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Picture long lines, wait times, and more stress than you can seem to manage. Your shoulders feel tense. Your head throbs. Your eyes watch the slow tick-tock of the clock, urging it to tick faster. Behind the counter, prescriptions rush in. Phone lines ring. Patients fidget in their seats, grimacing about another day of slow service.
But in the midst of it all, your heart pounds. Your brain rattles. You’re on-edge, at the height of adrenaline but waiting for the inevitable crash.
And, more than anything else, you’re waiting for it to end.
It’s no secret that community pharmacy can be stressful — but without the right tools by your side, it can feel like nothing short of a disaster.
Of all the tools in your pharmacy, your pharmacy software system is one of the most important. Your software system handles all of your operations, from dispensing to counseling to managing the financial side of your pharmacy.
Choose the right software system and your pharmacy can see new heights; but choose the wrong one and you’re bound to hit rock bottom.
But choosing can be tricky, especially with so many options available to you. That’s why, when you’re shopping for a new pharmacy software system, it’s important to spot the signs that can lead you astray — so you don’t make a wrong turn along the way.
If you’re in the market for a new software system, make sure you avoid these common mistakes.
It’s no secret that pharmacy software can be expensive — but if you pinch your pennies when buying yours, you’ll probably pay for it later on.
When you start shopping for a software system, you’ll get a few quotes, with a few different prices. From here, you might be inclined to pick the cheapest option. Don’t.
Price doesn’t always determine quality, but in the world of pharmacy software, it usually does. A cheaper option might cost you less out-of-pocket, but it will cost you in the limited capabilities and available features for your pharmacy.
In other words, you’ll be getting what you pay for. And if you aren’t paying much, you probably aren’t getting much either.
Instead of simply picking the cheapest option available, take a different approach. Consider the price of the software system and a few important factors.
According to a Direct Opinions survey of over 2,000 independent pharmacists, pharmacists either like or dislike their software based on 3 main factors:
When you’re shopping around, then, keep price in mind; but more importantly, keep simplicity, support, and features in mind, too.
Aim to get a good balance of both, and you’ll avoid the costs of choosing the wrong software system later down the line.
To get a personalized price for your pharmacy, and to find out how PioneerRx leads the way in ease of use, support, and features, schedule a demo here.
Another note on price: you might think that you’re paying one price for your software system, but you might pay a different price entirely.
Many software vendors offer low-priced, even free, software systems, or extra features for no added cost. Later on, though, they tack on additional charges or cancellation fees.
And if you don’t read the fine print, you won’t know until it’s too late.
A simple rule of thumb: if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.
If a software vendor offers a low one-time cost, they’re either withholding additional costs or skimping out on important features to keep costs low. In order to know what you’re getting, make sure you read the fine print and find out your final out-of-pocket cost before you buy.
To avoid this issue altogether, try to find a vendor that’s honest, upfront, and explains each of the fees you’ll be expected to pay.
If you’re like 93% of people, you read reviews before you make a purchase.
But many times, you might be reading the wrong reviews: reviews that are biased and designed to either pull you towards or away from a particular product.
That might be okay for a low-stakes item, but when it comes to something as expensive (and essential) as your pharmacy software system, that mistake can cost you — big time.
There are many websites that review pharmacy software systems, but not all sites do it objectively. Some websites make their money from sponsored reviews, competitive bidding, and other strategies designed to mislead pharmacists into buying a software system they might not actually like.
When you’re looking to review sites, it’s important that you keep this in mind — and that you only listen to reviews from websites you can trust.
A few review sites you can trust include G2, Software Connect, and Pharmacy Software Reviews.
When you read reviews from each of these sites, you can be sure you’re getting real input from real pharmacists with your best interest in mind.
To find out how PioneerRx performs in the reviews, read here.
Dispensing is a pharmacist’s bread and butter, but enhanced services are gaining traction every year.
If you’re getting into vaccinations, point-of-care testing, and services of the like, you aren’t lagging in the past: so why should your software system?
If you pick a system that only offers basic dispensing capabilities, you won’t be able to offer the services your patients want, at the speed they expect. Instead, you’ll be left scrambling to input information, fill out records, and bill for services.
If you want to avoid all the headaches, you should pick a software system that offers the latest features for enhanced services.
Some features you might want to consider — and that you can get in a PioneerRx system — include:
To learn more about each of these features, and to find out what else PioneerRx can do to enhance your services, click here.
If you only want your software vendor to offer software, you’re making a mistake. Software vendors should focus on developing the best technology, but that shouldn’t be where their focus stops.
If you pick a vendor that’s only interested in making a product and turning a profit, odds are that vendor won’t offer you the features, flexibility, or support you need — because they aren’t actually interested in independent pharmacy.
Rather, you should pick a vendor that cares about the industry, and more importantly, shows that they care in their actions.
Ask yourself what the vendor is doing to stay involved. Do they partner with state and national pharmacy organizations? Do they attend conferences, conventions, and other important events? Do they take on outside projects centered around independent pharmacy advancement?
After all, pharmacy technology isn’t just about technology; it’s about taking patients' lives and making them better.
Choosing the wrong pharmacy software system can cost you.
If you’re looking to dodge the red flags and stay away from sketchy software vendors, it’s important that you avoid each of these mistakes.
Instead, do your research, ask questions, and think critically about the kind of software system you want to power your pharmacy forward.
There are good software systems out there; you just have to be willing to find them.
