The verdict in three sentences
An industrial buyer wants to find the right reference, download the technical sheet and request a quote without waiting for a next-day email: an online catalog does all of this 24/7. A B2B supplier site (filterable catalog, PDF sheets, cart-based quotes, client account) costs 1,000,000 to 2,200,000 FCFA in 2026 and shortens the sales cycle by around 30 %. The key value is an up-to-date catalog: a wrong price or stock figure destroys trust faster than having no site at all.
Site cost and essential B2B features
The industrial supplier has specific needs: thousands of references, technical filters, multi-product quotes and possible ERP integration. Here are the 2026 ranges.
| Package | Price FCFA | Price EUR | Key features | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter catalog | 1,000,000 | 1,525 | filterable catalog, sheets, quote form | 2-3 wk |
| Growth B2B | 1,600,000 | 2,440 | + cart-based quotes, client account, net/gross prices | 3-4 wk |
| Premium ERP | 2,200,000 | 3,355 | + ERP/stock sync, multi-pricing, history | 5-7 wk |
| Maintenance option | 100,000/mo | 153/mo | hosting, catalog updates, support | ongoing |
The cart-based quote request is the major difference from consumer e-commerce: the buyer assembles a list, sends it, and receives a quote tailored to their negotiated pricing.
How an online catalog affects the sales cycle
Putting the catalog into self-service shifts much of the sales work to the site, speeding up each step. Let us compare a sales cycle before/after.
| Step | Without online catalog | With B2B site | Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reference search | 1-2 days (calls) | instant | -90 % |
| Sending technical sheet | 1 day (manual email) | direct download | -100 % |
| Building the quote | 2-3 days | cart + quote 24h | -60 % |
| Total sales cycle | 10-15 days | 7-10 days | -30 % |
| Quotes handled/rep/month | 30-40 | 60-80 | +100 % |
Doubling the number of quotes per rep without hiring mechanically means more orders at constant headcount: the site pays for itself through sales productivity.
Mini case study
Awa's company distributes industrial parts and consumables in Dakar with 1,200 references. Its average sales cycle was 13 days and each rep handled 35 quotes/month. It invests 1,800,000 FCFA in a Growth site with a filterable catalog, PDF sheets and cart-based quotes. In 4 months, the cycle drops to 9 days (-31 %) and each rep handles 68 quotes/month. With an average cart of 450,000 FCFA and 5 % more quotes converted, that is about 3,400,000 FCFA of additional revenue per month: the site pays for itself in the first full month.
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| Referred project type | Sale commission | Recurring | Example earning (1 project) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase / B2B site | 15 % | + 5 % on maintenance | 240,000 FCFA on a 1,600,000 site |
| E-commerce | 12 % | on subscription | 240,000 FCFA on a 2,000,000 site |
| Marketplace | 10 % | over the term | 500,000 FCFA on a 5,000,000 project |
| Institutional | 8 % | on the contract | 400,000 FCFA on a 5,000,000 project |
A single industrial-supplier site at 1,800,000 FCFA referred earns you 270,000 FCFA, plus 5 % recurring on maintenance. No cap, paid via Wave or Orange Money.
FAQ
Should prices be shown publicly? Not necessarily. Many B2B suppliers hide the price and display it after client-account login, based on each buyer's negotiated rate.
Is ERP integration mandatory? No, it is a Premium option. You can start with a manually managed catalog, then connect the ERP or stock when volume justifies it.
How many references can the site handle? Several thousand without issue. Beyond that, technical filters (category, brand, standard, dimension) become essential so buyers find items fast.
Does the cart-based quote replace the rep? No, it offloads them. The rep receives a qualified cart and adjusts pricing, instead of rebuilding everything manually, which doubles their handling capacity.
How much does catalog updating cost? With maintenance (100,000 FCFA/month), routine updates are included. An ERP integration then automates prices and stock without intervention.
Let's talk about your project. An industrial supplier site with a filterable catalog and cart-based quotes shortens your sales cycle and doubles your reps' productivity. 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.
