The verdict in three sentences
For a single pharmacy, imported pharmacy software at 3 to 8 million FCFA is often enough, provided it handles Ivorian third-party billing. From 3 pharmacies upward, custom software at 10 to 22 million FCFA excl. VAT (about 15,000 to 34,000 EUR) becomes profitable, because it consolidates stock, moves products close to expiry and runs wholesaler orders from a single screen. The deciding criterion is cutting expiry losses, which commonly weigh 3 to 5 % of stock in Abidjan pharmacies.
Features that make a pharmacy money
A pharmacy in Cocody, Marcory or Yopougon manages 4,000 to 9,000 SKUs, receives daily deliveries from wholesale distributors and bills a growing share of sales to third-party payers (CMU universal health cover, MUGEFCI, private insurers). Without a reliable tool, three leaks add up: expired products on shelves, stockouts on fast-moving molecules and insurance receivables never chased.
| Feature | Expected gain | Imported software | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expiry alerts at 90, 60 and 30 days | Expiry losses cut from 4 % to 1.5 % | Often included | Yes, configurable by family |
| Transfers between pharmacies | Clears batches near expiry | Rarely | Yes, in one click |
| Automatic wholesaler orders | Stockouts halved | Yes, single store | Yes, consolidated |
| CMU and insurer billing | Receivables chased within 30 days | Partial, vendor-dependent | Yes, statements per insurer |
| Till and mobile payment | Wave, Orange Money, MTN MoMo | Varies | Yes |
| Multi-store dashboard | Margin, turnover, dead stock | No or add-on | Yes |
| Batch traceability | Batch recalls in minutes | Yes | Yes |
Imported or custom: the 2026 cost comparison
| Criterion | Imported software | Custom by Kolonell |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 3 to 8 million FCFA per pharmacy | 10 to 22 million FCFA excl. VAT for the network |
| Annual maintenance | 15 to 20 % of license, per pharmacy | 1.5 to 3.5 million FCFA for the network |
| 5-year cost for 3 pharmacies | 15 to 38 million FCFA | 17 to 39 million FCFA |
| Fit with local third-party billing | Vendor-dependent | Built for your insurers |
| Native multi-store | Rare | Yes |
| Data ownership | With the vendor | With you |
| Setup time | 2 to 6 weeks | 3 to 5 months |
Over five years, costs converge for three pharmacies. The difference lies in the gains: custom software runs stock like a single warehouse and cuts expiry losses where single-site software only sees one pharmacy at a time. For a standalone pharmacy, imported software remains the sensible choice.
Detailed budget for a custom project
| Item | Indicative cost (FCFA excl. VAT) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping and mockups | 1,200,000 to 2,000,000 | 3 workshops with owner and staff |
| Stock, batches and expiry | 2,500,000 to 5,000,000 | Core of the project |
| Till and mobile payment | 1,500,000 to 3,500,000 | Receipt printer, drawer, barcode scanner |
| Third-party billing | 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 | Statements and receivables tracking |
| Wholesaler orders | 1,300,000 to 3,000,000 | Suggestions based on turnover |
| Multi-store consolidation | 1,000,000 to 2,500,000 | Transfers and dashboard |
| Data migration and training | 500,000 to 1,000,000 | Catalog, opening stock, 2 sessions |
Add hosting, around 50,000 to 90,000 FCFA a month, and an offline mode at the till so you keep selling during Internet outages.
Mini case study
Dr Kouassi owns 3 pharmacies in Abidjan with average total stock of 75 million FCFA. He loses 4 % of that stock to expiry, i.e. 3 million FCFA per rotation, and stock turns about 6 times a year: the annual loss is close to 18 million FCFA.
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With custom software at 16 million FCFA excl. VAT, alerts and transfers between pharmacies bring expiry losses down to 1.5 %. The loss falls to 6.75 million FCFA, saving 11.25 million FCFA a year. Add 2 million FCFA of better-collected third-party receivables: the project pays back in about 15 months, maintenance included.
FAQ
Does imported software handle CMU third-party billing?
Some vendors have built it in, others have not. Check the per-insurer statements during a demo, because a receivable left unchased for more than 90 days is rarely recovered above 70 %.
What happens during an Internet outage?
The till must work offline and sync once the network is back. This mode usually adds 1 to 2 million FCFA to a custom budget.
How long does it take to migrate existing stock?
Plan a full stock count per pharmacy, 1 to 2 days, then the catalog import. For 6,000 SKUs, migration takes about a week.
Can we take Wave and Orange Money payments?
Yes, the till records Wave, Orange Money and MTN MoMo as payment methods, with daily reconciliation. Merchant fees remain the operator's, often around 1 %.
Can the software suggest wholesaler orders?
It builds a suggestion from the last 60 days of turnover and minimum stock levels. Equipped pharmacies halve their stockouts, as a 2026 ballpark.
Let's scope your project. Tell us how many pharmacies you run, your SKU count and your third-party insurers, and we will price a scope between 10 and 22 million FCFA excl. VAT with a 3 to 5 month timeline. 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.
