The verdict in three sentences
A pharmacy loses money twice: on products it throws out expired and on those it no longer has on the shelf. Batch and expiry tracking, paired with threshold-triggered reordering, cuts waste from 2-6 % to 1-3 % of stock and halves stockouts. For 1,800,000 to 3,800,000 FCFA, the tool pays for itself on avoided waste alone within one season.
The double invisible cost of stock
Capital tied up in medicines is a pharmacy's largest cash item. Too much stock freezes cash and increases expiry; too little creates stockouts and sends customers to the competitor. The app arbitrates continuously.
| Indicator | Without tool | With the app (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Expiry waste | 2-6 % of stock | 1-3 % of stock |
| Stockout rate | 8-15 % of items | -50 % |
| Stock turnover | 4-6 turns/yr | +1-2 turns/yr |
| Capital tied up | baseline | -15-25 % |
| Inventory time | 1-2 days | a few hours |
| Expiry alert | manual | automatic D-90 |
What the app costs
Budget varies with the number of items, barcode-scanner connection and accounting integration. Here are the 2026 ranges.
| Item | 2026 range (FCFA) | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Stock + expiry app | 1,800,000 - 2,800,000 | batches, thresholds, alerts |
| Sales + till module | +400,000 - 700,000 | receipt, journal |
| Barcode scanner + hardware | 150,000 - 350,000 | handheld |
| Catalogue import + training | 200,000 - 450,000 | item import |
| Annual maintenance | 250,000 - 550,000/yr | support, updates |
| Stock value managed | 10 - 60 M | by pharmacy |
Mini case study
Mr. Kone runs a pharmacy in Abidjan with 25,000,000 FCFA of stock. He threw out 4 % a year, i.e. 1,000,000 FCFA of waste, and suffered stockouts costing about 1,500,000 FCFA in lost sales. With D-90 expiry alerts and threshold reordering, waste drops to 1.5 % (375,000 FCFA) and stockouts halve (+750,000 FCFA of sales). Annual gain: 1,875,000 FCFA, for an app at 2,500,000 FCFA paid back in 16 months, excluding the cash-flow gain.
FAQ
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Does the app track batches and expiry dates at intake?
Yes. Each entry records the batch number and date, enabling FEFO (first expired, first out) picking and an automatic alert 90 days before expiry.
Do I need a barcode scanner?
Recommended but not required. A handheld at 150,000-350,000 FCFA speeds intake and sales and cuts entry errors, often 3 to 5 % when manual.
Is reordering automatic?
The app computes a threshold per item based on turnover and proposes an order. The pharmacist approves it: this avoids both stockouts and overstock that freezes cash.
Can it track several pharmacies?
Yes, one instance centralises several outlets with a consolidated dashboard of stock value, waste and stockouts per site.
Does it work without a permanent connection?
Yes, sales and intakes run offline and sync afterward, essential in areas with unstable 3G.
Let's talk about your project. We equip your pharmacy to kill waste and stockouts. 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.
