Kenyan Pharmacies Get AI-Powered Inventory Intelligence

Microsoft has partnered with Kenyan health-tech startup Zendawa to deploy an AI-powered solution that is helping independent pharmacies across Kenya improve efficiency, reduce medicine wastage, and increase sales.

The solution, built using Microsoft 365 Copilot, Power BI, and Microsoft Azure, enables pharmacies to digitise inventory management, gain real-time business insights, and make data-driven decisions that were previously out of reach for small and medium-sized healthcare retailers.

Independent pharmacies play a critical role in Kenya’s healthcare system but often operate with thin margins and manual processes. Zendawa’s AI-driven platform replaces pen-and-paper stock management with predictive analytics, automated reporting, and demand forecasting, allowing pharmacists to optimise stock levels, minimise losses from expired medicines, and better serve their communities.

“Small pharmacies are essential to healthcare access in Kenya, yet many struggle with operational inefficiencies and limited access to business intelligence,” said Wilfred Chege, Co-Founder and CEO of Zendawa. “By leveraging Microsoft’s AI technologies, we are giving pharmacists tools that help them reduce losses, grow revenue, and operate more sustainably.”

Pharmacists using the platform report significant reductions in expired stock, improved visibility into fast-moving medicines, and increased daily sales. Automated stock-taking has also reduced the need for frequent shop closures, allowing pharmacies to remain open longer and serve more customers.

“At Ryche pharmacy, expired stock used to cost us thousands of shillings every month,” said Dr. Bramwel Othieno, a pharmacist using Zendawa’s platform. “With the AI insights, we can now track expiry dates, predict demand, and focus more on patient care instead of manual record-keeping.”

Beyond operational improvements, the platform also enables pharmacies to build data-based credit profiles, helping them access financing from lending partners without traditional collateral, a long-standing challenge for small healthcare businesses.

Launched in 2023, Zendawa has expanded rapidly across Nairobi and other urban centres, supporting hundreds of pharmacies as they transition to digital operations. The collaboration with Microsoft highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence in strengthening healthcare supply chains and supporting small and independent businesses across Africa that play a critical role in medicine access that play a critical role in medicine access.

AI has the potential to unlock productivity and economic opportunity for businesses of all sizes. Microsoft Through partnerships like this with Zendawa, Microsoft is supporting local innovation that addresses real-world challenges in healthcare delivery and business sustainability.

In Kenya, national health utilisation data shows that a significant share of outpatient care begins at community pharmacies or clinics with pharmacies, highlighting their importance as a first point of contact within the healthcare system. By combining local innovation with global AI capabilities, Microsoft and Zendawa are demonstrating how technology can deliver practical, scalable solutions that improve healthcare delivery, enhance business resilience, and support Kenya’s broader digital transformation agenda.

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