Many chemist owners in Kenya don't stand at the counter all day. They run a second business, look after family or manage two branches. A chemist management system on your phone lets you see what is happening without being there. Here is what a normal day looks like.
7:30 am: open the till
The cashier opens a shift and counts the opening float. From now on every sale is recorded against that shift, so at closing the cash in the drawer can be checked against what the system expects.
8:00 am to midday: serve customers fast
A customer asks for cetirizine. The cashier types "cet" or scans the barcode, taps the item and takes payment by M-Pesa. Prescription-only items show a POM flag so the cashier calls the pharmacist. If a brand is out of stock, searching the generic name shows the alternatives on the shelf.
Regular customers who pay at month end are sold on credit, within the limit you set for them. Their balance and statement are always on their page.
Midday: a delivery arrives
The supplier's van drops off antibiotics and ORS. The stock is received as a purchase: quantity, cost, batch number and expiry date for each line. Stock goes up, the buying cost updates and the amount owed to the supplier is recorded.
2:00 pm: you check in from wherever you are
On your phone you open the dashboard: sales so far today, gross profit, what customers owe and what you owe suppliers, plus how the month is going compared with last month.
4:00 pm: expiry and reorder
Once a week, open the expiry list. Anything expiring within 90 days goes to the front shelf or back to the supplier. The reorder list shows fast movers that are running low, based on what actually sells.
8:00 pm: close and cash up
The cashier closes the shift: the system shows expected cash, M-Pesa and card, the cashier enters the cash counted, and any shortage or excess is recorded. You see the day's totals on your phone before you sleep.
Why this matters
When the numbers are in one place, you stop guessing. You know which products make money, which expire on you, who owes you and whether a cashier's drawer is short. That is the difference between a chemist that survives and one that grows.
Afritelligence is a pharmacy POS system in Kenya that works on any phone, with the app included. see the prices and start with the small package.
What to check on your phone every day
- Sales today and gross profit: is the counter making money, not just busy?
- Cash-up results: did any shift come out short?
- Customers who owe you: who is due to pay this week?
- What you owe suppliers: which invoices are due?
- Low stock: what must be ordered before the weekend?
Running two chemists
Owners with more than one branch can switch between branches on the same phone and see each one's sales, stock and cash-up separately, or all of them together. Stock is kept per branch, so you always know where each batch is.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see sales when I'm not at the chemist?
Yes. The dashboard updates as sales happen, on any phone or computer you sign in from.
Can the cashier see my profit?
No. Cashiers see what they need to sell and receive stock; costs and profit stay with the owner.
What if the internet goes down?
Sales need a connection to be saved. Most chemists use phone data as a backup when Wi-Fi drops.
Can I give my pharmacist a separate login?
Yes. Every staff member gets their own login, so each sale shows who made it.
Is my data safe if my phone is lost?
Yes. Your records are kept online, not on the phone. Sign in on a new phone and everything is there.
Run your shop on Afritelligence
POS with M-Pesa, stock, suppliers, credit and intelligent Insights — on the phone or computer you already have.
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