The verdict in three sentences
A neighbourhood pharmacy lets 3 to 6% of its inventory value slip away each year in expired stock and 8 to 12% of revenue in unanticipated stockouts. A vertical app — expiry alerts, e-prescription, delivery, mobile-money payment — recovers that cash and adds 15 to 25% of new revenue through delivery. Priced between 1,500,000 and 3,000,000 FCFA in the Growth tier, it pays for itself in 4 to 8 months.
Where a pharmacy's margin leaks
Inventory is the heaviest and worst-tracked line item. An expired product is money thrown away; a stockout is a customer who goes to the competitor and never comes back. On top of that, the counter queue caps how many prescriptions you can process per day, and the absence of delivery shuts the door on a whole clientele that orders diabetes or blood-pressure medication by phone.
| Loss item | Without app | With app | Estimated gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expired products | 3 to 6% of stock | 1 to 2% of stock | −4% of stock value |
| Lost sales (stockout) | 8 to 12% of revenue | 2 to 4% of revenue | +7% of revenue |
| Prescriptions/day at counter | 90 | 130 (with e-prescription) | +44% throughput |
| New delivery channel | 0 FCFA | +15 to 25% of revenue | New revenue |
| Average basket (refill reminder) | baseline | +18% | Retention |
What the app actually does
Every feature is tied to a measurable saving or revenue stream. This is not a gadget: it is a tool that moves margin.
| Feature | Financial effect | 2026 order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Expiry alert (FEFO) | Sell or return before loss | −4% stock waste |
| E-prescription & refills | Automatic patient reminder | Basket +18% |
| Delivery under 90 min | Opens a sales channel | +15 to 25% revenue |
| Wave / Orange Money payment | Instant collection, zero unpaid | Smooth cash flow |
| Turnover dashboard | Order the right quantity | −2 to 3 pts of stockout |
| Patient history | Relevant cross-sell | +8% customer value |
Mini case study
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Fatou runs a pharmacy in Grand-Yoff, Dakar. Her stock is worth around 9,000,000 FCFA and her monthly revenue is roughly 12,000,000 FCFA. Before the app, she lost nearly 450,000 FCFA a year in expired goods (5% of stock) and missed 10% of sales to stockouts, about 1,200,000 FCFA/year. By cutting waste to 1.5% and stockouts to 3%, she recovers close to 1,200,000 FCFA per year. Delivery adds 18% of revenue on a third of her clientele, roughly 2,500,000 FCFA/year of new income. On a 2,400,000 FCFA investment, payback lands in under 7 months.
FAQ
How much does an inventory app for a pharmacy cost? In the Growth tier, expect between 1,500,000 and 3,000,000 FCFA depending on the features (delivery, e-prescription, multi-branch). A stock + payment base starts lower, around 1,500,000 FCFA.
How fast does it pay off? Between 4 and 8 months for an average pharmacy, with most of the gain coming from fewer expired goods and stockouts, then delivery revenue.
Is delivery really profitable? Yes: it opens a channel worth 15 to 25% of extra revenue, especially on chronic treatments refilled monthly. Delivery under 90 minutes builds lasting loyalty.
Is mobile-money payment secure? The Wave and Orange Money integration collects in real time, removes cash handling and reconciles every order automatically. Zero unpaid on prepaid orders.
Can I manage several branches? Yes, the app centralises multi-site inventory, allows transfers between branches and gives a consolidated view of turnover and margins.
Let's talk about your project. We'll scope your pharmacy app and its ROI in one session. 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.
