The verdict in three sentences
A custom TMS/WMS for a 3PL in Strasbourg costs between 60,000 € excl. VAT (warehouse MVP) and 280,000 € excl. VAT (full TMS+WMS platform) in 2026, with maintenance of 12 to 15 %/year. The shift to custom is justified when activity-based billing, client EDI and your location rules exceed what market SCM suites can configure without a monster of workarounds. ROI is measured on two concrete levers: +15 to +25 % picking productivity and the drop in preparation errors, each of which is costly in disputes and re-deliveries.
What a 3PL TMS/WMS covers
A multi-client logistics provider must trace every flow, bill every movement and exchange EDI with demanding principals. Typical scope:
| Module | What it does | 2026 range (€ excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| WMS receiving & locations | Inbound, addressing, replenishment | 18,000–35,000 |
| Picking & mobile scan | Waves, picking, control | 20,000–40,000 |
| Shipping & carriers | Labels, tracking, disputes | 15,000–30,000 |
| TMS route planning | Orders, loads, costs | 25,000–55,000 |
| Client EDI / API | Orders, ASN, invoices | 18,000–45,000 |
| Activity-based billing | Movements, storage, services | 15,000–35,000 |
TCO and market comparison
Market SCM suites deploy fast but get expensive to customize once your billable services leave the standard. Over 5 years:
| Item | Market SCM suite | Custom TMS/WMS |
|---|---|---|
| Implementation | 40,000–90,000 € | 150,000–280,000 € excl. VAT |
| Licences (10 users, 5 yrs) | 90,000–180,000 € | 0 (owned) |
| Heavy customizations | 30,000–120,000 € | included |
| Annual maintenance | 15–22 % of licences | 12–15 %/yr of build |
| 5-yr TCO (order of magnitude) | 200,000–390,000 € | 230,000–390,000 € |
The daily rate for this type of development is between 480 and 650 € in 2026. At comparable TCO, custom wins mainly on code ownership, no per-user licence and freedom to evolve.
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Mini case study
Mathieu, logistics director of a 3PL in Strasbourg, runs a warehouse with 35 pickers. Picking runs at 110 lines/hour with 2.5 % errors. The WMS with mobile scan lifts productivity to 135 lines/hour (+22 %) and cuts errors to 0.7 %. Across 35 pickers at 2,200 h/year, +22 % equals ~7.7 posts of capacity gained, roughly 270,000 €/year in avoided cost as volume grows. A 95,000 € excl. VAT WMS MVP pays back in under 6 months, before the effect of avoided client disputes.
FAQ
Why not a proven SCM suite? For a standard 3PL flow, it's sensible. Once activity-based billing and multi-client EDI become central, customizations blow up the cost and rigidify the tool — custom regains the edge.
Is client EDI really necessary? Yes for industrial principals: orders, ASN and invoices over EDI/API are often a contractual prerequisite. Budget 18,000–45,000 € depending on the number of partners.
What's the timeline to go live? A warehouse WMS MVP ships in 20–24 weeks; the full TMS+WMS platform needs 24–30 weeks, phased by module.
Where is the data hosted? On EU servers, encrypted, with automatic backups — GDPR-compliant, a non-negotiable criterion for your industrial clients.
Does mobile scan run on standard hardware? Yes, on rugged Android scanners or smartphones; no proprietary hardware imposed, which cuts equipment cost.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your picker count, your EDI clients and whether you target a WMS MVP (60,000–110,000 € excl. VAT) or the full TMS+WMS platform. 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.
