A pharmacy that nails Google Maps + on-call signalling + SMS notifications sees its night revenue climb 40% and daytime clientele become loyal. The tech is simple, the operational discipline isn't — and that's where 80% of Dakar pharmacists lose the plot.
TL;DR
- Optimised Google Maps + on-call hours kept live = +40% night/weekend visits on-call.
- No online medicine sales in Senegal (strict regulation), but reservation + in-store pickup with pay-on-site = accepted model.
- Client SMS for prescription readiness, treatment refill, seasonal vaccination: +60% retention.
The 2am scenario that repeats
Mrs Thiaw, Sacré Cœur 3, 2:14 a.m. Her 4-year-old spikes 39.8°C, paracetamol empty at home. She types "pharmacie de garde Dakar" into Google. Three results:
- "Pharmacie Avicenne": Google listing 80 reviews, hours up to date, "On call tonight — open until 8" badge. Geolocated.
- "Pharmacie du Palais": Google listing no on-call info, hours "8am-8pm".
- "Pharmacie Moderne": abandoned listing, 2019 photos, hours not updated.
Mrs Thiaw picks Avicenne. 7 minutes by car. Finds the medication. Spends 18,500 FCFA (kids' paracetamol + thermometer + saline). Leaves reassured. The other two lost the sale without knowing she existed.
What belongs on site/Google Business
A model Google Business
- Indoor and storefront photos (night AND day)
- Exact weekday + weekend hours
- On-call badge refreshed every Monday from the Order of Pharmacists rota
- 100% reply rate on reviews, including negative
- Main in-stock products visible (paracetamol, Covid tests, infant formula, sunscreen, etc.)
"On-call pharmacy" page
Public calendar of your on-call dates (4-6/month by sector). Chronic patients memorise your on-call dates and plan refills accordingly. Huge SEO value: "pharmacy on-call + neighbourhood" is ultra-qualified traffic.
Prescription reservation
The patient photos their prescription, uploads to the site, receives SMS "Your prescription is ready for pickup at 3pm, 23,450 FCFA". 3x faster queue. Payment in-store only (regulation).
SMS reminders
- Chronic treatment refill (hypertension, diabetes, thyroid)
- Vaccination reminder (flu Oct-Nov), meningitis, travel malaria
- Stock arrival alert ("Your Ventolin is in, collect D+1")
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Public health page (SEO gold)
Articles signed by the registered pharmacist: malaria season, back-to-school, fever self-care. Do NOT make therapeutic promises (regulation), but health education. Strong organic traffic + local authority.
What Kolonell delivers for a pharmacy
Digital Pharmacy Pack: 5-6 page site + optimised Google Business + auto-synced on-call calendar + secure prescription upload + SMS reminders + pharmacy software integration (PharmaSoft, Actipharm).
Delivered in 4 to 6 weeks, 480,000 to 720,000 FCFA. Maintenance 32,000 FCFA/month + SMS billed separately (~0.10 EUR/SMS, typically 40 EUR/month for 400 reminders).
"I have 8 years in the neighbourhood, but my Google Maps was empty. In 3 months with Kolonell I went from 18 reviews to 104. My on-call revenue exploded — nights at 350,000 FCFA when before it was 80-100K."
— Registered pharmacist, Mermoz Dakar
FAQ
Can medicines be sold online in Senegal?
No, prohibited by the Public Health Code. Only reservation + in-store pickup + pay-in-pharmacy. Don't confuse with para-pharmacy (cosmetics, supplements) — there, online sales are possible with care.
Can pharmacist photos be on the site?
Yes, provided they are the identified registered pharmacist (diploma + Order registration shown). No staff photos without written consent.
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You're a Dakar pharmacist and Google Maps brings you nothing?
kolonell.com/en/devis-gratuit — WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Ba
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.
