The verdict in three sentences
A custom wholesale and distribution management software costs between 40,000 and 120,000 EUR and ships in 4 to 9 months. It targets the sector's two wounds: tied-up stock (poorly synced multi-warehouse) and manual order entry. Done right, it cuts working capital by 10 to 20 %, automatically applies your per-customer price lists, and a B2B order portal captures 30 to 70 % of orders self-service.
What a poorly tooled wholesaler loses
Wholesale lives on thin margins and huge tied-up capital. A spreadsheet or a generic ERP leaks margin in three places: stockouts that lose the sale, overstocks that freeze cash, and pricing errors. Here are the 2026 ranges.
| Area | Generic approach | Custom | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-warehouse stock | Manual entry, frequent gaps | Real-time sync | -10 to -20 % working capital |
| Customer price lists | Scattered Excel files | Automatic prices and discounts | +1 to 3 pts margin |
| Order entry | Phone, email, re-keying | B2B portal + sales app | -50 % errors |
| Replenishment | By instinct | Thresholds and forecasts | -25 % stockouts |
| Accounting | Double entry | Automatic interface | 0.5 FTE freed |
A wholesaler tying up 800,000 EUR of stock who cuts working capital by 15 % frees 120,000 EUR of cash — often more than the cost of the software itself.
What it costs by scope
Price depends on functional scope and the number of integrations. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude for the French market.
| Scope | Functions | Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core management | Stock, purchasing, sales, pricing | 40,000-60,000 EUR | 4-5 months |
| Core + B2B portal | + online customer ordering | 60,000-85,000 EUR | 5-7 months |
| Full distribution | + multi-warehouse, forecasts, EDI | 85,000-120,000 EUR | 7-9 months |
| Annual maintenance | Support, enhancements | 12-18 % of project | recurring |
The B2B portal has the best ROI: it shifts order entry to the customer, frees salespeople for value-added selling, and raises average basket via recommendations and history.
Mini case study
Sophie runs an industrial supplies wholesaler in Nantes: 6M EUR revenue, 900,000 EUR of stock, two warehouses and 4 salespeople keying orders by hand. After deploying custom software at 78,000 EUR with a B2B portal: working capital drops 16 %, freeing 144,000 EUR of cash; 45 % of orders go through the portal, saving 1.2 FTE of data entry (42,000 EUR/year); and pricing automation recovers 1.5 pts of margin (90,000 EUR/year). The project pays back within the first year.
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FAQ
What budget for custom wholesale software in 2026?
Budget 40,000 to 60,000 EUR for the management core, 60,000 to 85,000 EUR with a B2B portal, and up to 120,000 EUR for full multi-warehouse distribution. Annual maintenance runs 12 to 18 % of the project.
Isn't a standard ERP like SAP Business One enough?
It covers the core but imposes its rules and bills every adaptation. As soon as your price lists, negotiated discounts or logistics are specific, custom avoids a costly, fragile tunnel of customisations.
Is the B2B portal really worth the investment?
Yes: it captures 30 to 70 % of orders self-service, halves entry errors and raises average basket. It's often the module that funds the rest of the project in a year.
How is the working-capital reduction calculated?
By simultaneously avoiding overstocks (frozen cash) and stockouts (lost sales), through replenishment thresholds and forecasts. On 800,000 EUR of stock, a 15 % drop frees 120,000 EUR of cash.
Can we connect accounting and carriers?
Yes: automatic accounting interface, supplier and customer EDI, carrier connection and labelling are standard integrations. This is where custom eliminates costly double entry.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your revenue, number of warehouses and how you take orders: we'll frame a costed core (from 40,000 EUR) plus the B2B portal module. 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.
