The verdict in three sentences
A pharmacy management system links drug stock, expiry dates and digital prescriptions into one flow, cutting stockouts by 40 % and eliminating losses on expired products. Across 4,500 SKUs, the D-60 expiry alert and per-product margin tracking are the two functions that shift profitability. The choice is between a SaaS at 28,000 FCFA/month and a custom system at 750,000 FCFA, the latter paying back in about two years through avoided stockouts.
The functions that matter for a pharmacy in 2026
A pharmacy system's value is not measured in buttons but in what it prevents: sales lost to stockouts and dead stock lost to expiry. Here is the expected baseline in 2026.
| Pharmacy function | What it delivers | 2026 impact (order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
| 4,500-SKU management | Structured catalogue | Product lookup in 3 s |
| D-60 expiry alert | Early sell-through | Expiry losses near zero |
| Stockout reduction | Auto reorder threshold | Stockouts -40 % |
| Margin per product | Fine profitability | Optimized product mix |
| Scanned prescription | Patient history | Secure dispensing |
| Suggested cross-sells | Richer basket | +5 to 8 % average ticket |
| Annual inventory | Assisted counting | 2 days -> 4 hours |
A pharmacy that eliminates stockouts recovers sales that were walking to the competitor across the street. Across 4,500 SKUs, the difference is hundreds of thousands of FCFA per month.
SaaS or custom software: what TCO reveals
The SaaS at 28,000 FCFA/month is 336,000 FCFA a year, all in. Custom at 750,000 FCFA is a one-time investment tuned to your organization and partner insurers. Over three years the gap narrows sharply.
| Criterion | SaaS (28,000 FCFA/mo) | Custom (750,000 FCFA) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 cost | 336,000 FCFA | 750,000 FCFA |
| 3-year cost | 1,008,000 FCFA | 750,000 FCFA + maintenance |
| Digital prescription | Standard | Custom workflow |
| Insurance integration | Vendor-dependent | Tailored to your partners |
| Data ownership | With the vendor | With you |
| Multi-branch | Often a paid add-on | Included in spec |
| Time to launch | 2 to 3 days | 4 to 6 weeks |
SaaS suits a single pharmacy starting without capital. Custom takes the lead from the second branch, or once a specific prescription workflow becomes a competitive edge.
Mini case study
Fatou runs a Lagos pharmacy with 4,500 SKUs. Before the software, she threw away about 900,000 FCFA of expired products a year and lost around twenty sales a day to stockouts at an average 3,500 FCFA, or 70,000 FCFA/day in missed revenue. By cutting stockouts 40 % and expiry to near zero, she recovers roughly 28,000 FCFA in sales a day and saves 900,000 FCFA of losses a year. Over twelve months the gain exceeds 10,000,000 FCFA: her 750,000 FCFA custom system pays for itself in under a quarter.
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FAQ
How much does pharmacy software cost in 2026?
About 750,000 FCFA for custom software, or 28,000 FCFA/month for a SaaS. Custom becomes more profitable from the second year for an active pharmacy.
Does the expiry alert really prevent losses?
Yes. A D-60 alert lets you sell down near-expiry lots via promotions or featured placement. Used well, it brings expiry losses close to zero.
Can prescriptions be managed digitally?
Yes. The prescription is scanned and attached to the patient history, securing dispensing and enabling chronic-treatment follow-up. It is a foundation for digital health.
Does it really reduce stockouts?
With automatic per-SKU reorder thresholds, stockouts commonly fall 40 %. Across 4,500 SKUs managed by hand, this is the fastest source of savings.
How long does an annual inventory take?
With barcode-assisted counting, inventory drops from 2 days to about 4 hours, often done in one evening without closing.
Let's talk about your project. We build your pharmacy software with expiry alerts and digital prescriptions. 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.
