The verdict in three sentences
An optical shop that doesn't prompt renewals loses 20 to 30 % of otherwise predictable repeat business. A dedicated app centralizes prescriptions, frame and lens stock, after-sales and insurer quotes, and triggers automatic follow-ups. The result: 1.5 to 3 M FCFA of additional sales per year and better-controlled stock.
Custom or generic register?
A generic register takes payment but ignores prescriptions, lens tracking and follow-ups; custom turns your client file into a repeat-business engine. 2026 order of magnitude.
| Criterion | Generic register | Custom app |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 0 to 400,000 FCFA | 1,500,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA |
| Monthly subscription | 15,000 to 50,000 FCFA | 0 to 40,000 FCFA (hosting) |
| Lens prescription tracking | None | Complete |
| Renewal follow-ups | Manual | Automatic |
| Insurer quotes / after-sales | Limited | Built in |
| 3-year cost (estimate) | 540,000 to 2.2 M FCFA | 1.5 to 4 M FCFA |
What the app saves an optician
The levers: renewal follow-ups, fine-grained frame/lens stock management and after-sales. 2026 estimates for a shop doing 80 sales/month, average ticket 65,000 FCFA.
| Indicator | Before | After app | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repeat rate (renewal) | 25 to 35 % | 45 to 55 % | +20 pts |
| Additional sales / year | base | +1.5 to 3 M FCFA | follow-ups |
| Popular-frame stockouts | frequent | rare | -60 % |
| Insurer quote time | 15 to 25 min | 5 min | -70 % |
| After-sales delay (lens/frame) | vague | tracked | satisfaction |
Prescriptions, stock and follow-ups
The heart of the tool: keep prescription history (correction, date, script), track frame and lens stock by reference and supplier, and automatically follow up with clients whose glasses are 18 to 24 months old — the typical renewal age. Add insurer quote generation and after-sales tracking, and the client file becomes a real repeat-business machine.
Mini case study
Mamadou runs an optical shop in Dakar: 80 sales/month, average ticket 65,000 FCFA, 30 % repeat rate. He invests 2,000,000 FCFA in a custom app. Automatic follow-ups lift the repeat rate to 48 %: across his 1,500-client base, that generates about 120 extra sales/year, i.e. nearly 2.3 M FCFA of additional revenue. In parallel, stock tracking reduces stockouts on popular frames. The app pays for itself in under 12 months.
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FAQ
How much does an optician app cost in 2026?
Order of magnitude 1.5 to 3.5 M FCFA depending on modules (prescriptions + stock + follow-ups + insurer quotes + after-sales). Hosting: 0 to 40,000 FCFA/month.
Are renewal follow-ups really profitable?
Yes: it's the most powerful lever. Following up at 18 to 24 months can lift the repeat rate from 30 % to 50 %, worth hundreds of thousands of FCFA a year.
Can frame and lens stock be managed separately?
Yes. A custom app tracks each reference by supplier, with threshold alerts to avoid stockouts on best-sellers.
Are insurer quotes supported?
Yes: the app generates compliant quotes and speeds up third-party payment, cutting admin time by 70 %.
What is the setup timeline?
6 to 10 weeks for custom, versus a few days for a generic register with no business tracking.
Let's talk about your project. We'll build your optical app around renewal follow-ups and your stock. 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.
