The verdict in three sentences
A medical lab that prints 100 % of its results and logs sample collection in notebooks wastes hours on “are my results ready?” calls and loses impatient patients. A custom application (test ordering, secure results portal, SMS/WhatsApp notifications, mobile payment) can be built for 5 to 9.5 million FCFA in 9 to 12 weeks. Against a LIS SaaS rented at 200,000 - 400,000 FCFA/month, the in-house build pays for itself in under three years while remaining your property.
Cost per module of a custom LIS
A LIS (Laboratory Information System) breaks into modules. You don't need everything on day one: start with the results portal and notifications, which carry 80 % of the value patients feel.
| Module | What it does | 2026 range (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|
| Patient results portal | Secure PDF access, history | 1,200,000 - 2,000,000 |
| SMS/WhatsApp notification | Automatic “your results are ready” | 600,000 - 1,100,000 |
| Online test ordering | Test selection, sampling appointment | 900,000 - 1,600,000 |
| Mobile Money payment (MTN/Orange) | Deposit or balance before pickup | 700,000 - 1,300,000 |
| Bench worklist management | Technician queue, result entry | 1,000,000 - 1,800,000 |
| Admin dashboard + stats | Volume, turnaround, revenue | 600,000 - 1,200,000 |
| Patient-focused MVP total | First 4 modules | 5,000,000 - 6,500,000 |
| Full total | All 6 modules | 7,500,000 - 9,500,000 |
These are 2026 orders of magnitude; the final price depends on the number of tests in your catalogue and any analyzer interfaces.
Build vs buy over three years
Renting a LIS SaaS looks cheaper upfront, but the cumulative cost quickly overtakes an owned build.
| Item | Custom build | Rented LIS SaaS |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront ticket | 7,500,000 FCFA | 0 (setup 500,000) |
| Monthly subscription | 0 | 300,000 FCFA |
| Annual maintenance | 900,000 FCFA | included |
| 3-year total cost | 10,200,000 FCFA | 11,300,000 FCFA |
| Code ownership | Yes | No |
| Customization | Unlimited | Standard only |
Estimate: above 350,000 FCFA/month in SaaS rent, the build almost always wins by year two, and you stop being hostage to a foreign vendor.
Mini case study
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Dr. Ateba, director of a lab in Johannesburg, processes 1,800 files a month. Before the app, his front desk fielded roughly 12 calls/day asking whether results were ready, about 260 calls/month. After launching the portal + notifications (budget 5,800,000 FCFA), those calls dropped 70 % (78 remaining), freeing ~15 hours/month. Average turnaround fell from 48h to 20h, and the online portal drove +12 % volume (216 extra files) from patients ordering panels from home. Estimated margin gain: 1,900,000 FCFA over the year, not counting recovered admin time.
Becoming a Kolonell referral partner
Do you know labs, clinics or pharmacies still running everything on paper? Our referral partner program pays you for every signed project: 15 % + 5 % recurring on a showcase site, 12 % on e-commerce, 10 % on a marketplace and 8 % on an institutional project. A single successful introduction on a 7,000,000 FCFA LIS earns you several hundred thousand FCFA, with no coding required.
FAQ
How much is the minimum useful version? The patient-focused MVP (results portal + notification + ordering + payment) starts at 5,000,000 FCFA. It's the base that removes the most calls and reassures patients from week one.
How long until the app ships? Plan for 9 to 12 weeks for the full version, of which about 3 weeks for the results portal alone if you want a fast launch.
Can my analyzers be connected? Yes, via HL7 or standard file interfaces. Budget an extra 1,000,000 - 1,800,000 FCFA depending on the number and age of the analyzers.
Is Mobile Money reliable for a lab? Yes, MTN MoMo and Orange Money cover the vast majority of patients. The module handles a deposit at ordering and the balance at pickup, with automatic reconciliation.
What about results confidentiality? Each patient accesses only their own files through a secure account (SMS OTP code). PDFs are encrypted and access is logged, a level paper can never match.
Let's talk about your project. We'll price your LIS module by module within 48 hours, no strings attached. 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.
