Mr. N.S. Balasubramanian

CEO, Aster Retail GCC | Aster Pharmacy

"Together, we’ve created a more efficient and responsive operation, reducing inventory while improving availability and enabling smarter, faster decision-making."

Slimstock has partnered with Aster Pharmacy, GCC’s leading retail chain with three decades of experience in pharmaceutical, health and wellness products retailing, and presence across UAE, Oman, KSA, Bahrain and Jordan.

Following the successful implementation of Slimstock’s Slim4 platform, Aster Pharmacy has been able to further enhance its supply chain performance and improve product availability leading to efficient management of inventory and excess stock.

 

About Aster Pharmacy

Part of the Aster DM Healthcare Group – region’s leading integrated healthcare provider, Aster Pharmacy operates 338 outlets served by 2284 pharmacists. With product categories comprising of Beauty, Lifestyle & Fitness, Personal Care, Mother & Baby, Nutrition, Medical Essentials and Equipment & Homecare, Aster Pharmacy is championing good health and wellness by making products easily accessible through the myAster Super App which offers home delivery of prescription and OTC products across UAE, within 90 minutes.

In Saudi Arabia, Aster Pharmacies began operations in 2024, with an ambitious plan to establish 180 pharmacies over the next few years.

 

Managing Complexity Across the Network

With Aster Pharmacy’s fast expansion across the region, there was a need to quickly introduce efficient management and planning systems to support the scale. The implementation of Slimstock’s Slim4 platform has brought in better visibility into demand variability and enabling more agile, data-driven planning, strengthening Aster’s ability to respond quickly to evolving patient and customer needs.

With demand patterns varying across locations, Slim 4 has helped optimise inventory across the network by improving forecasting accuracy and ensuring the right products are available in the right stores at the right time. It has also supported stronger inventory efficiency, regulatory compliance, and smarter decision-making, further enhancing Aster Pharmacy’s ability to deliver seamless, high-quality care.

 

Delivering Measurable Results with Slim4

Just two months after the successful go-live of Slim4 across Aster stores, the results speak for themselves, with measurable improvements across key supply chain performance metrics:

  • 19% reduction in inventory (days on hand), freeing up working capital and improving cash flow
  • 4% increase in product availability, enhancing service levels across stores
  • 26% reduction in excess stock, reflecting more accurate planning and better alignment between supply and demand

 

“As Aster Pharmacy continues its growth across the region, building scale with efficiency remains a key priority for us. Investing in technology and working with trusted partners like Slimstock enables us to continue strengthening our supply chain, improve agility, and optimise inventory across our expanding network. These capabilities are essential in helping us serve our customers better, while supporting sustainable growth and operational excellence” Mr. N.S. Balasubramanian – CEO, Aster Retail GCC.

“The results achieved with Aster Pharmacy highlight the power of a truly collaborative approach to supply chain planning. Together, we’ve created a more efficient and responsive operation, reducing inventory while improving availability and enabling smarter, faster decision-making.”

Rachid Labrik – CEO, Slimstock MEA.

 

Looking Ahead

The project focuses on improving replenishment across Aster Pharmacy’s network, with particular emphasis on Vitamins, OTC products, and complementary items.

Future phases are expected to include enhanced promotion planning and further automation of allocation and inventory management processes.

 

About Slimstock

Slimstock is a leading supply chain planning partner, helping retailers and distributors across the globe improve forecast accuracy, optimise inventory, and accelerate business performance through the Slim4 platform.

About Aster Pharmacy

Aster Pharmacy, part of Aster DM Healthcare Group, is GCC’s leading retail chain with three decades of experience in pharmaceutical, health and wellness products retailing, with a presence through 338 + outlets served by 2,284 pharmacists. With product categories comprising of Beauty, Lifestyle & Fitness, Personal

Care, Mother & Baby, Nutrition, Medical Essentials and Equipment & Homecare, Aster Pharmacy products can be easily accessed through the myAster Super App which offers home delivery of prescription and OTC products across UAE, within 90 minutes.