The verdict in three sentences
For a group CIO based in Dubai with subsidiaries in 6 countries, a multi-entity web platform costs USD 60,000 to 135,000 depending on the number of modules and integrations (35 to 80 million FCFA for groups headquartered in West Africa). The cost drivers are multi-currency and multi-language support, per-subsidiary permissions and the connection to local ERPs. Hosting runs USD 250 to 670 per month, and the return on investment shows first in the monthly close, which typically drops from 12 to 5 days.
What a group platform contains and what each module costs
Most regional groups run autonomous subsidiaries: a different ERP in each country, Excel files emailed for reporting, purchase requests approved over WhatsApp. The shared platform does not replace local ERPs. It adds a common layer: single master data (suppliers, items, group chart of accounts), consistent approval workflows and automatic consolidation.
| Module | 2026 price (USD, order of magnitude) | Timeline | Main benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-entity core (subsidiaries, users, rights) | 13,500 - 25,000 | 6 to 8 weeks | One application, data partitioned by subsidiary |
| Group master data (suppliers, items, accounts) | 8,500 - 17,000 | 4 to 6 weeks | No more duplicates across countries |
| Purchase requests and approval workflows | 10,000 - 23,500 | 5 to 8 weeks | Traceability, limits per level |
| Consolidated reporting and dashboards | 12,000 - 30,500 | 6 to 10 weeks | Faster close, real-time group view |
| Multi-currency (AED, SAR, EGP, XOF, EUR, USD) | 5,000 - 12,000 | 3 to 4 weeks | Automated conversion at closing rate |
| Local ERP connectors (Sage, Odoo, SAP B1) | 6,700 - 20,000 | 4 to 10 weeks | Automatic posting of entries |
| Multi-language EN/AR/FR with RTL | 3,400 - 6,700 | 2 to 3 weeks | Adoption by every subsidiary |
A coherent starting scope (core, master data, purchasing, reporting) sits around USD 60,000 to 85,000. The upper range of USD 135,000 matches groups adding ERP connectors in 6 countries and advanced board-level dashboards.
Hosting, security and data: the structural choices
Groups operating across the Gulf, Africa and Europe face different data protection laws: the UAE Federal Data Protection Law, Saudi PDPL, Côte d'Ivoire's law 2013-450, GDPR for European entities. The platform must allow some data to be localized if a regulator requires it and must log every access.
| Hosting option | 2026 monthly cost (USD) | Latency from Dubai | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| European cloud (Frankfurt, Paris) | 250 - 500 | 110 - 140 ms | Start, group under 300 users |
| UAE cloud region (Dubai, Abu Dhabi) | 420 - 670 | 5 - 20 ms | Localization requirements, banking, insurance |
| Saudi cloud region (Riyadh, Dammam) | 300 - 590 | 30 - 50 ms | Group with large Saudi entities |
| Hybrid: app in UAE, sensitive data local per country | 500 - 670 | Varies | Group regulated in several countries |
| Backup and disaster recovery on a second site | 85 - 200 | Not applicable | Required beyond 100 users |
| Maintenance and enhancements | 1,000 - 2,500 | Not applicable | 12 to 18% of initial budget per year |
Also plan for degraded mode: some subsidiaries suffer frequent connectivity drops. Offline entry with later sync adds USD 3,400 to 6,700 but prevents a return to Excel files.
Mini case study
Adama, CIO of a food processing group headquartered in Dubai with subsidiaries in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt, Kenya and Côte d'Ivoire, runs a 12-business-day monthly close. Six financial controllers each spend about 7 days per month collecting, reworking and consolidating data. The group invests USD 78,000 in a platform with core, master data, purchasing, reporting and multi-currency, delivered in 7 months, plus USD 470 per month for UAE hosting.
After rollout, the close drops to 5 days. Each controller saves about 4 days per month, i.e. 24 person-days monthly. At an average loaded cost of USD 320 per day, savings reach USD 7,680 per month, about USD 92,000 per year. Adding group purchasing savings (3% on USD 1.5 million of annual purchases, i.e. USD 45,000), the project pays back in under a year.
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FAQ
Do the subsidiaries' ERPs need replacing?
No, in 80% of cases the platform connects to existing ERPs. Replacing six ERPs would cost 3 to 5 times more and take 18 to 36 months.
How are exchange rates handled across currencies?
The AED and SAR are pegged to the USD and the FCFA to the euro (655.957), which simplifies part of the work. For floating currencies such as the Egyptian pound or the Kenyan shilling, the platform imports the daily closing rate from a reference source and keeps a history of every conversion.
How long does rollout across 6 countries take?
Plan 5 to 9 months to build, then a subsidiary-by-subsidiary rollout of 3 to 4 weeks each. Starting with the most mature pilot subsidiary reduces risk.
Who should own the project internally?
A pairing of the group CIO and group finance, with one champion per subsidiary available 2 days per month. Without local champions, adoption often falls below 50%.
Can supplier payments be integrated, including mobile money in African subsidiaries?
Yes, through bank and mobile money bulk payment APIs such as Wave or Orange Money. Budget USD 5,000 to 10,000 for a multi-country supplier payment module with automatic reconciliation.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your subsidiaries, ERPs and priorities: we will price a first scope of USD 60,000 to 85,000, deployable in 5 to 9 months with a pilot subsidiary. 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.
