The verdict in three sentences
An off-the-shelf MES/production suite costs 50 to 150 EUR per connected seat per month and goes live in 2 to 4 months, but it bends your shop floor to its data model. Custom software costs 70,000 to 180,000 EUR and ships in 6 to 12 months, yet it fits your routings, work orders and real traceability. The decision hinges on 5-year TCO and OEE gains: past 25 connected seats, custom often becomes cheaper.
Off-the-shelf MES: what you really pay
SaaS MES suites bill per connected seat (supervisor, shop-floor terminal, team leader). For 2026, budget these orders of magnitude for a mid-sized industrial site in the Amsterdam area.
| Cost item | 2026 range (EUR) | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| MES licence per seat | 50 - 150 / month | Per connected user |
| Initial configuration | 12,000 - 40,000 | Project fee |
| ERP connector (SAP, Sage) | 8,000 - 25,000 | One-off |
| Operator training | 3,000 - 9,000 | Shop-floor sessions |
| Support and upgrades | 15 - 22 % | % of annual licence |
With 30 seats at 90 EUR, you reach 32,400 EUR of licence per year, excluding configuration. The model is predictable but linear: every new line or workshop adds billed seats.
Custom build: price structure and scope
A dedicated build capitalises cost in year one, then only bills hosting and maintenance. Here is the typical breakdown of a custom MES project in 2026.
| Module | Indicative price (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Work orders and scheduling | 18,000 - 40,000 | 2 - 3 months |
| Batch and material traceability | 14,000 - 32,000 | 1.5 - 3 months |
| Real-time OEE tracking | 12,000 - 28,000 | 1.5 - 2.5 months |
| ERP and scale integration | 10,000 - 30,000 | 1 - 2 months |
| Quality and non-conformity portal | 9,000 - 22,000 | 1 - 2 months |
| Annual maintenance | 10 - 18 % of build | Recurring |
Overall delivery fits in 6 to 12 months depending on the number of workshops. Hosting a custom MES runs around 250 to 700 EUR per month.
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Mini case study
Elodie runs a 45-person electronic-components plant near Amsterdam, with 30 seats to connect. The MES licence would cost her 32,400 EUR a year, or 162,000 EUR over 5 years, plus 28,000 EUR of configuration: 190,000 EUR. The custom build is quoted at 120,000 EUR, plus 15 % annual maintenance (18,000 EUR) and 6,000 EUR of hosting per year, for 240,000 EUR over 5 years. Custom stays pricier, but dedicated OEE tracking lifts her overall equipment effectiveness from 68 % to 74 %, six points on a capacity worth 2.1 M EUR of yearly output: roughly 126,000 EUR of value recovered each year. The TCO gap is erased in under 6 months of operation.
FAQ
How much is an MES licence per seat in 2026? Between 50 and 150 EUR per connected seat per month depending on functional depth. A 30-seat site quickly exceeds 30,000 EUR of annual licence, excluding configuration.
How long does a custom MES take to deliver? Expect 6 to 12 months depending on the number of workshops and connectors. Work orders and batch traceability alone represent 3 to 5 months of development.
Does custom integrate with my existing ERP? Yes, through an API or dedicated connector. ERP and scale integration costs 10,000 to 30,000 EUR and secures real-time stock and work-order synchronisation.
At what volume does custom pay off? Past 25 connected seats, the 5-year TCO of custom crosses that of the licence. OEE gains, often 4 to 8 points, speed up the return further.
What OEE gain should I target? A well-designed real-time tracker typically recovers 4 to 8 points of OEE. On a 2 M EUR capacity, each point is worth about 20,000 EUR of output per year.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of workshops, seats to connect and your ERP, and we will frame the MES scope and an indicative budget between licence and custom. 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.
