The verdict in three sentences
A distribution ERP standardises fast for 40 to 100 EUR / user / month plus integration, but it stalls on your customer pricing and multi-warehouse rules. A custom build with a B2B portal costs 80,000 to 190,000 EUR and 8 to 14 months, handling your grids, discounts and replenishment exactly. In Berlin, the issue isn't stock: it's the ordering portal that offloads your sales reps.
Distribution ERP or custom: the real trade-off
A wholesaler-distributor runs three things: multi-warehouse stock, per-customer pricing (grids, tiers, negotiated discounts) and the order flow. ERPs cover the generic; the moment your commercial terms leave the box, bespoke development piles up — and a B2B ordering portal is rarely native.
| Criterion | Distribution ERP | Custom + B2B portal |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 15,000 to 60,000 EUR (integration) | 80,000 to 190,000 EUR |
| Subscription | 40 to 100 EUR/user/month | 0 (owner) |
| Timeline | 4 to 8 months | 8 to 14 months |
| Multi-warehouse | Standard | Your replenishment rules |
| Customer pricing | Basic tiers | Unlimited grids and discounts |
| B2B ordering portal | Often a paid add-on | Built in, your branding |
| Maintenance | Included | 800 to 1,800 EUR/month |
The 5-year TCO, in numbers
Here is a 2026 order of magnitude by number of internal users (sales, order desk, logistics).
| Scenario | 15 users | 30 users | 60 users |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERP (70 EUR/user/month + 40,000 EUR integration) over 5 years | 103,000 EUR | 166,000 EUR | 292,000 EUR |
| Custom (140,000 EUR + 1,300 EUR/month maintenance) | 218,000 EUR | 218,000 EUR | 218,000 EUR |
| Gap | +115,000 EUR | +52,000 EUR | −74,000 EUR |
At 60 users custom becomes cheaper than the ERP over five years — and it includes the B2B portal with no licence surcharge. Below 20 users the ERP is usually more rational, barring truly atypical customer pricing.
Mini case study
Sophie, order-desk director at an industrial-supplies wholesaler in Berlin. Her 8 reps key in 260 orders/day, 40% of which could go through a self-service customer portal. A custom B2B portal absorbs those 104 orders/day, saving 6 min of entry each — 10.4 h/day or ≈ 2,300 h/year. Valued at 32 EUR/h, that's 73,600 EUR/year of capacity reclaimed, reinvested in prospecting. Against a 140,000 EUR project plus 15,600 EUR/year maintenance, payback lands around 2.1 years.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
How much does custom wholesale software cost in Berlin in 2026?
Budget 80,000 to 190,000 EUR. Multi-warehouse management, customer pricing grids and the B2B ordering portal set your position in the range. Maintenance 800 to 1,800 EUR/month.
Is a B2B portal really profitable?
Yes once 30% of your orders can go self-service. Every self-keyed order frees 5 to 8 minutes of order-desk time and cuts entry errors.
Can I set different prices per customer?
Yes — it's exactly custom's strength: grids, quantity tiers, negotiated discounts, contractual net prices — without a standard ERP's limits.
How long for a multi-warehouse rollout?
Between 8 and 14 months overall. A first warehouse and the catalogue can be live in 4 to 5 months, then the other sites follow.
Do I have to drop my accounting ERP?
No. Custom connects to your accounting via API or EDI; it runs the distribution business while the ERP keeps finance.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of warehouses, pricing complexity and order volume, and we'll frame a scope and an indicative budget between 80,000 and 190,000 EUR, B2B portal included. 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.
