Safaricom PLC has walked away with top honours at the 2025 Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Africa Excellence in Procurement and Supply Awards, earning recognition for a digital transformation that is reshaping its sourcing operations.
The Nairobi-based telecoms giant was named winner in the Best Use of Digital Technology category for its Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Supply Market Analysis solution.
The platform equips procurement teams with immediate access to data on suppliers, pricing structures, competitive landscapes, industry shifts, and potential risks.
What once demanded nearly a month of analysis can now be completed in about 10 minutes.
Safaricom says the AI tool has already influenced faster and more informed decisions, enhanced cost visibility, and sped up tendering processes.
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It forms part of a larger set of digital tools being scaled across the company to improve efficiency and agility in procurement.
Reflecting on the win, Safaricom CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa explained that the recognition is not just a trophy, but a marker of progress towards the company’s long-term transformation goals.
“This award brings us closer to our vision of becoming Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company by 2030. By using AI to improve how we work, we are making our operations faster, smarter and more innovative,” Ndegwa stated.
In the same category, South Africa’s Rohloff Group was commended for an Energy Management initiative, while World Vision East African Region earned praise for its Contract Life Cycle Management project.
The CIPS Africa Excellence in Procurement and Supply Awards, run by the global professional body for procurement and supply, spotlight organisations setting new performance standards in the sector.
For Safaricom, the win not only signals industry leadership but also points to a broader shift in how digital intelligence is shaping procurement strategies across Africa.
