The verdict in three sentences
For a dental clinic network, the choice is between a vertical licence (100-200 EUR/month/practitioner) and a custom tool at 45,000-100,000 EUR ex. VAT, delivered in 16-24 weeks. Custom pays off from 10 practitioners and a strong need for treatment plans, chained quotes and reminders. Two levers fund the project: +15% quote conversion and a sharp drop in no-shows thanks to SMS reminders.
Off-the-shelf licence vs amortised custom
The honest comparison isn't the entry price but the total four-year cost for a 10-practitioner network.
| Item | Vertical solution (Julie/Weda) | Custom, amortised 4 yrs |
|---|---|---|
| Licence 10 practitioners / month | 1,000 – 2,000 EUR | — |
| Licence cost / year | 12,000 – 24,000 EUR | — |
| Cost over 4 years | 48,000 – 96,000 EUR | 45,000 – 100,000 EUR (build) |
| Annual maintenance | Included | 7,000 – 15,000 EUR |
| Flow customisation | Limited | Full |
| Data ownership | Vendor | You |
| 4-year cost (all-in) | 48,000 – 96,000 EUR | 73,000 – 145,000 EUR |
Custom costs more over four years, but it captures the value of +15% conversion, invisible in this table and often larger than the premium.
Modules and integrations for a dental centre
The tool must chain scheduling, treatment plan, quote and billing without re-keying.
| Module | 2026 range (EUR ex. VAT) | Key benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-practitioner & chair scheduling | 8,000 – 18,000 | Slot optimisation |
| Treatment plan & dental chart | 10,000 – 24,000 | Act-by-act tracking |
| Quote & financial agreement | 7,000 – 16,000 | +15% conversion |
| SMS reminders | 4,000 – 9,000 | No-shows halved |
| Billing & third-party payer | 8,000 – 18,000 | e-billing transmission |
| Imaging & sensor link | 6,000 – 15,000 | X-rays tied to record |
The double gain: quote conversion and no-shows
Two metrics drive a dental centre's profitability.
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| Metric | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Quote conversion rate | 52% | 67% |
| No-show rate | 11% | 5% |
| Average quote acceptance delay | 12 days | 6 days |
| Manual reminders / week | 40 | 6 |
Mini case study
Ms. Roux, manager of a 4-centre dental network (10 practitioners), issues 1,200 quotes/year at an 850 EUR average basket. Lifting conversion from 52% to 67% (+15 points) generates 180 extra accepted quotes, i.e. 153,000 EUR of additional production per year. Against an 80,000 EUR build + 12,000 EUR/year maintenance, payback lands in under seven months, before even counting the no-show reduction.
FAQ
Is custom worth it versus Julie or Weda? Below 10 practitioners, the licence stays simpler. Beyond that, with specific quote/reminder flows, custom captures a +15% conversion gain that outweighs the 4-year premium.
Can we migrate data from the old software? Yes, via a structured import (patients, history, treatment plans). Budget 6,000 to 14,000 EUR ex. VAT depending on source format and volume.
Are SMS reminders compliant? Yes, with patient consent and opt-out. The 2026 send cost is around 0.05-0.08 EUR/SMS, easily offset by fewer lost slots.
How long to roll out 4 centres? 16 to 24 weeks, with a pilot centre then generalisation. Training dental assistants is a key adoption factor.
Can imaging and sensors be connected? Yes, via standard gateways. The imaging link runs 6,000 to 15,000 EUR ex. VAT depending on installed equipment.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your practitioner count, priority modules (treatment plan, quotes, reminders) and indicative budget. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
