The verdict in three sentences
A group of 18 pharmacies buying 4.5 million EUR a year direct from manufacturers leaves margin on the table as long as each store orders alone, from its own dispensing system, without seeing its neighbours' stock. Large national buying groups and banner networks do this work, but at the price of joining their brand and commercial policy. A custom pooling tool connected to your existing systems lets you target 150,000 EUR of extra annual margin while staying independent.
Where the margin leaks
There are three sources. The first is the missed discount tier: a manufacturer gives 2% above a certain volume, then 5% and 8%, and 18 scattered orders never reach the tier a consolidated order would hit. The second is slow stock: slow movers, seasonal lines or specific strengths sitting in one store while another, 20 km away, places an urgent wholesaler order. The third is expiry: by common estimates 0.5 to 1.5% of a pharmacy's stock is destroyed every year.
Regulation matters. In most European markets, group purchasing runs through an approved buying structure and transfers between pharmacies are limited to occasional emergency supply, while wholesale distribution requires a licence. The software must log every movement and fit that framework, validated with the group's legal adviser.
| Lever | Current situation (estimate) | Target with pooling | Annual gain targeted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average manufacturer discount | 3.2% on 4.5 million EUR | 5.0% on 4.5 million EUR | 81,000 EUR |
| Expired stock destroyed | 1.2% of 3.6 million EUR stock | 0.6% | 21,600 EUR |
| Urgent wholesaler orders avoided | No transfers logged | 2,500 transfers a year | 22,500 EUR |
| Slow stock redistributed | Not measured | 300,000 EUR back in rotation | 15,000 EUR in carrying costs |
| Owner ordering time | 4 h per week per store | 1 h 30 | 10,000 EUR of time value |
| Total | about 150,000 EUR |
National buying group platform or custom tool
| Criterion | National group platform (2026 ballpark) | Custom tool by Kolonell |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Fee of 3,000 to 8,000 EUR per store per year, 54,000 to 144,000 EUR | One-off build, grid below |
| Commercial independence | Banner and product listing imposed | Full, your manufacturers and terms |
| Dispensing system integration | Main market systems | Connectors to your 18 stores' systems |
| Stock visibility across stores | Varies by network | Consolidated stock in near real time |
| Transfer rules | Standard | Your rules, full traceability |
| Ownership of purchasing data | National group | Your group |
| Timeline | Membership in 2 to 3 months | 4 to 6 months |
Kolonell's custom application grid: simple from 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (3,810 to 6,100 EUR), medium from 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR), complex from 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (10,670 to 22,870+ EUR). A multi-store tool with dispensing system connectors, order consolidation and transfers falls in the complex band. Maintenance is offered at 35,000, 75,000 or 120,000 FCFA per month (53, 114 or 183 EUR). Each system connector and any certified health data hosting are priced in the quote.
Feature scope
The core has four building blocks. A connector per dispensing system pulling stock, sales and open orders nightly, then hourly. A purchasing consolidation board that aggregates the 18 stores' needs per manufacturer and flags the nearest discount tier. A transfer module where the store in need sees who holds the item, requests it, and each movement is logged with batch and expiry date. A slow stock tracker proposing redistribution 90 days before expiry.
No patient data moves: only stock, aggregated sales and orders are exchanged, which simplifies compliance. More on our method on the custom web applications page.
Mini case study
Thomas, chair of an 18-pharmacy group, looks only at the discount lever. The 4.5 million EUR of direct purchases currently yields a 3.2% average discount, 144,000 EUR. By consolidating orders with 12 priority manufacturers, the group reaches 5.0%, 225,000 EUR. The gain is 81,000 EUR a year, or 4,500 EUR per store.
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With a complex-band project, up to 22,870+ EUR depending on connectors, and Premium maintenance at 2,196 EUR a year, the discount lever alone repays the tool in under 6 months. Expiry and transfer savings then add to the margin.
FAQ
Our 18 stores run different systems, is that a problem?
No, it is the most common case. We build one connector per system in use, usually 2 to 4 different products for 18 stores, priced in the quote depending on each vendor's access.
Are transfers between pharmacies legal?
Occasional emergency supply is generally allowed, while wholesale requires a licence. The tool logs every movement and can cap volumes, and the exact framework is validated with your adviser before go-live.
Do we need certified health data hosting?
If no identifiable health data moves, standard European hosting is enough. If scope extends to patient data, certified health data hosting becomes mandatory.
How soon do the first gains arrive?
The project takes 4 to 6 months. A first release consolidating orders for 3 to 5 manufacturers can ship after 10 to 12 weeks to capture discounts earlier.
What if a pharmacy leaves the group?
Its purchasing data is returned and its access is cut in one click. The tool is not billed per store, so costs do not change.
Let's scope your project. Tell us which dispensing systems your stores use and your priority manufacturers, and we will scope the connectors and a 4 to 6 month plan. 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.
