The verdict in three sentences
For a heavy-vehicle parts distributor in Singapore, a B2B e-commerce site built around a fitment catalogue costs between USD 60,000 and 150,000 in 2026, depending on product data quality and the number of integrations. The real work is not the design but the vehicle / OEM number fitment database, without which the workshop still calls the sales counter. Done well, the project moves 30% of orders online within 12 months and takes the phone off your sales team's desks.
Why a parts catalogue is not a regular online store
A workshop in Kaki Bukit is not searching for 'oil filter'. It wants the filter that fits a 2016 Mercedes Actros 1844, or it types the OEM number A 541 180 00 09 directly. The site has to support three search modes: by vehicle (make, model, engine, year), by OEM or equivalent part number (Mann, Fleetguard, Bosch), and by part family. It must also show each workshop's own price (negotiated discount, credit terms) and availability per depot, for instance Tuas, Jurong or Kaki Bukit.
| Feature | Standard store | B2B spare parts site | Cost impact (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search | Keywords | Vehicle + OEM + cross-references | USD 15,000 to 36,000 |
| Pricing | Single list price | Per-customer price lists, discounts by family | USD 9,000 to 21,000 |
| Stock | Global | Per depot, real time | USD 6,000 to 18,000 |
| Payment | Card | Account, 30-day credit, PayNow, cards | USD 5,000 to 12,000 |
| Delivery | Parcel | Depot pickup, van or courier delivery | USD 3,000 to 9,000 |
| Accounts | One buyer | Several users per workshop, owner approval | USD 3,500 to 9,000 |
Detailed budget by scope
The budget mostly depends on the state of your data. If your 25,000 SKUs already live cleanly in the ERP with cross-references, the project stays at the low end. If fitment knowledge sits in the heads of two senior sales staff, plan a 3 to 4 month data structuring workstream.
| Workstream | Essential version | Full version | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoping and data model | USD 5,000 | USD 9,000 | 3 weeks |
| Import and cleanup of 25,000 SKUs | USD 9,000 | USD 24,000 | 4 to 12 weeks |
| Catalogue and fitment search | USD 18,000 | USD 39,000 | 6 weeks |
| Customer portal, account pricing, credit | USD 12,000 | USD 27,000 | 4 weeks |
| ERP connection (stock, prices, invoices) | USD 9,000 | USD 30,000 | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Payments (PayNow, cards, account) | USD 4,000 | USD 9,000 | 2 weeks |
| PWA mobile app for workshops | USD 3,000 | USD 12,000 | 3 weeks |
| Indicative total | USD 60,000 | USD 150,000 | 4 to 7 months |
Add hosting and maintenance of roughly USD 450 to 1,500 a month depending on volume and support level. A licensed fitment database from a specialist provider (TecDoc-type data for heavy vehicles) can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year: compare that with the cost of building the data in-house.
What actually gets workshops to order online
The 600 workshops will not switch because the site looks good. They switch when ordering online is faster than calling. Three levers matter: search by plate or chassis number (VIN), instant confirmation of availability at the nearest depot, and payment by PayNow or on account without re-keying. Also plan a WhatsApp notification when the order is ready for pickup, since that is what mechanics actually read.
Mini case study
Wei Ming, managing director of a heavy-vehicle parts distributor in Singapore, handles about 4,000 orders a month, almost all by phone and WhatsApp. Each order takes a salesperson 9 minutes on average, or 600 hours a month. With 30% of orders online after 12 months, he saves 180 hours a month, the equivalent of one and a half sales roles, roughly USD 6,500 a month of payroll redirected to prospecting. On a USD 96,000 project, time savings alone pay back the investment in a little over a year, before counting the 8 to 12% basket uplift from suggested related parts (filters, gaskets, belts).
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
Do we need a paid fitment database?
Not necessarily. For 25,000 SKUs focused on a few makes (Mercedes, Scania, Volvo, Hino), a well-structured in-house database is often enough; allow 3 to 4 months of assisted data entry. An external database makes sense above 50,000 multi-brand SKUs.
Can each workshop see a different price?
Yes, it is essential in B2B. The site reads the ERP discount matrix and shows the logged-in customer's net price; the module costs USD 9,000 to 21,000 depending on how complex your terms are.
How do we handle trade credit for large accounts?
The customer account shows the outstanding balance and approved limit, for example USD 30,000 at 30 days. Beyond that, the order goes to manual approval or requires immediate payment.
How long until a first launch?
A first version covering 5,000 fast-moving SKUs can go live in 10 to 12 weeks. The rest of the catalogue is added in monthly waves.
Does the site work well on workshop phones?
It must be built for it: pages under 1 MB, WebP images, search that responds in under a second. An installable PWA on the workshop foreman's phone clearly improves adoption.
Let's scope your project. Send us your SKU count, depots and ERP, and we will price a fitment catalogue within your USD 60,000 to 150,000 range with a phased 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.
