The verdict in three sentences
For a Berlin wholesaler managing multi-warehouse stock, differentiated customer pricing and supplier EDI, a vertical licence (25-60 EUR/user/month) works up to a certain complexity threshold. Beyond 15-20 users and nested pricing rules, custom software (55,000-100,000 EUR excl. VAT) pays off within 24-36 months. The real gain is not the saved licence but the 25% fewer stockouts that protect revenue.
Vertical licence vs custom ERP: the real comparison
An Odoo licence or a distribution vertical starts fast and costs little upfront. But every specific business rule (backorders, per-customer pricing, multiple sales units) is paid for in bespoke development that inflates the real cost.
| Criterion | Vertical licence / Odoo | Custom ERP |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 25-60 EUR/user/month | 55,000-100,000 EUR excl. VAT |
| Cost 25 users / 3 years | 22,500-54,000 EUR | 55,000-100,000 EUR |
| Deep customisation | Limited, costly | Total |
| Backorder management | Often optional | Native |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
| Go-live time | 6-10 weeks | 18-24 weeks |
| Monthly maintenance | Partly included | 1,200-2,200 EUR/month |
What makes up the custom budget
The distribution scope breaks down into modules whose cost varies with the complexity of business rules and the volume of SKUs.
| Module | Range (EUR excl. VAT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Purchasing & supplier replenishment | 9,000-16,000 | 3-4 wks |
| Multi-warehouse stock | 11,000-19,000 | 4-5 wks |
| B2B customer pricing & discounts | 8,000-15,000 | 3-4 wks |
| Invoicing & credit notes | 7,000-13,000 | 3 wks |
| Supplier EDI integration | 9,000-18,000 | 4-6 wks |
| B2B catalogue & backorders | 8,000-16,000 | 3-4 wks |
| Data migration & UAT | 6,000-12,000 | 3-4 wks |
Mini case study
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Marc, CFO of an industrial-supplies wholesaler in Berlin, manages 6,500 SKUs across 3 warehouses with 22 users. On a 45 EUR/user/month licence he pays 11,880 EUR/year, or 35,640 EUR over 3 years, with no code ownership and no fine-grained backorder handling. He invests 72,000 EUR (excl. VAT) in a custom ERP plus 1,600 EUR/month maintenance. The 25% fewer stockouts recover 4% of margin on a 6.2M EUR turnover, roughly 62,000 EUR/year of protected margin — the investment pays back in under 18 months.
FAQ
Is Odoo enough for a multi-warehouse wholesaler? Up to ~15 users and simple pricing rules, yes. Beyond that, bespoke Odoo development can exceed 20,000 EUR and approach the cost of a custom foundation.
How much does supplier EDI integration cost? Expect 9,000 to 18,000 EUR (excl. VAT) depending on partner count and formats (EDIFACT, XML). Each new supplier adds 1,500-3,000 EUR.
What is a realistic go-live timeline? 18 to 24 weeks for a full purchasing-stock-invoicing scope, versus 6 to 10 weeks for a configured licence.
Is maintenance mandatory? Strongly recommended: 1,200 to 2,200 EUR/month cover fixes, enhancements and monitoring. Without it, a critical outage can cost several days of downtime.
Can we start with a pilot batch? Yes: a stock + invoicing MVP at 30,000-40,000 EUR (excl. VAT) in 10-12 weeks validates the approach before extending to B2B pricing and EDI.
Let's scope your project. Describe your scope (warehouses, SKUs, users, EDI needs) for a budget framed between 55,000 and 100,000 EUR excl. VAT. 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.
