The verdict in three sentences
For an industrial trading firm running several warehouses and a technical catalog, custom software costs 7 to 16 M FCFA in 2026 and ships in 10 to 18 weeks. A market ERP (300,000 to 800,000 FCFA/month) starts faster but imposes its own business rules and bills each module. The right call depends on your SKU volume, number of warehouses and your billing/accounting/barcode integrations.
Custom vs market ERP: the real 3-year cost
The headline price says nothing about total cost. A monthly ERP looks affordable, but adding modules, users and configuration often exceeds custom by year two for a mid-size trading firm.
| Item (2026 order of magnitude) | Custom | Market ERP |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront investment | 7,000,000 - 16,000,000 FCFA | 1,500,000 - 4,000,000 FCFA (config) |
| Monthly subscription | 0 (hosting 80,000-200,000) | 300,000 - 800,000 FCFA |
| Go-live time | 10 - 18 weeks | 6 - 10 weeks |
| Maintenance / support | 350,000 - 800,000 FCFA/month | partly included |
| 3-year total (estimate) | 20 - 40 M FCFA | 14 - 34 M FCFA |
| Code ownership | Yes | No |
The functional scope that truly matters
An industrial trader has different needs than retail: lot management, per-warehouse reorder thresholds, FIFO/weighted-average valuation and supplier traceability are structural.
| Feature | Operational impact | Complexity (person-days) |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-warehouse + inter-site transfers | Cuts local stockouts | 12 - 20 |
| Automatic threshold reorder | Lowers tied-up stock | 8 - 15 |
| Barcode / mobile scan | -70 % entry errors | 10 - 18 |
| Billing integration | Zero double entry | 8 - 14 |
| Accounting integration | Faster close | 6 - 12 |
| Margin/turnover dashboard | Purchasing decisions | 6 - 10 |
Mini case study
Ismael, director of an industrial trading firm in Cotonou, runs 4 warehouses and 3,200 SKUs. Before the project: stockouts on 11 % of order lines, tied-up stock value of 480 M FCFA. He invests 12 M FCFA in custom software with barcode scanning and threshold reorder. Six months later: stockouts -28 % (from 11 % to 7.9 %) and tied-up stock value -15 %, freeing 72 M FCFA of cash. Maintenance at 500,000 FCFA/month is 6 M FCFA/year, easily covered by the cash gain and recovered margin on avoided stockouts.
FAQ
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How much does custom inventory software cost in Cotonou in 2026?
Expect 7 to 16 M FCFA depending on warehouses, SKUs and integrations. A simple single-warehouse project can drop toward 5 M FCFA; a multi-site trader with scanning and supplier EDI climbs above 16 M FCFA.
How long to go live?
Between 10 and 18 weeks: 2-3 weeks framing, 6-10 development, 2-3 testing and data migration, 1-2 training. A market ERP starts in 6-10 weeks but with less customization.
What maintenance budget should I plan?
A support contract of 350,000 to 800,000 FCFA/month covers fixes, minor evolutions, backups and support. Without a contract, each intervention is billed per person-day (150,000-250,000 FCFA/day).
Can existing billing and accounting be integrated?
Yes, via API or connectors. Budget 8 to 14 person-days per integration. This eliminates double entry and makes your margin reports reliable.
Custom or ERP: which to choose?
If your business rules are standard, an ERP is enough. If your reorder, valuation or traceability processes are specific, custom pays off from year 2 and you own the code.
Let's scope your project. Share your number of warehouses, SKU volume and target integrations: we frame a scope and an indicative budget of 7 to 16 M FCFA. 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.
