The verdict in three sentences
A custom wholesale/distribution platform costs 30,000 to 55,000 EUR in 2026 for a distributor managing stock, customer pricing and B2B orders. Custom is justified because your per-customer price lists and discount rules never fit a standard package. The concrete result: -40 % pricing errors, -25 % calls to the sales desk and a portal that lets customers order themselves.
The budget module by module
Each block tackles a distribution friction point: pricing, stock split across warehouses, order capture and accounting.
| Module | Scope | Cost 2026 (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Catalogue & per-customer pricing | Price lists, discounts, terms | 8,000 |
| Multi-warehouse stock | In/out, reorder, alerts | 8,000 |
| Order capture & B2B portal | Customer portal, history, follow-up | 7,000 |
| Accounting integration | Entries, invoices, VAT | 5,000 |
| Rollout & UAT | Data migration, training | 2,000 to 7,000 |
| Total | Full project | 30,000 to 55,000 |
Delivery takes 14 to 22 weeks, with accounting/ERP integration usually the longest item.
What a pricing error really costs
In distribution, a misapplied price list quietly eats margin. Here is the quantified impact on a typical distributor.
| Metric | Before (Excel/email) | After (custom) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing errors / month | ~50 | ~30 (-40 %) |
| Order calls / day | ~80 | ~60 (-25 %) |
| Order processing time | 25 min | 6 min |
| Margin lost to errors / yr | ~24,000 EUR | ~9,000 EUR |
| Orders placed in portal | 0 % | 45 % |
Moving 45 % of orders to the portal alone frees the equivalent of a half-time sales role, reassigned to prospecting.
Mini case study
Marc, owner of a 22-employee industrial supplies distributor in Lille, applied 140 customer price lists by hand. He invests 46,000 EUR in custom software with a B2B portal. Pricing errors fall from 50 to 30/month, recovering ~15,000 EUR margin/year, and 45 % of orders move to self-service. ROI is reached in ~20 months, before counting the customer satisfaction gain measurable from portal launch.
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FAQ
How much does custom distribution software cost in 2026?
Budget 30,000 to 55,000 EUR for catalogue, customer pricing, multi-warehouse stock, portal and accounting integration. A catalogue + order base can start around 16,000 EUR.
Does it handle different prices per customer?
Yes, that is the core: lists per customer, per product family, volume discounts and negotiated terms, applied automatically to quotes and orders.
Can we connect our existing ERP or accounting?
Yes. Integration (entries, invoices, VAT) to your ERP or accounting averages 5,000 EUR, more for an old proprietary ERP.
Is multi-warehouse stock real time?
Yes. Each warehouse has its own stock level with reorder alerts and a consolidated view; orders decrement the right warehouse automatically.
How long to deploy the B2B portal?
The customer portal is usually delivered between week 12 and 16, after catalogue and price lists are validated.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your SKU count, warehouses and price lists, plus budget (30,000 to 55,000 EUR): we will frame the ERP integration. 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.
