The verdict in three sentences
A vertical MES licence (45 to 90 EUR/station/month) deploys fast but imposes its production model and bills every shop-floor station. A custom MES (50,000 to 120,000 EUR) fits your routings, your disruptions and connects cleanly to the ERP and trading side, then costs only maintenance. Once the shop floor passes 20 stations and targets +12% OEE, custom becomes the most profitable option.
Build vs buy: 4-year TCO
For a Berlin manufacturing SME with 25 stations (machining, assembly, connected trading), 2026 order of magnitude.
| Item | MES licence (25 stations) | Custom MES |
|---|---|---|
| Setup / build | 10,000 EUR | 50,000-120,000 EUR |
| Annual licence | 20,250 EUR (67.5 EUR/station/month) | 0 EUR |
| ERP connector | +6,000 EUR | +10,000 EUR |
| Maintenance | included | 900-2,200 EUR/month |
| Routing adaptation | limited | unlimited |
| 4-year TCO (estimate) | 97,000 EUR | 103,000-181,000 EUR |
The licence looks cheaper over 4 years, but the fee runs forever; custom plateaus after payback and capitalizes value into your software asset.
Custom quote by module
| Module | 2026 indicative price | Lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time production tracking (work orders, disruptions) | 18,000-35,000 EUR | 6-8 wks |
| OEE calculation and dashboards | 9,000-18,000 EUR | 3-5 wks |
| Connected trading / distribution | 12,000-24,000 EUR | 4-6 wks |
| ERP connector (SAP, Sage, Cegid) | 8,000-15,000 EUR | 3-5 wks |
| Shop-floor terminals + scanning | 7,000-14,000 EUR | 3-4 wks |
| Monthly maintenance | 900-2,200 EUR/month | ongoing |
A full MES build lands between 16 and 24 weeks depending on the number of lines and routing complexity.
Mini case study
Nadia, operations director of an SME in Berlin (25 stations, OEE at 68%) invests 85,000 EUR in a custom MES with an ERP connector. The +12% OEE target lifts the rate from 68% to about 76%, recovering the equivalent of ~800 machine-hours/year. At a 55 EUR/hour contribution margin, that is 44,000 EUR/year. Less maintenance (1,500 EUR/month = 18,000 EUR/year), net gain is 26,000 EUR/year; the build pays back in just over 3 years, even before counting the avoided MES licence.
FAQ
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Doesn't a vertical MES cover 80% of needs?
Often yes, but the remaining 20% (specific routings, shop-floor disruptions, trading link) is exactly what lifts OEE. Custom makes sense when those 20% carry real weight.
How much is the ERP connector?
Between 8,000 and 15,000 EUR in 2026 to sync items, work orders, stock and invoices with SAP, Sage or Cegid, via API or files.
How is OEE calculated in the software?
Availability x performance x quality, fed by shop-floor declarations and machine downtime. The dashboard module costs 9,000 to 18,000 EUR.
What maintenance budget should I plan?
Maintenance of 900 to 2,200 EUR/month covers fixes, evolutions and support. An industrial MES evolves often: plan an annual block of evolution hours.
How long until delivery?
A full MES ships in 16 to 24 weeks. A first lot (production tracking + OEE) can be on the floor in 8 to 10 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your station count, current ERP and priority modules (tracking, OEE, trading). 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.
