The verdict in three sentences
A Dakar ophthalmology clinic makes patients wait 2h45 on average, which drives 31% away. A digital queue with SMS tokens and upfront Wave payment raises capacity from 18 to 32 consultations per day and cuts the wait to 45 minutes. At 85,000 FCFA/month, no-shows fall from 28% to 7% and daily revenue almost doubles.
Why a 2h45 wait costs so much
In ophthalmology, many patients are elderly or diabetic: a near-three-hour wait is unbearable and loses consultations. The digital queue assigns a queue number by SMS, estimates the real time of passage and lets the patient wait elsewhere. The waiting room empties, flow becomes predictable, and the doctor works without idle time.
| Indicator | Without app | With digital queue |
|---|---|---|
| Average wait time | 2h45 | 45 min |
| Consultations / day | 18 | 32 |
| Discouraged patients | 31% | 6% |
| No-show rate | 28% | 7% |
| Bulk SMS cost | — | 1 FCFA/SMS (Wave) |
| System cost / month | — | 85,000 FCFA |
Upfront payment, the anti no-show lever
The second, even more profitable effect is Wave prepayment. When the patient pays for their consultation at booking, they show up. No-shows drop from 28% to 7%. The clinic also collects faster and reduces end-of-day unpaid bills.
| Procedure | 2026 price | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Standard consultation | 8,000 FCFA | Wave prepayment |
| Consultation + fundus exam | 18,000 FCFA | Wave prepayment |
| Post-op check | 5,000 FCFA | Wave prepayment |
| Visual field test | 25,000 FCFA | Wave deposit |
| Retinal OCT | 35,000 FCFA | Wave deposit |
| SMS queue token | 1 FCFA | included |
Mini case study
Dr Sow, an ophthalmologist in Patte d'Oie, sees 18 patients a day, with 28% no-shows on 25 booked appointments and 31% who leave before their turn. Switching to the digital queue, he rises to 32 consultations/day. At an average ticket of 11,000 FCFA, that is 352,000 FCFA/day versus 198,000 before, a gain of +154,000 FCFA/day. Over 22 working days, the gain exceeds 3.3 million FCFA/month, far above the system's 85,000 FCFA.
FAQ
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How does the patient receive their queue number?
At booking, they get an SMS with a token and a real-time updated estimate of their time of passage. The send cost is about 1 FCFA per bulk SMS, negligible against the capacity gain.
Is Wave prepayment mandatory for every procedure?
No, it is configurable: full prepayment for standard consultations, a deposit for costly exams like OCT at 35,000 FCFA. This prepayment is what drives no-shows down from 28% to 7%.
What happens if a patient does not show up despite paying?
The cancellation policy is configurable: credit carried over to a future appointment or partial refund. Since the patient already paid, attendance rises sharply.
Does the system handle several doctors in the same clinic?
Yes, each practitioner has their own queue and schedule, and a global dashboard shows the load in real time, helping to distribute patients and smooth peaks.
Do I need a good internet connection in the room?
The system is built for 3G and runs in degraded mode if the connection weakens, syncing as soon as the network returns, avoiding any queue interruption.
Let's talk about your project. We deploy your digital queue with Wave prepayment for your clinic. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
