Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have the potential to significantly transform the operations and prospects of small pharmacies nationwide. According to Microsoft, AI can enhance small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the pharmaceutical sector by providing improved access to financial services, streamlining processes, and enhancing service delivery.
This, in turn, could greatly impact national healthcare, particularly in terms of medicine availability.
During a discussion about a new partnership with Kenyan startup Zendawa, Gerald Maithya, general manager of the Microsoft Africa Transformation Office, emphasized how AI is reimagining pharmaceutical operations in both rural and urban areas of East Africa.
The technology is facilitating online access to pharmaceutical offerings and providing financing solutions for small businesses and pharmacies. Zendawa has partnered with tech firm Flapmax and Microsoft to implement these AI-powered solutions.
“Zendawa is a great example of what small businesses in Africa can accomplish with AI. That’s why Microsoft’s ambition is to democratize our breakthroughs in AI to help local businesses be more productive and go on to solve the most pressing problems of the continent,” Maithya said.
”We’re excited to support Zendawa as they look to transform access to quality healthcare in Africa.”
Through the partnership, Zendawa has established a marketplace where users can order pharmaceutical products online. By leveraging AI, Zendawa can match these orders with the nearest pharmacy and facilitate last-mile delivery. Additionally, to enhance forecasting within pharmacies and improve access to funding, the startup employs optimized software tools and improved supply chain management.
Recognizing that operational expenses account for about 70 percent of pharmacies’ annual budget, Zendawa offers these businesses a digital suite to monitor their online and offline sales.
The platform utilizes AI to analyze data from this suite and generate credit scores for its pharmacy partners. According to Wilfred Chege, Co-founder and CEO, these scores help unlock access to capital, which pharmacies can use to restock or cover utility costs.
Currently, Zendawa serves 520 pharmacies in the region, with plans to reach 10,000 by the end of the year. Through this expansion, the startup aims to transform the landscape for local pharmacies, enabling them to contribute positively to the availability of essential medicines across East Africa while also fostering small business development and job creation.
