You might be wondering: what are pharmacy smart lockers?
Are we really able to Click and Collect prescription medicine?
Well, before we answer these questions, let’s understand the moment we are living and how some industries are reacting and adapting to several new market needs.
It’s no surprise that the e-commerce industry saw massive growth amid the pandemic, as consumers turned to online shopping to avoid crowds. But we can’t ignore another segment of retail that saw significant growth last year: click-and-collect.
This shopping method allows consumers to “click” to complete their transaction online, and then “collect” their items at the store, rather than have them delivered.
US click-and-collect sales more than doubled in 2020 and will sustain double-digit growth rates through 2024, according to Insider Intelligence estimates.
Click-and-collect was a key offering that provided peace of mind to shoppers trying to stay safe amid social distancing regulations and will likely remain popular as digital buyers opt for speed and convenience.
What is BOPIS?
Buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS), another term for click-and-collect, is the process of ordering an item online and picking it up later in person. BOPIS combines the convenience of online shopping with the efficiency of same-day delivery.
Insider Intelligence defines click-and-collect sales as products or services ordered using the internet (regardless of payment method) for pickup in a store or a locker in a retail or pickup hub location.
Click-and-collect combined with onsite smart lockers allows the end user to greatly reduce the time they spend waiting in lines, reduces in-store operation costs for the retailer, increases the footfall in store and improves the consumers buying experience.
While BOPIS offerings are convenient for consumers, why is click-and-collect beneficial for retailers? Essentially, retailers offering BOPIS services are well-positioned to win over consumers, as click-and-collect will maintain the popularity it gained amid the pandemic.
Insider Intelligence estimates that US shoppers spent $80.28 billion via click-and-collect in 2021, accounting for 8.7% of all e-commerce sales. This year, those figures will increase to $95.87 billion and 9.0%.
So let’s come back to our initial thought: what are Pharmacy Smart Lockers?
Pharmacy Smart lockers are secure, electronic lockers that are connected to the internet.
The goal is simple: patients can come to collect their prescriptions from the pharmacy smart lockers when they become available.
This means that healthcare resources can be focused elsewhere, and less time is wasted dispensing medication.
It also means that customers don’t need to wait in endless lines during rush hours to collect their medicine.
Where can I find Pharmacy Smart Lockers?
As retailers embrace this new format of Smart Locker locations will grow rapidly. In the UK alone there are over 66,000 private and public pharmacies with over 200 new locations in 2021 which are expected to rise.
This would allow patients to select a locker location that was convenient to them (on the commute to work, outside the local supermarket, or inside the closest store to them) and to avoid waiting in lines to purchase their medication.
We believe solutions like this one will grow in popularity, and soon will be widely available in most pharmacies.
What are Pharmacy Prescription Collection Smart Lockers?
Smart lockers are secure, electronic lockers that are connected to the internet. The idea is that patients can come to collect their prescriptions from the lockers when they become available.
This means that healthcare resources can be focused elsewhere, and less time is wasted dispensing medication. The end user also benefits greatly as ques are common smart lockers allow patients to collect their prescriptions in less than 10 seconds from a secure locker, which can then be quickly restocked with the next patient’s order by the pharmacy staff.
Pharmacy prescription collection smart lockers can take a significant burden off your employees. From lowering the working hours to reducing time spent handing out prescriptions to customers, a click and collect smart locker can provide various benefits to your pharmacy.
The popularity of click and collect smart lockers continues to grow throughout the UK and the US, making it important to consider if this shift is right for your pharmacy.
Where Can I Find a Pharmacy Prescription Collection Smart Locker?
As retailers embrace this new format, locker locations will grow rapidly. In the UK alone there are over 66,000 private and public pharmacies with over 200 new locations in 2021 alone.
In congested urban areas, this would allow patients to select a locker location that was convenient to them (on the commute to work, outside the local supermarket or inside the closest store to them).
In Summary
As click and collect increasingly becomes the last mile delivery option of choice, it only makes sense for the pharmaceutical collection process to follow suit! Below are the key takeaways to improve the patients collection process.
Does it seem like your pharmacy can benefit from click and collect? From decreased payroll costs to more flexibility for your patients, a click and collect smart locker might be the right for your growing business.
6 reasons patients prefer collecting in person from a locker compared to counter collection or at home delivery :
- Never miss an at home delivery.
- Reduce in store collection time.
- Added security of information and medication.
- Fits within their current habits.
- Avoid costly delivery costs.
- Increase safety with contactless collection.
If you want to find out more about our solutions and some of the problems our team of experts is solving for our clients on a daily basis drop me an email at lopes@bloq.it or connect with me on Linkedin