The verdict in three sentences
A pharmacy tracking stock on paper or spreadsheets loses 5 to 12 % of its margin to expired products, stockouts and counter errors. Pharmacy management software costs 1,500,000 to 4,500,000 FCFA (EUR 2,290-6,860) as custom development, or 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA/month as a subscription. The return on investment comes from avoided expiries and time saved at the counter, usually within 8 to 14 months.
What pharmacy software actually does
Good pharmacy software is not just a till. It manages stock by batch and expiry date, triggers alerts before stockouts, builds supplier orders, connects insurance/health-fund coverage and traces every prescription. The pharmacist sees tied-up stock value and dormant products in real time.
| Function | Without software | With software |
|---|---|---|
| Expiry alert | None, manual check | Automatic 90 days ahead |
| Counter sale | 90 to 150 s/customer | 30 to 50 s/customer |
| Yearly expiry loss | 5 to 12 % of stock | 1 to 3 % of stock |
| Flagship stockouts | Frequent | Rare (auto threshold) |
| Insurance coverage | Paper, errors | On-screen, traced |
| Annual inventory | 2 to 3 closed days | 3 to 4 hours |
What it costs in 2026 (ballpark)
Two models coexist in Dakar: SaaS subscription (fast, shared) and custom (fitted to your processes, your ownership). Here are the 2026 ranges observed.
| Package | Upfront FCFA | Recurring FCFA/month | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS Starter | 0 to 300,000 | 25,000 to 40,000 | Single pharmacy |
| SaaS Pro | 300,000 to 600,000 | 45,000 to 75,000 | High-volume pharmacy |
| Custom Essential | 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 | 30,000 to 50,000 (support) | Demanding pharmacy |
| Custom Complete | 3,000,000 to 4,500,000 | 50,000 to 90,000 (support) | Multi-branch group |
| Insurance module | 400,000 to 900,000 | included | High third-party share |
Add hardware (barcode scanner 35,000-80,000 FCFA, receipt printer 60,000-150,000 FCFA) and staff training (1 to 2 days).
Mini case study
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Mr Fall runs a pharmacy in Grand Dakar, with 18,000,000 FCFA of tied-up stock and about 8 % annual loss to expiry and breakage, i.e. 1,440,000 FCFA/year. He invests 2,400,000 FCFA in custom software plus 45,000 FCFA/month support (540,000 FCFA/year).
In year one, alerts cut losses to 3 %, i.e. 540,000 FCFA, saving 900,000 FCFA. Halving counter time lets him serve 15 % more customers at peak. Total year-1 cost: 2,940,000 FCFA; direct gains: 900,000 FCFA plus extra sales. Payback around 13 months, then 900,000 FCFA/year of recurring savings.
FAQ
How much does pharmacy software cost in Dakar in 2026? Expect 25,000 to 75,000 FCFA/month for SaaS, or 1,500,000 to 4,500,000 FCFA for custom development depending on modules (stock, insurance, multi-branch).
Does it manage expiry by batch? Yes, that is its key function: each batch is tracked by date, with an alert 60 to 90 days before expiry, cutting losses from 8 % to 2-3 % of stock.
Can it connect to insurers and health funds? A third-party-payer module traces coverage on screen and avoids paper rejections; it costs 400,000 to 900,000 FCFA custom and pays back fast with a high insurance share.
How long to deploy? SaaS is live in 1 to 2 weeks; custom takes 6 to 12 weeks depending on modules and existing-stock migration.
Is it compliant with pharmaceutical regulation? Serious software traces prescriptions, batches and outflows, a prerequisite for traceability obligations; we build these rules in from the design stage.
Let's scope your project. Single pharmacy or group, third-party payer, stock migration: tell us your monthly volume and indicative budget. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
