Off the busy street of Nairobi, Pharmacies looks like the regular neighbourhood drugstore compact, fast-paced, and essential. But behind the counter, an AI-powered system is quietly reshaping how the pharmacy operates, boosting efficiency and cutting waste.
Running pharmacies has become noticeably smoother since adopting Zendawa, a platform designed to help small pharmacies manage inventory, sales, and finances. With the use of the platform, short expiry drugs can be tracked so they are moved out before they expire.
Solving structural challenges
Most of Kenya’s pharmacies operate as small, independently owned stores serving local communities and playing a critical role in primary healthcare. Yet they face persistent challenges: limited working capital, narrow profit margins, and offline operations that make inventory management inefficient and credit access difficult.
Zendawa was created to address these challenges. Its origins trace back to the COVID-19 pandemic, where it sought to solve last-minute drug delivery issues. The team soon realised that digitising pharmacy operations could unlock far more: from efficient inventory management to financial inclusion.
Turning data into insights—and credit
Zendawa uses AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot and Power BI to give pharmacies actionable insights. It alerts pharmacists to medicines nearing expiration, identifies fast-moving drugs, and forecasts demand based on market trends.
Another highlighted Zendawa’s function is the credit scoring system. By analysing sales, cash flow, and operational data, the platform generates a profile that lets pharmacies access financing without traditional collateral—opening doors to growth for businesses that were previously invisible to lenders.
This is a shift from the traditional collateral-based model to a data-driven approach, and it’s empowering small businesses.”
Small gains with big implications
Since 2023, Zendawa has onboarded over 800 pharmacies across Nairobi and Nakuru. Being online has increased minimum daily sales from about 12,000 to 20,000 Kenyan shillings.
For small pharmacies across Kenya, the story is about more than cost savings. It’s about enabling pharmacists to serve their communities better, make smarter decisions, and access capital to grow. In a healthcare system stretched thin, such efficiency is not just helpful—it is essential.
AI may not replace pharmacists, but it is proving that, when applied thoughtfully, it can transform the way small businesses operate, one neighbourhood pharmacy at a time.
