The verdict in three sentences
An off-the-shelf distribution ERP (EUR 50-150/user/month) covers a wholesaler's standard needs: catalogue, stock, orders and invoicing. Custom software (EUR 80,000-220,000) becomes necessary once your per-customer pricing, volume rebates and multi-warehouse handling turn into business rules too specific for a package. The real gain is measured on inventory turnover: +10 to +20% frees up tied-up cash.
Distribution ERP vs custom: the 2026 grid
Amsterdam's wholesale trade (food, materials, beverages) combines strong seasonality and complex pricing grids. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Criterion | Distribution ERP (SaaS) | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | EUR 50-150/user/month | EUR 80,000-220,000 |
| Initial configuration | EUR 6,000-35,000 | included |
| Deployment time | 2-4 months | 6-10 months |
| Per-customer / volume pricing | limited or add-on | native, no limit |
| Multi-warehouse handling | standard | fine, per location |
| 5-year cost (20 users) | EUR 110,000-250,000 | EUR 120,000-270,000 |
Custom pays off mainly through lower dead stock and pricing automation, not through license price alone.
What a custom project covers
Breaking down by lot lets you weigh an EUR 80,000 core against a full EUR 220,000 platform.
| Functional lot | 2026 range | Indicative lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Catalogue + per-customer pricing | EUR 18,000-45,000 | 6-9 weeks |
| Multi-warehouse stock + inventory | EUR 20,000-50,000 | 7-11 weeks |
| Purchasing + auto replenishment | EUR 15,000-40,000 | 5-8 weeks |
| Sales + invoicing | EUR 15,000-38,000 | 5-8 weeks |
| Margin + turnover reporting | EUR 10,000-28,000 | 3-6 weeks |
| B2B customer order portal | EUR 12,000-35,000 | 4-7 weeks |
Mini case study
Celine, director of a building-materials wholesaler in Amsterdam (18 users, 3 warehouses), ties up EUR 640,000 of stock at a turnover of 4 times a year. A custom project at EUR 165,000, amortized over 5 years, costs EUR 33,000/year. By raising turnover to 4.8 (+20%), she frees about EUR 128,000 of cash and cuts stockouts. With an estimated 6% stock financing cost, the annual saving reaches EUR 7,700, on top of the end of manual pricing re-entry (about 5 h/week, roughly EUR 7,500/year). The project pays back in under 4 years, before any commercial upside.
FAQ
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What budget for an off-the-shelf distribution ERP at 15 seats?
Budget EUR 50-150/user/month, i.e. EUR 9,000-27,000/year, plus EUR 6,000-35,000 of configuration. Advanced pricing modules are often a paid add-on.
Why move to custom for distribution?
Because per-customer pricing, volume rebates and multi-warehouse handling quickly become unmanageable in a standard package. Custom encodes your exact rules and removes re-entry.
How long to deploy?
A purchasing-stock-sales core ships in 4-5 months. A full platform with B2B portal and complex pricing takes 6 to 10 months.
What real gain on inventory turnover?
2026 feedback puts the gain at +10 to +20%, via auto replenishment and better multi-warehouse visibility. It is the main cash lever.
Can we keep our current accounting system?
Yes. An interface with your accounting software costs EUR 8,000-25,000 and integrates via API or files, in 3 to 5 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of warehouses, SKU volume and an indicative budget, and we will frame a scalable distribution core. 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.
