People don’t like waiting in a queue in a pharmacy. A person can waste time and find out that the right medicine is not in stock. In addition, clients are mostly sick patients with prescriptions, so, they can infect others. To solve these problems and create a comfortable environment for people, pharmaceutical companies are developing online pharmacy apps. Let’s consider the advantages that such pharmacies give and the main stages of building them.
The concept of an online pharmacy
A mobile or web platform through which users buy medicines and order home delivery is called an online pharmacy. This is an online store with a particular range of goods and special rules.
A pharmacy can be a member of an online catalog where a customer compares prices in different stores and buys drugs at more favorable terms. Or a pharmaceutical network manager orders a custom online pharmacy app to use the brand name and style and thus build a permanent customer base.
We will discuss the second option when an online pharmacy functions like an eСommerce store, but with its own characteristics.
Features of an online pharmacy
Pharmacy software works like an online store but is different from it. Let’s consider the functions that help patients and pharmacists interact with each other. Besides the ability to register on a platform and pay for medicines, an app should have the following functionality:
Features important for patients:
- search for drugs by name and other meaningful parameters;
- complete and reliable information about a particular medicine;
- a basket in which you can add medicines and remove unnecessary products;
- search for the nearest pharmacies;
- order delivery options: self-delivery or courier delivery;
- different payment methods: online, at the pharmacy, or by card/cash to the courier.
Opportunities for pharmacists:
- a pharmacist must track the number of drugs in a pharmacy to replenish stocks on time;
- such platforms make it easy for pharmacists to manage orders (to pack a medicine, give tasks to couriers, and monitor the delivery);
- recognition of a handwritten prescription from a photograph;
- pharmacy workers should be able to check prescriptions for medicines to prevent fraud.
Customer information must be securely processed and stored under HIPAA and PCI DSS. A smart drug and seasonal vitamin recommendation engine will help patients improve their future health index and help a pharmacy increase sales.
Advantages of online pharmacies for clients and pharmaceutical firms
Online pharmacy app development is beneficial for both customers and businesses.
Some patients are embarrassed to buy medicines in pharmacies. They try to maintain confidentiality when ordering them at home. Others want to avoid contact with people with such contagious diseases as COVID-19, SARS, or influenza. With apps, there are fewer queues at pharmacies because buyers order goods online and quickly pick up their orders at the checkout. Users also like the ability to compare the cost of drugs in different pharmacies and choose the best option. Through an online resource, it is easier to find the right drug if it is not available in the pharmacy in one’s area of residence.
The development of online pharmacies opens up new business horizons for pharmaceutical companies. Pharmacies increase customer base and revenue with the help of online shoppers. Users enjoy the comfort and mobility that an online pharmacy provides. Thus, they are less likely to go to competitors. The sales analytics collected by such a platform are skillfully used for marketing strategy development, demand planning, and inventory management.
How to create an online pharmacy app
Take five important steps to create pharmacy software that will appeal to the audience and generate income:
- Analyze the market and find out what your competitors offer to customers.
There is no doubt that online pharmacy app development is a promising direction. The Grand View Research Source estimates that the ePharmacy market will reach $109.2 billion by 2025, which is double what was in 2019. But for an app to be successful, you must understand the needs of users, competitive advantages, and market forecasts. Only then will it be possible to create a relevant software solution that will generate income.
- Select a software provider.
To implement your idea, you need an IT partner experienced in delivering pharmaceutical projects. Such a companion understands development practices, rules, and healthcare standards. The development team will create a high-quality online pharmacy app in full and on time.
- Check your business idea in the market.
You can start developing an online pharmacy app with an MVP – a minimum viable product. The developers will create a basic working version of the platform to release it and test the audience’s reaction to the new product. If pharmaceutical software appeals to target customers, the project is worth deploying.
- Create an online pharmacy.
The project team develops an MVP, reads user reviews about the current version, and supplements the app with features relevant and valuable to customers. This will help the customer to rationally allocate funds for healthcare software development.
- Release the software product to the market.
The IT partner helps to bring the program to market and keep it up to date. IT specialists update versions, obsolete libraries, and frameworks. They monitor the performance of the platform, correct errors in the system, and ensure that customers are comfortable using the online pharmacy app.
Conclusion
Online pharmacy apps are a valuable acquisition for pharmaceutical companies and a good opportunity for business development and growth. This is a significant competitive advantage as the Internet has become a resource for online sales. This is one of the manifestations of patient care and a way to retain customers. If you’re thinking about building your app, don’t hesitate to implement your ideas. An experienced custom healthcare software development company will help you to carry out a pharmacy project of any complexity.
