The verdict in three sentences
An on-duty pharmacy app solves a problem everyone has faced: finding, at night or on Sunday, which pharmacy is on duty and whether it has the medicine. It geolocates the on-duty branch, shows stock availability and reserves the box for 2 hours, cutting wasted trips by 70 %. 2026 investment: 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA to build or 15,000 to 35,000 FCFA/month on SaaS, across a network of 40 to 120 pharmacies.
Calling / door-to-door vs a locator + reservation app
Without an app, the patient calls at random or tours the neighbourhoods. The app centralises duty, stock and reservation (2026 ballpark).
| Criterion | Calling / door-to-door | Locator + reservation app |
|---|---|---|
| Find the on-duty branch | Paper list / rumour | Real-time geolocation |
| Check medicine availability | On site | Before leaving |
| Wasted trips | Frequent | -70 % |
| Box reservation | No | Yes, held 2 h |
| Pharmacy coverage | Fragmented | 40 to 120 pharmacies |
| History / prescription | None | Optional |
| Night / Sunday channel | Hard | Smooth |
Costs, basket and coverage
The model lives on a network of partner pharmacies and a modest but recurring average basket. 2026 Dakar ballparks.
| Item | 2026 value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Average pharmacy basket | 2,000 to 25,000 FCFA | Depends on prescription |
| Reservation duration | 2 hours | Box set aside |
| Network coverage | 40 to 120 pharmacies | Dakar density |
| Custom app build | 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA | Network owns it |
| Locator SaaS | 15,000 to 35,000 FCFA/month | Fast start |
| Delivery time | 6 to 10 weeks | Custom build |
| Wasted-trip reduction | -70 % | Check before leaving |
Mini case study
Aïcha lives in Grand-Yoff. Her child has a fever at 11 pm: instead of touring three pharmacies blindly, she opens the app, sees the on-duty branch 1.2 km away has the antipyretic in stock, reserves the box at 3,500 FCFA and collects it in 15 minutes. Across a network of 80 pharmacies, each partner captures night sales it would otherwise have lost to chance — and the patient saves two wasted trips out of three.
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Become a Kolonell referral partner
Do you know pharmacists, labs or clinics that need a vertical app? The Kolonell referral partner programme pays you for every signed project you introduce. Commission rates by division are clear (2026 ballpark).
| Division | Sale commission | Recurring |
|---|---|---|
| Showcase site | 15 % | 5 % |
| E-commerce | 12 % | — |
| Marketplace | 10 % | — |
| Institutional | 8 % | — |
On a vertical app priced in the showcase/e-commerce range, a single signed introduction can earn you several hundred thousand FCFA.
FAQ
How is the displayed stock kept up to date? The pharmacy updates availability from its back-office; the reservation is held for 2 hours, giving time to come without locking up stock.
How many pharmacies before the app is useful? A coverage of 40 to 120 pharmacies credibly covers Dakar; we often start with a pilot district then densify.
Can the medicine be sold online? Reservation takes priority: the box is set aside and payment happens at the counter, respecting medicine regulations.
What budget and timeline? 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA for a custom build, 6 to 10 weeks; a locator SaaS starts faster from 15,000 FCFA/month.
Let's talk about your project — or become a referral partner. We'll launch your on-duty pharmacy app, and we pay you if you introduce a client. 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.
