The verdict in three sentences
A custom internal business platform to run production (work orders, stock, lot traceability) costs between 45,000 and 110,000 EUR depending on the number of modules. Versus an MES package (30,000 EUR licence + 25,000 EUR integration, but often poorly suited to food-processing workflows), custom fits your recipes and traceability constraints exactly. The right approach: an MVP at 38,000 EUR, then incremental releases funded by the gains achieved.
Budget by module
The average day rate for a business platform in 2026 is around 530 EUR. We phase the project to ship a useful core fast, then enrich it.
| Module | Indicative effort | 2026 cost (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Core + work-order management (MVP) | 45 days | 24,000 |
| Stock & movement management | 26 days | 14,000 |
| Quality control & lot traceability | 24 days | 12,500 |
| Reporting & dashboards | 18 days | 9,500 |
| Accounting / labelling integration | 15 days | 8,000 |
| Full platform total | ~128 days | 68,000 |
The "core + work orders" MVP ships at 38,000 EUR (dev + scoping + design + QA) in 11 weeks. Annual maintenance represents 18% of the build, i.e. ~12,000 EUR/year on the full platform.
Custom vs. MES package
| Criterion | Custom platform | MES package |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 45,000-110,000 EUR | 55,000 EUR (licence+integ.) |
| Process fit | Total (your recipes) | Standard, costly tweaks |
| Food lot traceability | Custom | Generic |
| Recurring cost | 18% of build/yr | Licence + vendor support |
| Scalability | Unlimited, your pace | Vendor roadmap |
| Code ownership | You | The vendor |
| 5-year cost | 100,000-160,000 EUR | 120,000-180,000 EUR |
The MES package looks competitive to buy, but every adaptation to food-processing workflows (recipes, best-before dates, lot recalls) is billed dearly and stretches timelines.
Mini case study
Mark, owner of a Toronto food-processing SME (34 staff, 12 product lines), runs production on Excel and paper logs. A traceability error cost him an 18,000 EUR lot recall last year, and he loses ~6 hrs/week on re-keying.
Mark starts with the 38,000 EUR MVP (work orders + lot traceability). From go-live, traceability becomes instant, recall risk drops, and the 6 hrs/week recovered are worth ~15,000 EUR/year. He then funds the stock module (14,000 EUR) from the gains. Overall ROI in 20 months.
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FAQ
Why start with an MVP rather than a full build?
An MVP at 38,000 EUR in 11 weeks validates real shop-floor usage before investing in advanced modules, sharply reducing the risk of wasted budget.
How much does the traceability module cost alone?
Lot traceability + quality control is about 12,500 EUR; it is often the highest-ROI module in food processing because of recall risk.
What annual maintenance should I plan?
Budget 18% of the build cost, i.e. about 12,000 EUR/year for a 68,000 EUR platform, including fixes, minor enhancements and support.
Can scales and label printers be integrated?
Yes, through an integration module at 6,000-8,000 EUR covering labelling, weighing and sometimes shop-floor data terminals.
How fast does the shop-floor team adopt the tool?
With UX designed for the field, adoption exceeds 85% in 4 to 6 weeks; that is the key advantage of custom over a generic MES.
Let's scope your project. Describe your production lines, traceability requirements and target budget, and we'll frame an MVP deliverable in 11 weeks. 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.
