Why You Should Pay More For Pharmacy Point-of-Sale

There’s a balancing act between cost and value. A figurative tight rope that many attempt to walk when it comes to investment in pharmacy point-of-sale. The fear of spending too much and not getting enough in return to counterbalance the spend is real. Because of this, many pharmacies do the simple thing. They find the cheapest point-of-sale system they can. They stay on the tight rope - just balanced enough to not fall off. And, because the spend is minimal, who cares that there aren’t any returns? 

The problem with this approach is that you aren’t ever going to get to the other side of that tight rope and onto stable ground, to a place where the balancing act doesn’t exist. Because behind the scenes, that inexpensive or bundled-in point-of-sale system isn’t doing anything to help your pharmacy grow. It’s not helping to streamline the business processes that eat away at time and money. It doesn’t have the tools to improve the customer experience. You might be paying nothing... but what are you gaining?   

Consider that a higher investment can yield higher returns. Yes, output increases; but, soon enough, the balancing act will stop and you’ll be off the tightrope for good.  

So, how does that happen? Here are some of the ways that investment in a point-of-sale system can give you better returns in the long run.  

Better Data 

The quality of your data can make or break your bottom line. The better your data, the more visibility you have into the overall health of your pharmacy. Knowing which products are your best sellers, which products offer the best return on investment, and which products are the worst performers is how you make the most money from your front-end. And that’s important whether you have 100 SKUs or 10,000!

Data can also tell you when your store is busiest, what products are selling under your target margin, and who your best customers are. The list goes on and on.  

Your point-of-sale system is the hub that every transaction - every sale you make - goes through. The date collected there is invaluable. The question is, can you access it? And is it presented in a useable, easy-to-understand, actionable format?  

Customer-Centric Programs 

Let’s get one thing out of the way: Profit isn’t a bad word. Profit doesn’t mean you care less about your patients. You can actively sell more and be more customer-centric at the same time.  

Your point-of-sale system is where it all happens. Because every transaction goes through the register, it’s the optimal place to enhance the customer interaction. When you sell prescriptions known to cause drug-induced nutrient depletions, integrated notifications during the checkout process make it easy to recommend the appropriate supplement. Counsel queuing can help you curate a more intimate patient counselling experience, too.  

We also can’t forget about the value a good promotion brings to your patients. A well designed, targeted promotional program helps you to drive incremental, repeat business. And, you can give customers the most modern shopping experience possible with digital couponing.  

Happier Employees 

Happier employees are always going to perform better than unhappy ones. How does investment in point-of-sale make your employees happier? By taking the stress out of their day-to-day. An intuitive, easy-to-use system not only means they can focus on your customers, but the real differentiator is proper support. Knowing that there’s always someone they can call to get help with questions and problems alike is huge. Plus, it means you might be able to take a few more days off, because you’ve got someone in your corner 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

More Flexibility  

When was the last time a one-size-fits-all approach really offered the right fit for your pharmacy? Business is all about evolving. Whether it’s the need to change your approach due to new competition, or the ability to use a credit card solution that doesn’t over charge you, flexibility is important. Spending a little more today on a solution that will grow and adapt with you as your needs change over time will save you so much in the long run.  

Ready to learn more? Pharmacy point-of-sale that helps you grow profits and improve customer-centricity is within your reach. Schedule a one-on-one consultation with one of our team members today to get started!