Change in business can come slowly or rapidly, but, eventually, all industries evolve to suit the new needs of their customer base. The same is true, of course, for pharmacies. Thanks to new technologies, new business practices, and new customer preferences, the very nature of the industry is changing. Pharmacy trends are inevitable –– not something […]
Change in business can come slowly or rapidly, but, eventually, all industries evolve to suit the new needs of their customer base. The same is true, of course, for pharmacies. Thanks to new technologies, new business practices, and new customer preferences, the very nature of the industry is changing. Pharmacy trends are inevitable –– not something that business owners should fear.
The problem is that some pharmacies make reactionary changes that don’t actually improve the customer experience or business outcomes. Still others don’t react at all and end up falling behind their more progressive competitors. Identifying what’s coming for your industry and how best to adapt to these hurdles is crucial to long-term business success. To that end, here are three examples of trends we’ve seen grow, and that we anticipate being even more important for pharmacies in the years to come:
Patient Care as a Primary Business Model
Pharmacies are no longer just places to get prescriptions filled or to purchase odds and ends. Rather, for many consumers, patient care and wellness is now a primary focus. Pharmacies that embrace this model can see big returns, especially if they offer a service like the Nutrient Depletion recommendations. POS integrated nutrient depletion gives you the opportunity to take advantage of an interface that automatically sends product recommendations to combat potential nutrient depletion caused by some prescriptions. This is a win-win upgrade since it’ll help you provide better patient care while boosting the bottom line at the same time.
Convenience is King
Customers have always wanted things to be easy. (At RMS, we like them to be crazy-easy!) That much isn’t new. The difference today is that customers are accustomed to a certain level of convenience. So pharmacies that don’t go above and beyond risk losing key clientele. That’s why features like curbside pickup, drive thru-services, and/or bedside delivery (if you’re an outpatient pharmacy,) are fast becoming the norm. Using a mobile application like RMS’ EvolutionPOSV2 tablet helps to take these services to the next level. With a product like this, pharmacy employees will be able to complete transactions outside of their physical location with ease.
Everyone Wants it Now
As much as we like things to be easy, we also don’t like having to wait. This means if your pharmacy offers any front-end merchandise, it’s important to keep it in stock at all times. Thankfully, modern pharmacies can use their point-of-sale system to monitor product movement. By improving inventory management, pharmacies can cut down on order expenses, ensure they have full shelves, and increase their ROI on front-end products. If you have a large front end in your pharmacy, think about using an Inventory Control program to make sure that you don’t lose customers over out-of-stock items.
Conclusion
Keeping up with industry trends is a never-ending project. There’s always something new to consider and evaluate. But if you don’t, you run the risk of being left behind. At RMS, we specialize in providing innovative tech solutions to support pharmacies looking to upgrade their internal processes. We have the experience and the resources to help your organization, so contact us here today to learn more!
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