cost-effective high throughput RNA-Seq

[Noa]

Can anyone update me on the latest protocols or literature with respect to cost-effective RNA-Seq? I am looking for protocols to do high throughput (hundreds of samples) RNA-Seq that are to be multiplexed on Illumina. I want to stay away from needing to use an Illumina kit for each barcoded sample as the price will be prohibative.
Are there any recommendations on the best enzymes, protocols, etc?
Any thoughts on the possibility of taking RNA to cDNA while ligating a barcode to each sample and then taking all as a single pooled sample for downstream Illumina library prep?
Thanks