The verdict in three sentences
For a 120-employee technical supplies distributor in Toronto, with 25,000 SKUs and 1,800 price lists, the B2B portal choice comes down to pricing logic and the ERP, not design. Shopify Plus (from USD 2,300 a month, about CAD 3,200) wins on speed, Sana Commerce (CAD 45,000 to 90,000 a year) on native Business Central integration, and a custom build (CAD 90,000 to 225,000, or FCFA 2.5 to 15M+, EUR 3,810 to 22,870+, with Kolonell depending on complexity, everything else quoted) on control of business rules. Over 5 years, the total cost gap can reach CAD 225,000 depending on the option.
The three options against a distributor's constraints
The CIO must first check that each option handles the real complexity: 1,800 price lists, net prices per customer, discounts by product family, minimum quantities and multi-warehouse stock.
| Criterion | Shopify Plus B2B | Sana Commerce | Custom build |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscription or license | From USD 2,300 per month | CAD 45,000 to 90,000 per year | No license |
| Price lists (1,800) | B2B catalogs, limits to test beyond a few hundred | Read live from the ERP | Free model, no limit |
| Business Central integration | Third-party connector or custom work | Native, no middleware | Dedicated API development |
| 25,000 SKUs and variants | Fine, watch variant limits | Fine, ERP data | Sized freely |
| Time to launch | 3 to 5 months | 4 to 6 months | 4 to 8 months |
| Vendor lock-in | High (apps, platform changes) | High (vendor + ERP) | Low, you own the code |
| Business flexibility | Limited to APIs and apps | Limited to Sana scope | Full |
Watch out: on Shopify Plus, beyond a few hundred B2B catalogs, performance and maintenance often degrade. Test a real sample of your 1,800 price lists before signing.
Total cost over 5 years
The entry price is misleading. What counts is the sum of subscription, implementation, apps, maintenance and hosting over the portal's life.
| Item (5 years) | Shopify Plus B2B | Sana Commerce | Custom build |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implementation and ERP integration | CAD 75,000 to 135,000 | CAD 45,000 to 90,000 | CAD 90,000 to 225,000 |
| Subscription or license | About CAD 192,000 | CAD 225,000 to 450,000 | CAD 0 |
| Apps and extensions | CAD 60,000 to 110,000 | Mostly included | CAD 0 |
| Ongoing development | Included with partner agency | Partly included | CAD 90,000 to 185,000 |
| Hosting | Included | Included or Azure | CAD 22,000 to 45,000 |
| Estimated total cost | CAD 327,000 to 437,000 | CAD 270,000 to 540,000 | CAD 202,000 to 455,000 |
These are 2026 orders of magnitude, excluding Shopify Payments or gateway transaction fees. Custom becomes the cheapest option once pricing is highly specific, because it removes recurring licenses.
Which option for which profile
| Profile | Recommended option | Main reason |
|---|---|---|
| Simple pricing, fast launch needed | Shopify Plus B2B | Rich ecosystem, short timeline |
| Well-run Business Central, in-house ERP team | Sana Commerce | No sync, real-time data |
| Complex, specific pricing rules | Custom build | Tailored price engine, no workarounds |
| B2B and B2C under the same brand | Shopify Plus | Single back office |
| Desire to own code and data | Custom build | Vendor independence |
| Starting budget under CAD 75,000 | Phased custom build (Kolonell) | Start on a narrow scope, then extend |
Mini case study
Julien, CIO of a 120-employee technical supplies distributor in Toronto, runs CAD 57 million in revenue, 6 % of it online through an aging portal. His goal: 20 % of orders online within 3 years.
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He compares: Shopify Plus comes to about CAD 375,000 over 5 years, but a test on 300 price lists shows slowdowns. Sana Commerce comes to CAD 405,000 with a CAD 67,500 annual license. Custom comes to CAD 315,000 over 5 years with a price engine mirroring Business Central.
He chooses custom, delivered in phases. Moving from 6 % to 20 % online orders shifts CAD 8 million of revenue to a channel where processing cost per order falls from about CAD 27 to CAD 6, saving nearly CAD 300,000 a year in order desk costs on 14,000 orders (estimate).
FAQ
Is Shopify Plus enough for 1,800 price lists?
Technically yes, but test it. Beyond a few hundred B2B catalogs, plan a load test and possibly a pricing app at USD 300 to 1,000 a month.
Does Sana Commerce work without Business Central or SAP?
No. Sana is designed to sit on a Microsoft Dynamics or SAP ERP; its CAD 45,000 to 90,000 annual license only makes sense in that environment.
Isn't custom risky for maintenance?
The risk is managed with documented code, automated tests and a maintenance contract at 15 to 20 % of build cost per year. You own the code and can switch providers.
How long to migrate 25,000 SKUs?
Count 4 to 8 weeks for cleanup and enrichment of product data. It is often the most underestimated workstream, whatever the tool.
Can we start small and extend later?
Yes. A first phase with catalog, net prices and reorders often costs 30 to 40 % of the total budget and goes live in 3 to 4 months.
Let's scope your project. Send us your SKU count, ERP and a sample of your price lists: we will price a custom B2B portal at FCFA 2.5 to 15M+ (EUR 3,810 to 22,870+) depending on complexity, with a 5-year total cost comparison. 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.
