The verdict in three sentences
A London wholesaler running several warehouses quickly hits the limits of a spreadsheet or generic software: valuation and alert thresholds go wrong. A custom tool (35,000-80,000 EUR) models your barcodes, replenishment rules and accounting integration exactly as your trade requires. The return is measured in shortages avoided and cycle-count days gained, not in licenses saved.
What each module costs in 2026
An inventory project breaks into priceable modules. Here are 2026 ballpark figures for a multi-warehouse wholesaler in London.
| Module | Scope | 2026 cost (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-warehouse core | In/out, transfers | 12,000-22,000 |
| Barcodes / mobile scan | Handheld app, labels | 6,000-14,000 |
| Replenishment & alerts | Reorder points, forecasts | 7,000-16,000 |
| Valuation (FIFO/WAC) | Real cost, margins | 5,000-11,000 |
| Accounting integration | Sage, Xero, QuickBooks | 5,000-12,000 |
| Cycle counting | Zone counts | 4,000-9,000 |
| Project total | 35,000-80,000 |
Overall lead time: 12 to 20 weeks depending on warehouse count and replenishment complexity. Annual maintenance: 8 to 12 % of build.
The ROI: shortages and inventory
Two items drive the return. Shortages avoided (sales not lost, customers kept) and inventory time divided by automated counting. Ballpark figures for a 6 M EUR wholesaler.
| Metric | Before | After (12 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Shortages/month | 22 | 6 |
| Revenue lost to shortages/year | 180,000 EUR | 48,000 EUR |
| Annual inventory days | 9 days | 2.5 days |
| Inventory discrepancy | 3.8 % | 0.9 % |
| Tied-up stock | 1.2 M EUR | 0.9 M EUR |
300,000 EUR of stock freed is recovered cash; 132,000 EUR of revenue saved is direct margin.
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Mini case study
Marc, director of an industrial supplies wholesaler in London (4 warehouses, 6.4 M EUR revenue). He invests 62,000 EUR in a custom tool plus 10 % maintenance (6,200 EUR/year). In year one he cuts shortages from 22 to 7 per month, saving about 125,000 EUR of revenue, of which 38,000 EUR is net margin. He also frees 280,000 EUR of dormant stock. The 68,200 EUR investment (year 1) is covered by saved margin alone in under 22 months, before counting the immediate cash gain.
FAQ
Why not buy an off-the-shelf inventory tool? A generic tool imposes its replenishment rules and handles multi-warehouse setups with specific prices and units poorly. Custom avoids the manual workarounds that recreate the very errors you wanted gone.
What is a realistic lead time in London in 2026? 12 to 20 weeks: 3 weeks scoping, 7-12 development, 2-3 for testing and stock migration. A single-warehouse pilot can ship by week 8.
Is mobile scanning essential? For a multi-warehouse wholesaler, yes: it divides inventory time by 3 to 4 and drops discrepancy below 1 %. Budget 6,000 to 14,000 EUR for this module.
How does accounting connect? Via a dedicated integration (Sage, Xero, QuickBooks) priced 5,000 to 12,000 EUR, pushing valuation and entries automatically. It removes double entry and makes the balance sheet reliable.
What maintenance budget should I plan? 8 to 12 % of build per year, i.e. 3,000 to 9,600 EUR for an average project. This covers fixes, minor evolutions and SLA support.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of warehouses, your accounting software and your current shortage rate, and we will price the priority modules and timeline. 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.
