to consolidate first
A useful executive dashboard fits on one screen. Everything else belongs in the subsidiaries' operational reports.
| Metric | Source | Frequency | What it changes for the CEO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue by subsidiary and channel | Tills and ERP | Daily | Spot a declining store within 48 h |
| Gross margin by product family | ERP | Weekly | Decide on promotions |
| Stock turnover and stock-outs | ERP and depots | Daily | Cut dormant stock by 10 to 15% |
| Wholesale customer receivables | Accounting | Weekly | Hold risky deliveries |
| Consolidated cash | Banks and payment providers | Daily | Visibility on 5 subsidiaries in one screen |
| Budget vs actual | ERP and annual budget | Monthly | Faster close and management review |
Typical plan: source audit and data dictionary (3 weeks), data warehouse and automated flows (4 to 6 weeks), dashboards and testing with the board (3 weeks), training for management accountants (1 week).
Mini case study
Oliver, CEO of a London distribution group with 5 subsidiaries, waits 10 working days every month for consolidated figures. Two management accountants spend 6 days each on it, 12 days a month at about EUR 450 a loaded day: EUR 5,400 a month, EUR 64,800 a year.
With Power BI and EUR 7,600 of integration, plus EUR 3,900 of licences a year, the close drops to 4 days and consolidation time falls by 75%: EUR 48,600 saved a year. The project pays back in about 3 months, before counting the value of a stock-out spotted two weeks earlier. In the Dakar reference case, with local wage levels, payback is closer to 14 months.
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FAQ
How much does an executive dashboard cost in 2026?
With Power BI, expect EUR 4,600 to 10,700 of integration plus USD 14 per user per month. A custom build costs EUR 9,100 to 18,300, with no licence.
Do we need to change ERP before starting?
Not in most cases. The project starts with a data dictionary that aligns product and customer codes across subsidiaries, usually 2 to 3 weeks of work.
Can store tills send sales automatically?
Yes if they have a database or an export. For isolated tills, a small sync agent pushes sales as soon as the connection returns, for EUR 760 to 2,300.
Does Power BI work on a weak connection?
Viewing works fine on 4G, but data refresh must run from head office or a server. For sites with unreliable connectivity, a custom build with deferred sync is more robust.
Who maintains dashboards after delivery?
With Power BI, a management accountant trained in 5 days can build their own views. For custom, a maintenance contract of EUR 230 to 460 a month covers changes.
Let's scope your project. Describe your subsidiaries, ERP and tills, and we will price a Power BI integration or a custom dashboard between EUR 4,600 and 18,300. 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.
