The verdict in three sentences
A custom supplier and procurement extranet for a Dublin group sits between 35,000 and 80,000 EUR depending on approval-workflow complexity and connectors (ERP, e-invoicing, EDI). Versus an ERP SRM module (~22,000 EUR/year licence + 40,000 EUR integration), custom avoids the perpetual subscription and fits your buying circuits exactly. The real gain is operational: 1.5 buyer FTE saved and invoice processing time cut from 12 to 3 days.
Budget structure of a supplier extranet
The heart of the project is the approval workflow: the more approval levels and rules (thresholds, delegations, spend categories), the higher the development effort. The average day rate in 2026 for this kind of IS project is around 540 EUR.
| Line item | Indicative effort | 2026 cost (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping & workflow modelling | 12 days | 6,500 |
| UX design (supplier portal + back office) | 14 days | 7,500 |
| Platform development | 55 days | 30,000 |
| ERP + e-invoicing + EDI connector | 25 days | 13,500 |
| QA, security, GDPR & supplier acceptance | 12 days | 6,500 |
| Typical project total | ~118 days | 64,000 |
Delivery in 12 to 16 weeks, with a progressive supplier-by-supplier rollout to limit change management.
Custom extranet vs. ERP SRM module
| Criterion | Custom extranet | ERP SRM module |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 35,000-80,000 EUR | 40,000 EUR integration |
| Recurring cost | 15-20% of build/yr | 22,000 EUR/yr licence |
| Process fit | Total | Imposed standard |
| Connectors (e-invoicing, EDI) | Custom | Often paid options |
| Supplier onboarding | Dedicated UX | Generic |
| 5-year cost | 90,000-140,000 EUR | 150,000 EUR |
| Ownership & scalability | You control it | Vendor-dependent |
Over five years, the ERP SRM module often exceeds 150,000 EUR because of the annual licence, whereas amortised custom stays under 140,000 EUR including maintenance.
Mini case study
Sophie, procurement director at a Dublin industrial group (180 active suppliers), processes 900 supplier invoices a month, keyed and reconciled manually. Average processing time is 12 days, generating late penalties and blocking early-payment discounts.
She invests 64,000 EUR in an extranet with electronic invoicing and an approval workflow. Result: invoice time drops to 3 days, the equivalent of 1.5 buyer FTE (about 78,000 EUR loaded/year) is redeployed to negotiation, and recovered discounts cover part of the build. ROI reached in 14 months.
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FAQ
What is the most expensive part of a supplier extranet?
The approval workflow and connectors (ERP, e-invoicing, EDI) often represent 55 to 60% of the budget, i.e. 30,000 to 45,000 EUR on a 64,000 EUR project.
Is e-invoicing compliance mandatory?
To invoice public entities, yes. Connector integration costs 5,000 to 8,000 EUR and secures your compliance with 2026 electronic-invoicing rules.
Can we start without EDI?
Yes. Many groups first launch manual invoice upload + workflow (45,000 EUR), then add EDI (8,000-10,000 EUR) for large suppliers.
How long to onboard suppliers?
Budget 2 to 3 months of progressive rollout; a well-designed portal pushes adoption above 80% within a quarter.
What average ROI can I expect?
A well-built extranet saves 1 to 2 FTE and cuts processing times by 60 to 75%, for a typical payback in 12 to 18 months.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your invoice volume, target connectors (ERP, e-invoicing, EDI) and budget, and we'll frame your extranet. 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.
