The verdict in three sentences
A wholesaler juggling per-customer price lists, multi-warehouse stock and orders on a spreadsheet ends up re-keying every order into accounting: slow and error-prone. A custom application connected to accounting and EDI costs EUR 30,000 to 65,000 in 2026, delivered in 16 to 26 weeks, and cuts order-processing time by 40 %. The alternative is an ERP (Sage, Cegid): cheaper to buy, but costly in licences and rigid on your business rules.
Distribution ERP or custom application?
Off-the-shelf distribution ERPs cover standard logistics well, but your pricing rules (volume discounts, prices negotiated customer by customer, payment terms) are often the core of your commercial edge. A custom build models those rules exactly and connects to your stack (accounting, supplier EDI, carriers) with no double entry.
| Criterion | Distribution ERP (licence) | Custom application |
|---|---|---|
| Per-customer price lists | Standard, configurable | Exact model of your rules |
| Multi-warehouse | Yes | Yes |
| Accounting/EDI connection | Paid module | Included |
| Initial cost | EUR 15,000-35,000 | EUR 30,000-65,000 |
| Licences/users per year | EUR 4,000-12,000/yr | 0 (owned) |
| Maintenance per year | 18-22 % of contract | EUR 4,500-9,750/yr |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
The real comparison: 5-year cost
The ERP licence looks cheap in year one, but per-user subscriptions and add-on modules add up. The table below compares a 12-user scenario over 5 years (2026 order of magnitude).
| 5-year item | Distribution ERP | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Initial / project cost | EUR 25,000 | EUR 48,000 |
| Licences 12 users x 5 yrs | EUR 42,000 | EUR 0 |
| EDI + accounting modules | EUR 12,000 | Included |
| 5-year maintenance | EUR 27,000 | EUR 30,000 |
| 5-year total | about EUR 106,000 | about EUR 78,000 |
| Stockout avoided | -10 % | -25 % |
Beyond roughly ten users, custom becomes competitive over 5 years while fitting your rules exactly. Below that, a well-configured ERP is often the right call.
Mini case study
Ms. Bakker, who runs a building-materials wholesaler in Amsterdam (12 reps, 3 warehouses, 4,000 SKUs), re-keyed every order into her ERP. Processing one order took 9 minutes and stockouts reached 8 % of revenue. With a custom application at EUR 48,000, connected to accounting, processing drops to 5 minutes (-40 %), stockouts to 6 % (-25 %), recovering about EUR 60,000 of revenue a year. Estimated payback: around 14 months.
FAQ
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How much does custom wholesale software cost in 2026?
An order of magnitude of EUR 30,000 to 65,000 depending on the number of warehouses, pricing complexity and connections (accounting, EDI, carriers). Annual maintenance is 12 to 18 % of the initial cost.
Custom or an ERP like Sage/Cegid?
Under 8-10 users, a configured ERP is often enough. Beyond that, or if your pricing rules are unusual, custom becomes cheaper over 5 years and truer to your business.
How long to deploy?
Between 16 and 26 weeks. Order entry and price lists ship first, then multi-warehouse and the EDI/accounting connections.
What is the gain on stockouts?
A real-time multi-warehouse stock view with alert thresholds cuts stockouts by about 25 %, which translates directly into preserved revenue.
Can you connect our existing accounting?
Yes. The accounting connection (and supplier EDI) is included in the custom build: orders flow through without re-keying, removing the main source of errors.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of warehouses, users and pricing rules, plus an indicative budget, for a precise scoping. 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.
