The verdict in three sentences
For a Berlin wholesale distributor, a custom build (50,000-100,000 EUR) is justified once multi-warehouse stock, per-customer pricing and B2B fall outside SaaS standards (45-95 EUR/user/month). The two decisive financial levers are cutting stockouts (from 7% to 2%) and raising average B2B order value (+14%) via automatic replenishment. Think in 3-year TCO and prioritize: stock first, B2B portal next, per-customer pricing last.
SaaS or custom: the 3-year TCO
The core need is unifying multi-warehouse stock, B2B orders and customer price lists. Two models compete.
| Line item | Distribution SaaS | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 3,000-15,000 EUR (setup) | 50,000-100,000 EUR |
| Recurring cost | 45-95 EUR/user/month | Hosting 200-500 EUR/month |
| B2B order portal | Vendor-dependent | 12,000-25,000 EUR |
| Per-customer pricing | Limited standard | Unlimited bespoke |
| Multi-warehouse | Plan-dependent | Native |
| 3-year TCO (12 users, indicative) | 25,000-55,000 EUR | 65,000-125,000 EUR |
For 12 users, SaaS runs 6,500-13,700 EUR/year. Custom becomes profitable when per-customer price lists, volume discounts and automatic replenishment exceed standard capabilities — common in wholesale.
The prioritization that pays
Don't deploy everything at once. Sequence by financial impact.
| Priority | Module | Measured effect | Indicative budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Multi-warehouse stock + auto-replenish | Stockouts 7% → 2% | 20,000-40,000 EUR |
| 2 | B2B order portal | Average order value +14% | 12,000-25,000 EUR |
| 3 | Per-customer pricing + volume discounts | Margin protected, fewer errors | 8,000-20,000 EUR |
| 4 | Accounting exports + dashboards | Faster close | 6,000-15,000 EUR |
The B2B order portal is a multiplier: letting customers order 24/7 with their own pricing and history lifts average order value by +14%, and automatic replenishment drops stockouts from 7% to 2%.
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Mini case study
Helen, head of a Berlin wholesale distributor (3 warehouses, 12 users, 8.4M EUR revenue, ≈ 2,100 B2B orders/month at 340 EUR average), suffers 7% stockouts, each costing ≈ 45 EUR in lost or deferred sales, i.e. ≈ 66,000 EUR/year. She orders a custom build (78,000 EUR) with a B2B portal. Stockouts fall to 2% (≈ 47,000 EUR recovered/year) and average order value rises from 340 to 388 EUR (+14%), adding ≈ 1.2M EUR of annual volume. Even at 12% margin, the margin gain exceeds 190,000 EUR/year: the project pays back in under 6 months.
FAQ
How much does wholesale distribution software cost in 2026? A custom build lands between 50,000 and 100,000 EUR, B2B portal included at 12,000-25,000 EUR. In SaaS, budget 45-95 EUR/user/month by module.
Does the B2B portal really lift order value? Yes: giving customers their pricing, history and suggested reorders raises average order value by ~14% (2026 order of magnitude). 24/7 ordering also captures sales outside business hours.
How does automatic replenishment cut stockouts? By triggering reorders on thresholds and multi-warehouse forecasts, it moves stockouts from ~7% to ~2%. Fewer lost sales, fewer costly rush orders.
Do I need different pricing per customer? In wholesale, yes: each customer has its price list, volume discounts and terms. A per-customer pricing module protects margin and removes invoicing errors.
Where to start for fast ROI? With multi-warehouse stock and automatic replenishment: it recovers sales fastest. The B2B portal and per-customer pricing then amplify the gain.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of warehouses, B2B order volume and pricing rules: we'll quantify the 3-year TCO and module prioritization. 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.
