Build it yourself, a SaaS connector or custom work? The considerations for webshop connectors

The question that affects every growing webshop

Your webshop is up and running. Orders keep coming in. And somewhere between manually retyping invoices and correcting stock levels for the third time, you think: this has to change. You need a connector between your webshop and Exact Online.

But then the real puzzle begins. Do you have a developer build what you need? Do you bring in an agency for a custom solution? Or do you choose a ready-made SaaS connector? Each path has consequences for your budget, your planning and your peace of mind.

When choosing a webshop connector, it is not only about technology. It is about how much time, money and risk you are willing to invest in something that mainly has to work invisibly.

Option 1: build it yourself

The appeal of building it yourself is understandable. Full control. No dependence on third parties. Exactly the functionality you want, nothing more and nothing less.

In practice it often turns out differently. A custom connector with the Exact Online API requires knowledge of OAuth authentication, OData protocols and the specific quirks of Exact's data model. The initial build costs range from €3,000 to €20,000, depending on the complexity. The lead time is two to four months.

But the real costs are in the maintenance. Exact Online regularly changes endpoints and API specifications. Your developer has to keep up with those changes to prevent the synchronisation from stopping on a Friday afternoon when nobody is available. Research by iTransition shows that 30 to 60 percent of the total integration costs go to maintenance, updates and bug fixes. Not to the initial build.

For companies with their own development team and specific requirements that really cannot be found anywhere else, building it yourself can be the right choice. For most SME webshops it is an expensive detour.

Option 2: hire a custom development agency

The second option is to hire an integration agency that builds the connector to your specifications. You get expertise without having to develop it yourself. The agency knows the pitfalls and delivers a working solution.

The costs range from €10,000 to €150,000, depending on the number of systems, the data volumes and the desired functionality. The lead time is four to six months. On top of that comes an ongoing support contract, because a custom solution also has to be maintained when APIs change.

The biggest risk is dependence. If the agency stops, gets acquired or its priorities shift, you are left with a system that only they understand. Documentation is rarely as extensive as you would like. And in the event of a failure you depend on their availability.

For enterprise environments with complex workflows and multiple ERP systems, custom work is sometimes unavoidable. For a webshop that wants to synchronise orders, invoices and stock, it is often overkill.

Option 3: a SaaS connector

A SaaS connector is ready-made software that links your webshop platform to Exact Online. No build project, no months-long implementation. You configure the connector, test the synchronisation and go live.

The setup costs are minimal and there is often a free trial period. The monthly investment ranges from €9.95 to €39.95. The lead time? Ten minutes for a standard configuration.

The biggest advantage lies in what you do not have to do. API changes from Exact Online are processed automatically by the provider. Updates run in the background. You do not need to keep a developer on standby in case something breaks.

The common concern with SaaS is flexibility. What if the default settings do not fit your process exactly? That is a fair question, and this is precisely where the differences between SaaS providers become visible.

The comparison at a glance

The table makes the difference in investment clear. But figures do not tell the whole story.

When to choose which option?

Building it yourself is only sensible if you have your own development team that is available for the long term, and if your integration requirements are truly unique. Think of connectors with legacy systems or very specific business logic that no standard solution supports.

A custom development agency suits large organisations with complex, multi-system architectures where the connector is part of a broader IT transformation project. The investment must be in proportion to the scale of the operation.

A SaaS connector is the logical choice for webshops that want reliable synchronisation without a build project. That applies to most SME businesses, but also to larger organisations that want quick results without keeping their IT department busy for months.

The pitfall of the false dilemma

The conversation about choosing a webshop connector is often presented as a choice between flexibility and convenience. Building it yourself or going custom gives you all the freedom, while SaaS is easy but limited. That contrast no longer holds.

The best SaaS connectors offer standard functionality for the most common scenarios and the option to deviate when your process calls for it. Not a black-and-white choice, but a spectrum.

What to look out for: does the provider offer custom options on top of the standard connector? How long has the platform existed? Is there knowledge of the Exact Online API and the quirks of the Dutch SME market?

Why the distinction matters

A connector that works on day one is not enough. You need a connector that still works in two years, when your webshop has grown, your product range has changed and Exact Online has released yet another API version.

With building it yourself and custom development, that risk shifts to you or your agency. With a SaaS connector it lies with the provider. So the question is not only "what does it cost now?" but "what does it cost when something changes?"

That distinction determines whether your connector is an asset or a liability.

SaaS with the depth of custom development

iWebDevelopment combines the simplicity of a SaaS connector with the depth you expect from custom work. As a connector specialist with more than ten years of experience, ISO 27001 certification and the status of official Exact Online partner, both the standard scenarios and the exceptions are built into the system.

More than 2,000 companies use the connectors every day. The standard connectors with Exact Online cover the most common webshop platforms. And when your situation differs, for example a specific field mapping, a different order flow or a connector with a third system, there is room for adjustment without you having to build a new connector.

No months-long development project. No dependence on a freelance developer. Just a connector that works, is maintained and grows along with you.

Do you want to try it yourself? View our webshop connectors →