Pharmacies must find a way to compete with other businesses in their industry.
More comprehensive assessments of the business and how it operates define where changes are needed and how they will improve the organization. By reviewing the 6 competitive factors any modern pharmacy needs to strive for, pharmacy owners gain better insight into business practices and learn how to change with the times.
1. Using Technology to Their Advantage
For pharmacies, a common area where smaller businesses are lacking is technology. Most pharmacies use IT systems, but they do not use them to their greatest advantage. New integrations could help pharmacies cut down on overhead costs and avoid waste by reviewing new methods of dispensing prescriptions. They can set up a new kiosk system that allows customers to enter their information into the IT system, and a new dispensary method measures and fills the prescriptions. Once the prescription is filled, the customer can pick up it through pharmacy automation equipment.
2. Treating Patients More Efficiency
Pharmacies must treat patients more efficiently, A common complaint that pharmacy customers have is long lines and long waiting times. Patients have their doctors call in their prescriptions to get them faster. Unfortunately, the on-site workers become so overburdened that they cannot fill the prescriptions in a timely manner. This leads to patients becoming agitated, and some will go to a different pharmacy.
3. Growing New Revenue Streams
The business grows and improves when the owner finds new revenue streams. Pharmacies provide more than just prescriptions. They offer health and wellness products that improve health. When assessing their products, it is vital for the pharmacies to define what products are selling and which ones should be discontinued. When completing these assessments, the owners may learn about new revenue streams that could increase their profits.
4. Steady Business Growth
By forging a plan for steady business growth, the owner finds more ways to serve local customers and expand their client base. The primary focus is to get products to customers faster and make the process more convenient. When reviewing how the workers serve the customers, the business owner decides what practices need changes and how they can increase their profits and reduce overhead.
5. Offering More Services and Products
The business owner must assess the services and products they offer. Each change in season and world events affect pharmacies. The recent global pandemic has not only shown pharmacies that new services could help them serve their patients better, but it has also shown them that supplies in abundance are critical.
6. Eliminating Employee Turnaround
By finding better ways to keep workers happier, the business owner can decrease employee turnaround. Practices such as better scheduling of workers and preventing them from becoming overworked help with this issue. Workers want a friendly work environment that will not introduce health risks. By improving the stores and protecting their workers, the businesses can keep workers with their companies longer. If workers feel mistreated, they will leave.
Pharmacies must step up their game and find better ways to serve customers. In today's market, more pharmacies are closing their doors because they cannot capitalize on new opportunities effectively. They focus primarily on high ticket items in their stores than improving the way patients get their prescriptions. For many pharmacies, prescriptions are the majority of their profits, and they must find better ways to dispense them.