How long does your IT project take? Realistic timelines
From app development and ERP implementation to AI projects: phases, typical durations and the factors that really decide the schedule.
Project duration
Project duration by topic
The duration question belongs to every project plan – just like the cost question. Each topic page shows the typical phases, realistic time ranges from more than 250 projects and the levers that shorten timelines. For budgets, see our interactive cost calculators.
How long does app development take? Timeline from idea to launch
App MVP: 8–12 weeks. Business app with backend: 4–6 months. Complex app (BLE/IoT, offline sync): 6–9 months – each including design, store review and stabilisation.
View timelineHow long does an ERP implementation take? A realistic mid-market timeline
Focused ERP start (e.g. Odoo, standard processes): 3–6 months. Mid-market project with migration and customisation: 6–12 months. Replacing complex legacy systems: 12+ months.
View timelineHow long does software development take? Planning realistic project timelines
MVP: 6–10 weeks. Production-ready business application: 3–6 months. Company-wide solution with integrations: 6–12 months – agile, with usable interim versions every 2–4 weeks.
View timelineHow long does an AI project take? From feasibility to production
AI proof of concept: 4–6 weeks. Production chatbot / RAG knowledge base: 3–6 months. Custom ML models with dedicated training: 6+ months – data quality is the biggest time factor.
View timelineHow long does a website relaunch take? Timeline from analysis to go-live
Compact relaunch (design refresh, CMS stays): 6–10 weeks. Mid-size project (new design, content): 3–5 months. Large relaunch (CMS switch, migration, multi-language): 4–7 months.
View timelineHow long does online shop development take? Timeline to the first sale
Standard shop (Shopware/WooCommerce): 8–12 weeks. Custom shop (design, integrations): 3–5 months. B2B shop (ERP, customer prices, approvals): 5–8 months.
View timelineHow long does a CRM implementation take? Timeline from selection to adoption
Focused sales CRM: 6–10 weeks. Mid-size implementation (migration, processes): 3–5 months. Large implementation (ERP integration, several teams): 4–7 months.
View timelineHow long does a legacy modernization take? Timeline for replacing legacy systems
Focused tool replacement (Access, small VB6): 3–5 months. Business application (database, interfaces): 6–9 months. Large system (step-by-step modules): 9–18 months.
View timelineHow long does a cloud migration take? A safe transition timeline
Single workload: 8–12 weeks. Mid-sized landscape with databases and integrations: 4–8 months. Complex transformation with compliance and several waves: 9–18 months.
View timelineHow long does MVP development take? From idea to market test
Clickable prototype: 2–4 weeks. Focused software MVP: 8–14 weeks. B2B MVP with roles, data migration and integrations: 4–6 months.
View timelineHow long does an Odoo implementation take? ERP and CRM timeline
Odoo core with CRM and sales: 10–16 weeks. ERP/CRM project with migration and integrations: 5–9 months. Multi-company or manufacturing rollout: 9–15 months.
View timelineHow long does customer portal development take? Timeline to launch
Core portal with login and documents: 3–5 months. B2B portal with ERP/CRM, orders and roles: 6–10 months. Multi-tenant platform: 9–15 months.
View timelineHow long does a data migration take? Timeline for a clean transfer
One clean source: 6–10 weeks. Several systems with cleansing and transformation: 4–9 months. Large migration with parallel operation: 9–15 months.
View timelineHow long does AI chatbot development take? Timeline to production
PoC with selected content: 4–6 weeks. Production RAG chatbot with monitoring: 3–5 months. Multilingual assistant with system actions: 5–8 months.
View timelineWhy duration and budget belong together
Timeline and budget are directly linked: a longer project binds team capacity, an unrealistically short plan generates rework. That is why every duration page links to the matching calculators – such as the software development cost calculator or the TCO comparison calculator for total costs over the usage period.
If you already hold a quote with a timeline, the quote check helps you assess it. For project planning itself, we recommend a free initial consultation – book a consultation or start the short project check.