The verdict in three sentences
A pharmacy wanting to manage stock, sales and expiry alerts with a nearshore team weighs a standard pharmacy package (fast, but generic) against a custom build (5,000,000 to 14,000,000 FCFA, about 7,600-21,300 USD). Custom integrates the till, automatic expiry alerts and mobile payment exactly to your organisation. Budget 3 to 6 months and 200,000 to 600,000 FCFA per month of maintenance.
Standard package vs custom
The standard package starts fast but handles expiries poorly and rarely mobile payment; custom fits the pharmacy. FCFA orders of magnitude for 2026.
| Criterion | Standard package | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA | 5,000,000 to 14,000,000 FCFA |
| Expiry alerts | Basic | Automatic and fine-grained |
| Mobile payment Wave/OM | Rare | Native |
| Stock management | Standard | Custom |
| Timeline | 3 to 8 weeks | 3 to 6 months |
| Annual licence | 800,000 to 2,500,000 FCFA | Maintenance 2.4-7.2 M/year |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
The standard package suits a small pharmacy; once stock grows or expiries get costly, custom takes the lead over three years.
Modules and price ranges
Budget depends on active modules. Here is a split for a 9,000,000 FCFA project.
| Module | Share of budget | Amount (base 9 M FCFA) |
|---|---|---|
| Stock management | 28 % | 2,520,000 FCFA |
| Till and sales | 22 % | 1,980,000 FCFA |
| Expiry alerts | 16 % | 1,440,000 FCFA |
| Mobile payment (Wave/OM) | 12 % | 1,080,000 FCFA |
| Dashboards | 10 % | 900,000 FCFA |
| Data migration + training | 12 % | 1,080,000 FCFA |
A pharmacy can start with stock + till, then add expiry alerts and mobile payment in phase 2 to spread the budget.
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Mini case study
Mr Adjovi runs a pharmacy with monthly revenue of 18,000,000 FCFA and about 2.5 % of products thrown away expired for lack of alerts, i.e. 450,000 FCFA per month of losses. Automatic expiry alerts bring this rate to 0.7 %, saving 324,000 FCFA per month, or 3,888,000 FCFA per year. With a custom build at 9,000,000 FCFA and 350,000 FCFA/month of maintenance, the project is repaid in a little over two years on this line alone, the computerised till and mobile payment further accelerating the return.
FAQ
How much does pharmacy software cost in 2026? Custom, budget 5,000,000 to 14,000,000 FCFA depending on modules (stock, till, expiry alerts, mobile payment).
Are expiry alerts automatic? Yes, custom triggers fine-grained alerts by batch and date: about 14 to 18 % of the budget for this module.
What timeline to go live? Allow 3 to 6 months, shorter than a clinic since the pharmacy scope is more contained.
Can mobile payment Wave and Orange Money be integrated? Yes, it is a native module: about 10 to 14 % of the budget for integration and payment confirmations.
Standard package or custom? The standard package starts faster but handles expiries and mobile payment poorly; custom amortises over 2 to 3 years thanks to avoided losses.
Let's scope your project. State the pharmacy size, desired modules (stock, till, expiry alerts, mobile payment) and your indicative budget in FCFA. 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.
