The verdict in three sentences
A market distribution ERP (15,000 to 70,000 EUR/year) quickly covers multi-warehouse stock, customer pricing and purchasing — if you accept its framework. A custom solution (60,000 to 160,000 EUR) becomes profitable when you want a branded B2B ordering portal, complex pricing rules or deep supplier EDI integration. Either way, the real return is operational: -20 to -35 % stockouts and 15 to 25 h/month of data entry saved.
The 2026 budget, line by line
A wholesaler running 3 to 6 warehouses, several hundred customers and negotiated pricing needs far more than a spreadsheet. Here are the 2026 ranges, as orders of magnitude.
| Line item | Market distribution ERP | Custom solution |
|---|---|---|
| Core (stock, purchasing, sales) | 15,000 – 70,000 EUR/yr | 60,000 – 160,000 EUR |
| B2B ordering portal | often an add-on | 18,000 – 40,000 EUR |
| Accounting + supplier EDI integration | 8,000 – 20,000 EUR | 8,000 – 20,000 EUR |
| Data migration (items, pricing) | 5,000 – 15,000 EUR | 5,000 – 15,000 EUR |
| User training | 4,000 – 12,000 EUR | 6,000 – 15,000 EUR |
| Maintenance (annual) | included/subscription | 12 – 16 %/yr of build |
Typical timeline is 5 to 8 months for a full multi-warehouse scope. A first release (stock + purchasing) can ship in 3 months, then the B2B portal in a second phase.
What the B2B portal really changes
The B2B ordering portal (18,000 to 40,000 EUR in custom) shifts order entry from the supplier to the customer. Here are the effects measured in 2026.
| Metric | Before (Excel/phone) | After B2B portal |
|---|---|---|
| Order entry | manual, 15-25 h/month | customer self-service |
| Pricing/reference errors | frequent | near-eliminated |
| Stockouts | baseline | -20 to -35 % |
| Order processing time | hours | minutes |
| Sales outside office hours | lost | captured 24/7 |
Mini case study
Sophie, CFO of an electrical-supply wholesaler in Miami (4 warehouses, 22 staff), moves from Excel plus a legacy tool to a custom solution at 110,000 EUR with a B2B portal. Her team spent 20 h/month re-keying orders received by email and phone, and faced regular stockouts on key references. After go-live: re-keying cut fivefold, stockouts down 30 %, and a revenue lift from orders placed evenings and weekends. The project pays back in about 20 months, before counting the margin recovered on sales previously lost to stockouts.
FAQ
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Market ERP or custom for a wholesaler?
ERP if your processes are classic and volume standard. Custom (60,000 – 160,000 EUR) if you want a differentiating B2B portal, complex pricing rules or deep supplier EDI integration.
Can we keep our accounting software?
Yes. Accounting integration (8,000 to 20,000 EUR) connects sales, purchasing and entries to your existing tool, avoiding an accounting big-bang.
How long to deploy across all warehouses?
5 to 8 months for the full scope. We recommend a pilot warehouse, then a phased rollout to limit operational risk.
Is the B2B portal essential?
No, but it has the best ROI: it removes re-keying (15 to 25 h/month) and captures after-hours orders. Many prioritize it in phase two.
What recurring budget after go-live?
For custom, maintenance is 12 to 16 %/year of build — 13,000 to 26,000 EUR/year on a 110,000 EUR project, hosting included depending on contract.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your warehouse count, customer pricing rules and supplier flows; we frame scope and budget. 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.
