ERP Implementation Cost Calculator
An indicative range for what an ERP implementation costs in the UAE, based on the shape of your business rather than a list price. ERP cost is licence plus implementation, and for most first-time projects the implementation exceeds the first year of licensing. It covers discovery, configuration, UAE localisation, data migration, custom development, testing and training. This tool produces a band, never a single figure, and the band widens with complexity.
Step 1 of 3
Your business
Multi-company multiplies configuration, chart of accounts work and intercompany testing. It does not add linearly.
Contracting and manufacturing carry substantially more configuration than a services business at identical headcount.
Step 2 of 3
Scope
The largest single driver of cost. Finance and inventory is a fraction of finance, inventory, manufacturing, projects and HR.
Step 3 of 3
Data, integrations and platform
Consistently underestimated. Twelve years of history across three systems with inconsistent customer records is a project in itself.
Bank feed, payment gateway, ecommerce, WMS, delivery aggregator, government portal.
Leaving this undecided produces a range spanning the platforms, which is itself a useful answer.
Total first-year range
AED 0
Enter your details to see the estimate.
| Breakdown | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| Annual licence (indicative) | — |
| Implementation project fee | — |
| Data migration | — |
| Custom development & integrations | — |
| Training | — |
| Total first year | — |
| Ongoing annual cost from year 2 | — |
| Indicative timeline | — |
Calculated in your browser. Your figures never reach our servers, and nothing you type here creates a record.
An indicative range for a business this shape, not a quote and not a fixed price. A number needs scoping: which processes, how many entities, and what condition the data is in.
Not published yet. This calculator needs QZ’s own implementation ranges and current licence rates before it can show a figure.
The concept
The two numbers, and why one surprises people
ERP cost is licence plus implementation.
Licence is predictable — per user per month, published, easy to model.
Implementation is the one that surprises people, and for most first-time UAE projects it exceeds the first year of licensing. It covers discovery, configuration, UAE localisation, data migration, custom development, testing and training.
Businesses that budget for the licence and treat implementation as a small add-on are the ones whose projects stall halfway.
What drives the cost
Six things that move the number
Processes in scope. The largest single driver.
Data quality. Clean, structured data in one system is straightforward. Twelve years of history across three systems is a project in itself, and it is usually quoted as the client’s responsibility.
Legal entities. Multi-company multiplies configuration, chart of accounts work, intercompany setup and testing.
Custom development. Integrations, bespoke modules and custom reports, each quoted individually.
Localisation depth. VAT configuration is standard. WPS payroll, bilingual invoicing and e-invoicing readiness add scope.
Training days. Role-based training across several departments costs more than one admin session — and is worth it.
The question everyone gets wrong
The six costs missing from most quotes
- Data cleanup — usually your responsibility, usually the longest task.
- Third-party apps — modules from the vendor’s store carry their own subscriptions.
- Payment gateway and bank feed fees — charged by the provider, not the partner.
- Custom report development — the reports management wants are rarely the standard ones.
- Annual support — not optional in practice; budget it from year one.
- Version upgrades — recurring wherever customisation exists.
A quote that omits these is not cheaper. It is incomplete, and the difference reappears as change requests once the project is under way and you have no leverage.
Frequently asked questions
ERP cost questions
Why is implementation more expensive than the licence?
Because the licence buys software and the implementation buys the work of making it match your business — discovery, configuration, localisation, data migration, integrations, testing and training. For most first-time UAE projects that exceeds the first year of licence cost.
What makes one implementation cost more than another?
Processes in scope is the largest driver, followed by data quality, the number of legal entities, custom development, localisation depth and training days. Two businesses of the same headcount can differ by a factor of three on scope alone.
Should I expect a fixed price or a day rate?
A fixed price for a defined scope is normal and preferable, with day rates for work outside it. What matters is that the scope is written down in enough detail that both sides know what falls inside it.
What is not included in a typical ERP quote?
Six things are commonly missing: data cleanup, third-party app subscriptions, payment gateway and bank feed fees, custom report development, annual support, and version upgrades. A quote that omits them is not cheaper, only incomplete.
How long does implementation take?
A simple single-entity project typically runs two to three months, a mid-market implementation three to six, and a multi-entity or manufacturing project nine or more. Data condition moves this more than headcount does.
Can I reduce the cost by doing some of it internally?
Yes, in two places: data cleansing and user acceptance testing are where client effort genuinely reduces the fee. Project management and configuration are not — taking those in-house usually costs more in elapsed time than it saves in fees.