The verdict in three sentences
A Cotonou practice digitizing booking and the patient record spends 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA on online scheduling, and 4,000,000 to 10,000,000 FCFA on a custom shared patient record. The fastest return comes from SMS reminders, which cut missed appointments (no-shows) by 30 to 50%. Expect a 3-to-5-month project, or a few weeks if you start from a configured off-the-shelf solution.
Buying a solution or building custom
An off-the-shelf solution is billed monthly and deploys fast but imposes its fields and ergonomics. Custom fits your organization (specialties, local insurer third-party payment, languages) and belongs to you, at the cost of an upfront investment.
| Criterion | Off-the-shelf | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 200,000 to 800,000 FCFA (setup) | 5,500,000 to 14,000,000 FCFA |
| Recurring cost | 30,000 to 120,000 FCFA/month | 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA/month (hosting + maintenance) |
| Timeline | 3 to 8 weeks | 3 to 5 months |
| Local adaptation | Low | Total |
| Data ownership | With the vendor | With the practice |
| Online booking included | Depends on plan | Yes, custom |
Modules and measurable gains
Price breaks down by module. The most profitable line is the reminder system: in a high-volume practice, each avoided no-show is a billable consultation recovered.
| Module | 2026 range (FCFA) | Main gain |
|---|---|---|
| Online booking + calendar | 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 | 24/7 calendar fill |
| Shared patient record | 4,000,000 to 10,000,000 | History, prescriptions, follow-up |
| Automatic SMS reminders | 500,000 to 1,500,000 | No-shows -30 to -50% |
| Billing + third-party payment | 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 | Faster collection |
| Patient portal | 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 | Patient autonomy |
| Hosting + maintenance | 150,000 to 400,000/month | Availability, security |
Mini case study
Dr Adjovi runs a 4-doctor practice in Cotonou with 1,200 consultations/month at 8,000 FCFA. His no-show rate is 18%, i.e. 216 lost consultations/month = 1,728,000 FCFA/month of lost revenue. A booking + SMS-reminder module at 3,000,000 FCFA plus 200,000 FCFA/month cuts no-shows to 9%. He recovers 108 consultations/month = 864,000 FCFA/month. The investment is paid back in under 4 months, and the net gain after recurring cost exceeds 660,000 FCFA/month from the first month of operation.
FAQ
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How much does online booking alone cost?
Between 1,500,000 and 4,000,000 FCFA custom-built depending on the number of practitioners and calendar rules. An off-the-shelf solution can start at 30,000 FCFA/month subscription.
Do SMS reminders really cut no-shows?
Yes: practices see a 30 to 50% drop in missed appointments. In a high-volume practice, it is the fastest module to pay for itself.
What is the timeline for a custom patient record?
Expect 3 to 5 months across scoping, development and migration of existing records. A configured solution deploys in 3 to 8 weeks.
Is patient data secure?
It must be: secure hosting, traced access, backups. We apply encryption and access logging, even outside the French HDS framework.
Can mobile payment be integrated?
Yes, the patient portal can integrate local payments for deposits or consultations. It is a module to price depending on the chosen operator.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of practitioners, your consultation volume and the target modules (booking, record, reminders): we will price a build or hybrid solution with a budget in FCFA and timeline. 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.
