2030-ready assessment
2030-ready assessment: off-the-shelf, ERP or custom software?
C-Esium’s 2030-ready assessment tells you, in 8 questions, which option suits your company best: off-the-shelf business software (SaaS), an off-the-shelf ERP or custom internal software. Custom software is only recommended when three conditions are met — specific processes, at least 10 hours of re-keying a week, scattered information — with a starting price of AED 200,000 excluding VAT; for a small structure or a focused need, the assessment points to a focused project, from AED 40,000 excluding VAT. The rules, formulas and assumptions are published on this page.
What does the 2030-ready assessment tell you?
You answer 8 questions about your size, your tools, your re-keying and your processes. The calculation runs in your browser: your answers are neither sent nor stored. Method version 1.2, updated on 6 October 2026.
A neutral recommendation
Your re-keying hours per year
4 maturity scores
An indicative budget
Points to check
What are the 8 questions?
Each answer has a precise role in the calculation. No other information is used.
| Question | Possible answers | What the answer changes |
|---|---|---|
| How many employees does your company have? | Fewer than 10 employees · 10 to 19 employees · 20 to 49 employees · 50 to 99 employees · 100 to 249 employees · 250 employees or more | Rules R1 (small structure) and R4 (extended organisation); indicative budget. |
| What is your annual revenue? | Under €1M · €1M to €5M · €5M to €10M · €10M to €20M · €20M to €50M · €50M or more | Rule R1 (small structure); indicative budget. |
| How many sites do your teams work on? | 1 site · 2 to 3 sites · 4 sites or more | Process score; indicative budget. |
| What is your sector? | Services · Industry · Construction · Health and social care · Other sector | Specific points to check (health data). Does not change the recommendation. |
| What does the management of your business rely on today? | Mostly paper and Excel files · Off-the-shelf business software (SaaS) · An ERP · A mix of several tools | Rule R3 (ERP in place) and scattered information (paper/Excel); data, process and integration scores. |
| How many of the tools you use do not talk to each other? | A single tool, or tools already connected to each other · 2 to 3 tools that do not talk to each other · 4 or more tools that do not talk to each other | Scattered information (R2) and extended organisation (R4); data and integration scores. |
| How many hours a week do you spend, in total, re-keying information? | A number of hours, from 0 to 500 | High re-keying (rules R2, E2 and E3); re-keying hours per year; data score. |
| Do you have key processes that the standard software of your sector does not cover? | Yes, some key processes do not fit any standard software · No, our processes are close to those of our sector | Conditions of rules R2 and E2; process score. |
How does the assessment choose between SaaS, ERP and custom software?
Five rules, evaluated in order: the first one that applies gives the recommendation. They rely on four notions defined in advance.
- Small structure
- Fewer than 10 employees, or annual revenue under €1M.
- High re-keying
- At least 10 hours of re-keying a week, for the whole company.
- Scattered information
- 2 or more unconnected tools, or management mostly on paper and Excel.
- Extended organisation
- 50 employees or more, or 4 or more unconnected tools.
| Rule | Condition | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | Small structure: fewer than 10 employees, or annual revenue under €1M. | Off-the-shelf business software (SaaS) | A complete internal software is a high initial investment for this size (from AED 200,000 excluding VAT at C-Esium). Off-the-shelf software on subscription covers the essentials; if a precise need remains, a focused project (from AED 40,000 excluding VAT) can complement it. |
| R2 | Specific processes AND high re-keying (at least 10 h a week) AND scattered information. | Custom internal software | This is the combination where a standard tool costs the most time: the specific processes are handled outside the software and the same information is entered several times. Internal software built around your processes and connected to your existing tools removes this re-keying at the source. |
| R3 | An ERP is already in place (and rule R2 does not apply). | Off-the-shelf ERP | The gaps between your processes and your ERP cost little time today. Optimising its configuration and connectors costs less than replacing it. |
| R4 | Extended organisation: 50 employees or more, or 4 or more unconnected tools (and rule R2 does not apply). | Off-the-shelf ERP | Several functions need to share the same information, without a specific process causing high re-keying: an off-the-shelf ERP brings sales, purchasing, stock and accounting together in one database. |
| R5 | All other cases. | Off-the-shelf business software (SaaS) | Your size and organisation fit off-the-shelf software, without the combination of rule R2: a business SaaS for your sector is the fastest option to deploy and the least expensive to start with. |
How are the re-keying hours calculated?
The assessment converts your weekly hours into hours per year, then into full-time equivalents (FTE).
The formulas
hours per year = hours per week × 47
FTE = hours per year ÷ 1,607
Example: 12 h a week × 47 = 564 h a year, i.e. about 0.4 FTE.
The assumptions
- 47 working weeks: 52 weeks minus the 5 weeks of paid leave of a full year; public holidays are not deducted. These are French reference values, used as fixed conventions.
- 1,607 hours: the statutory full-time annual working time in France (private sector), used as a fixed reference.
- “High” re-keying: 10 h a week or more, for the whole company (i.e. 470 h a year).
- This figure measures the time spent re-keying, not the time that can be recovered: the share that can be removed is quantified at scoping.
How are the 4 scores calculated?
Each score goes from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the readier the company. The scales are deliberately simple, rounded to the nearest whole number; they are meant to position the company, not to grade it.
Data: information entered once, in one database
data = tool points + max(0, 45 − 2 × re-keying hours per week)
| Main tool | Points |
|---|---|
| Mostly paper and Excel files | 15 |
| Off-the-shelf business software (SaaS) | 45 |
| An ERP | 55 |
| A mix of several tools | 30 |
Processes: formalised processes, supported by tools
processes = tool points + coverage points + site points
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Tool: mostly paper and Excel files | 10 |
| Tool: off-the-shelf business software (SaaS) | 40 |
| Tool: an ERP | 45 |
| Tool: a mix of several tools | 25 |
| Processes close to those of the sector | 35 |
| Specific processes, partly handled outside the tools | 15 |
| Sites: 1 site | 20 |
| Sites: 2 to 3 sites | 15 |
| Sites: 4 sites or more | 10 |
The more sites, the more local variants of the same process to harmonise.
Integration: tools that exchange their data
integration = unconnected-tools points + tool points
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| A single tool, or tools already connected to each other | 50 |
| 2 to 3 tools that do not talk to each other | 25 |
| 4 or more tools that do not talk to each other | 0 |
| Tool: mostly paper and Excel files | 0 |
| Tool: off-the-shelf business software (SaaS) | 35 |
| Tool: an ERP | 50 |
| Tool: a mix of several tools | 20 |
AI readiness: data the AI can use
AI = 0.5 × data + 0.3 × integration + 0.2 × processes
An AI assistant only answers correctly on unique, up-to-date and accessible data: data quality weighs the most, then the ability of the tools to share it.
2030-ready index = average of the 4 scores. 70 to 100: 2030-ready foundations in place; 40 to 69: in transition; 0 to 39: foundations to lay.
Where does the indicative budget come from?
The assessment only gives a budget if a development is justified, and only a starting price: AED 40,000 excluding VAT for a focused project, AED 200,000 excluding VAT for a complete internal software (for clients in France: from €10,000 and €50,000 excluding VAT). Beyond that there is no price grid: the exact price is set in a firm quote after the assessment. Three rules, evaluated in order after the recommendation, choose the offer.
| Rule | Condition | Budget shown |
|---|---|---|
| E1 | Custom internal software recommended (rule R2). | Complete internal software, from AED 200,000 excluding VAT, with the size profile of your company. |
| E2 | Small structure (rule R1) with specific processes or high re-keying. | Focused project, from AED 40,000 excluding VAT, alongside off-the-shelf software. |
| E3 | ERP already in place (rule R3) or off-the-shelf software recommended (rule R5), with high re-keying (at least 10 h a week). | Focused project, from AED 40,000 excluding VAT: connect your tools without changing them. |
| — | All other cases, including rule R4 (an off-the-shelf ERP already brings the information together). | No indicative budget: your answers do not justify a development. |
The size profile of a complete internal software
For a complete internal software (rule E1), the assessment uses the scale of C-Esium’s “Estimate your project” questionnaire: points for revenue, headcount and number of sites, added up, which position your profile and what makes the budget vary.
Annual revenue
| Answer | Points |
|---|---|
| Under €1M | Rule R1 |
| €1M to €5M | 3 |
| €5M to €10M | 6 |
| €10M to €20M | 9 |
| €20M to €50M | 12 |
| €50M or more | 12 |
Headcount
| Answer | Points |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 10 employees | Rule R1 |
| 10 to 19 employees | 3 |
| 20 to 49 employees | 6 |
| 50 to 99 employees | 9 |
| 100 to 249 employees | 12 |
| 250 employees or more | 12 |
Sites
| Answer | Points |
|---|---|
| 1 site | 2 |
| 2 to 3 sites | 4 |
| 4 sites or more | 6 |
“Rule R1”: under 10 employees or €1M of revenue, the assessment recommends off-the-shelf software; it points to a focused project only with specific processes or high re-keying (rule E2).
| Total points | Size | Starting price | What makes the budget vary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 14 | Small or medium-sized company | From AED 200,000 excluding VAT | A company of about fifteen people can, from AED 200,000, bring its key operations together in a single tool. Firm quote after the assessment. |
| 14 to 21 | Established SME, several sites | From AED 200,000 excluding VAT | Beyond AED 200,000 excluding VAT, there is no price grid: the budget depends on the number of daily users, the sites, the tools to connect and the scope. Firm quote after the assessment. |
| 22 or more | Mid-sized company or multi-entity group | From AED 200,000 excluding VAT | Beyond AED 200,000 excluding VAT, there is no price grid: the budget depends on the number of users, the business units, how scattered the data is across the tools and the depth of the software. Firm quote after the assessment. |
These benchmarks do not replace a quote: at C-Esium, the exact price is set after scoping, in a firm quote. Payment in milestones: kick-off, mock-ups, screen approval, delivery. Maintenance is optional. See pricing in detail · The focused project.
Which points to check does the assessment flag?
They do not change the recommendation: they flag what to check before choosing, whatever the option.
| Trigger | Point to check |
|---|---|
| Health and social care sector. | Health data: the hosting arrangement and the scope of the AI are defined at scoping, in line with the applicable health-data rules; by default, AI assistants only access data that is not health data (scheduling, HR, invoicing). |
| Recommendation: custom internal software. | Budget: a complete internal software starts from AED 200,000 excluding VAT at C-Esium. If your budget is lower, a focused project (from AED 40,000 excluding VAT) on the process that costs the most time, or off-the-shelf software with automations, is more realistic. |
| Recommendation: custom internal software, or a focused project suggested. | In-house lead: a custom project, even a focused one, needs someone available on the company side (project manager or operations manager) to make decisions and drive adoption by the teams. C-Esium makes it a condition for starting. |
| Custom software recommended while an ERP is in place. | Your ERP can stay: the custom software can cover the specific processes and connect to it (accounting, invoicing) rather than replace it. |
| Rule R1 with specific processes. | Specific processes in a small structure: a focused project — a single module, automations between your tools or a mobile app for field teams — can close the gap, until a complete internal software is in proportion to your size. |
| Process score below 50. | Do not automate a broken process: before choosing a tool, follow a real case from customer request to invoice and note the steps, the waiting and the re-keying. |
| Management mostly on paper and Excel, or data score below 40. | Quality of the input data: plan the migration and clean-up of your files (customers, prices, history) in the budget and the schedule, whichever option you choose. |
| 4 or more unconnected tools. | Inventory of tools: list the ones that are really used and the ones that have been abandoned. Removing a tool nobody uses simplifies every option. |
| No re-keying declared. | Re-keying to check: follow a real case from end to end and note each piece of information entered twice. The recommendation depends directly on this figure. |
| AI readiness score below 50. | Data before AI: an AI assistant only answers correctly on centralised, up-to-date data. First reduce the scattering and the re-keying. |
| AI readiness score of 50 or more, outside health and social care. | AI framework: if you connect an AI assistant to your data, restrict access to read-only and to authorised users, with logging, and prefer business plans (ChatGPT Business or Enterprise, Claude Team or Enterprise, or the API) that do not use your data for training. |
What are the limits of this assessment?
What the assessment does not do
- It relies on your answers: the recommendation is sensitive to the re-keying figure around the threshold of 10 h a week.
- Its thresholds are absolute: 10 h a week weigh more in a 15-person company than in a 200-person one.
- It compares neither vendors nor the prices of off-the-shelf software.
- It knows neither your available budget nor your internal capacity to lead a project.
- It does not replace observation: at C-Esium, the real assessment is a half-day workshop, on site or by video, which follows the journey of a case from the incoming call to the invoice.
Who designed it
The engine was designed by C-Esium, which builds custom internal software. That is why the rules, formulas and thresholds are published here in full, why the result can recommend off-the-shelf software rather than custom software, and why you can have it challenged by an AI assistant.
Sources of the working-time assumptions, accessed 4 October 2026:
Take the assessment
8 questions. The result appears below the form, with the rule applied and the details of the calculation.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2030-ready assessment always recommend custom software?
No. C-Esium’s 2030-ready assessment only recommends custom internal software when three conditions are met: processes that standard software does not cover, at least 10 hours of re-keying a week, and information scattered across several tools or on paper. Otherwise, it points to an off-the-shelf ERP (an ERP already in place, 50 employees or more, or 4 or more unconnected tools) or to off-the-shelf business software (SaaS); under 10 employees or €1M of annual revenue, it always recommends a business SaaS.
Can the assessment suggest something smaller than a complete software?
Yes. For a small structure with specific processes or high re-keying, or when off-the-shelf software remains the right option despite at least 10 hours of re-keying a week, C-Esium’s 2030-ready assessment points to a focused project, from AED 40,000 excluding VAT: a single module as a V1, an AI connector on your current tools, automations between your tools or a mobile app for field teams. A complete internal software starts from AED 200,000 excluding VAT (for clients in France: from €10,000 and €50,000 excluding VAT). In both cases, the exact price is set after the assessment, in a firm quote.
How does the assessment calculate re-keying hours per year?
It multiplies the weekly re-keying hours you declare by 47 working weeks (52 weeks minus 5 weeks of paid leave, public holidays not deducted), then divides the total by 1,607 hours — the statutory full-time annual working time in France, used as a fixed reference — to express it in full-time equivalents. Example: 12 hours a week represent 564 hours a year, i.e. about 0.4 FTE. This figure measures the time spent re-keying, not the time that can be recovered, which is quantified at scoping.
Are my answers stored or sent to C-Esium?
No. The calculation runs in your browser: C-Esium neither receives nor stores any answer unless you fill in the contact form yourself. The “Discuss this result” button only pre-fills the message of that form, which you review before sending.
What should I do after the 2030-ready assessment?
If the result recommends a business SaaS or an off-the-shelf ERP, compare two or three vendors in your sector on your real processes rather than on a standard demo. If custom software or a focused project is suggested, C-Esium offers a free 30-minute call with no commitment, then a half-day workshop — on site or by video — and a scoping phase that ends with a firm quote. In any case, you can have the result challenged by Claude or ChatGPT with the text shown below the result.
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