The verdict in three sentences
An SME that wants to track its key metrics in real time on mobile and desktop invests 15,000-45,000 EUR in 2026, depending on the number of KPIs, connected sources and required freshness. The line item that inflates the quote is not the graphics but the real-time refresh and automatic alerts. The return is measured in responsiveness: spotting a stockout, a slipping margin or a demand spike before your competitors.
Cost per KPI and per frequency
Each KPI has a cost: its source, its calculation rule, its history. Refresh frequency is the second lever.
| Element | 2026 order of magnitude | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Simple KPI (1 source, direct calc) | 600 - 1,200 EUR | Revenue, avg basket |
| Composite KPI (multi-source) | 1,500 - 3,500 EUR | Margin, service rate |
| Hourly batch refresh | included base | Often enough |
| Real-time refresh | +25 to +40 % | Stock, production |
| Automatic alert (threshold) | 400 - 900 EUR/alert | Mobile push / email |
| Responsive mobile view | 2,000 - 5,000 EUR | Field, management |
A dashboard of 12-15 KPIs, 4-5 of them real-time, typically lands around 22,000-32,000 EUR.
Hosting, maintenance and TCO
Real time carries a recurring infrastructure cost that must be budgeted from the start.
| Recurring item | 2026 order of magnitude | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud hosting | 60 - 200 EUR/month | By volume & frequency |
| Evolutionary maintenance | 200 - 500 EUR/month | New KPIs, fixes |
| Flow monitoring | included in maintenance | Catches broken flows |
| Adding a KPI post-delivery | 600 - 2,000 EUR | Per unit |
| 3-year TCO (30k project) | ~42,000 - 48,000 EUR | Base + recurring |
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Julien, manager of a trading SME in Berlin (35 employees), learns of stockouts 2-3 days late, costing on average ~4,000 EUR in lost sales per month. He orders a real-time KPI dashboard at 28,000 EUR + 350 EUR/month with mobile threshold alerts for his sales reps. By anticipating replenishments, he recovers about 60 % of lost sales, i.e. ~2,400 EUR/month = 28,800 EUR/year. The project is paid back in a little over 12 months, maintenance included, and his reps now steer from their phones.
FAQ
Why does real time cost more? It requires a streaming architecture (webhooks, message queues) and always-on infrastructure, i.e. +25 to +40 % on the project and higher hosting. For many KPIs, an hourly batch is more than enough.
How many KPIs to steer well? Most SMEs steer effectively with 10 to 15 KPIs. Beyond that the dashboard becomes unreadable; better to segment by view (management, sales, operations).
Is mobile essential? For field teams and executives, yes: a responsive mobile view at 2,000-5,000 EUR transforms real usage. A dashboard opened once a week on a PC creates little value.
What maintenance budget? Plan 200-500 EUR/month for evolutions and monitoring. Each new post-delivery KPI then costs 600-2,000 EUR.
Can we start small? Yes: an MVP at 12,000-15,000 EUR on 5-6 critical KPIs validates usage before expanding. It is often the best entry point.
Let's scope your project. List your priority KPIs, your sources and the ones that need real time; we price an MVP then the target, hosting and maintenance included. 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.
