The verdict in three sentences
A medical equipment distributor in Berlin managing 1,800 references should budget 18,000 to 35,000 EUR for a professional catalogue website. The value lies in the quote basket and the CSV import from the ERP, which avoid re-keying product data and keep the catalogue current. With an 8 week timeline, the site becomes the daily tool for clinic buyers and hospital procurement teams.
Why a catalogue without online sales
In medical equipment, prices depend on volume, framework contracts and often public tenders. Showing a single price would erode margins or clash with negotiated price lists. The catalogue therefore does three jobs: prove the breadth of the range, supply documentation (technical sheets, EU MDR declarations of conformity, instructions for use) and collect complete quote requests.
| Feature | Simple brochure site | B2B catalogue site | Full e-commerce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of references | 50 to 100 | 1,000 to 5,000 | Unlimited |
| Prices shown | No | No (quote) | Yes |
| Downloadable documentation | Limited | Yes, per product | Yes |
| Quote basket | No | Yes | Shopping cart |
| ERP import | No | Scheduled CSV | Real-time API |
| 2026 budget (EUR) | 6,000 to 12,000 | 18,000 to 35,000 | 45,000 to 90,000 |
| Timeline | 3 to 4 weeks | 8 weeks | 12 to 16 weeks |
For a distributor that does not want to take payments online, the catalogue site is the right trade-off: half the cost of e-commerce, with most of the commercial value.
Budget breakdown
| Item | Range (EUR) | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping and taxonomy | 2,000 to 4,000 | Families, sub-families, filters (specialty, brand, MDR class) |
| Design and mockups | 3,000 to 5,500 | Listing, product page, quote basket, client area |
| Catalogue development | 6,000 to 12,000 | Search, filters, product pages, PDFs |
| CSV import from ERP | 2,500 to 6,000 | Mapping, daily schedule, error checks |
| Quote basket and emails | 2,000 to 4,000 | Routing to the territory rep, acknowledgment |
| Content migration (1,800 products) | 2,500 to 3,500 | Clean-up, photos, documents |
| Indicative total | 18,000 to 35,000 | German market estimate 2026 |
The gap between the low and high ends mostly depends on ERP data quality. A clean file (SKUs, descriptions, families, brands) sharply cuts migration cost. In Germany, also plan the legal pages (Impressum, Datenschutz) and a check that promotional wording complies with the Heilmittelwerbegesetz.
ERP import and quote basket
The daily CSV import updates references, descriptions and availability (in stock, on order, supplier lead time) without showing prices. The quote basket lets a clinic buyer add 15 or 20 references, set quantities and send a single request, routed to the rep for their region (Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony). The rep receives a structured request and can reply within hours instead of two days.
Mini case study
Hypothetical persona: Jonas, sales director of a medical equipment distributor in Berlin (1,800 references, 9 sales reps). Each rep spends about 6 hours a week emailing technical sheets and rebuilding reference lists on the phone, 54 hours a week in total.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
If the online catalogue halves that time, the team recovers 27 hours a week, about 1,170 hours a year. At a loaded cost of 55 EUR an hour, that is roughly 64,000 EUR a year, enough to pay back a 30,000 EUR site in under six months, before counting extra quotes generated.
FAQ
Should prices be shown to private clinics?
Rarely. A client area with contract prices can be added later for an extra 6,000 to 10,000 EUR.
How do we handle MDR declarations and instructions for use?
Each product page holds several PDFs (up to 10 MB each). For 1,800 references, plan 5 to 15 GB of document storage.
Does the ERP import work with SAP Business One or a local system?
Yes, as long as the ERP exports CSV or Excel. A daily import scheduled at 6 am covers 90 % of needs.
Does the site need an English version?
German is essential for domestic hospitals. An English version adds 15 to 25 % to the budget and helps with Austrian, Swiss and Nordic buyers.
What does maintenance cost?
Allow 250 to 600 EUR a month for hosting, security updates and import monitoring.
Let's scope your project. Taxonomy, ERP import, quote basket: we define scope, indicative budget and the 8 week plan. 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.
