ICT Adoption at Small and Medium-Sized Pharmacies

Small and Medium-Sized Pharmacies

While major pharmacy chains are taking steps toward digital transformation (DX), smaller pharmacies are likely to vary in their adoption of ICT depending on the individual store.  This report is based on a survey of small and medium-sized pharmacies, focusing on ICT adoption trends, including DX trends.

I. Trends Among Major Pharmacy Chains

Online Sales of OTC Medications

II. Survey Analysis

Survey Overview

Q1. Number of insurance pharmacies operated within the same group

Q2. Prescription management systems and integrated prescription management/electronic medication history systems already in use (multiple answers allowed)

Q3. Electronic medication history systems already in use (multiple answers allowed)

Q4. Regarding implemented pharmacy support systems (systems capable of pre-transmitting prescriptions, managing reception and queues upon customer arrival, and conducting medication follow-ups) (multiple answers allowed)

Q5. Information sources specifically consulted when implementing pharmacy support systems (multiple answers allowed)

Q6. Regarding implemented card readers with facial recognition (multiple answers allowed)

Q7. Chat and communication apps used among employees or between stores (multiple answers allowed)

Q8. Types of social media platforms operated as official accounts for the pharmacy or its operating company (multiple answers allowed)

Q9. Services or media frequently used for recruitment (multiple answers allowed)

Q10. Intentions to Implement at the Time of Response:
- Inventory Management System
- Dispensing Audit Support System
- Automated Medication Picking Equipment/Dispensing Robots
- AI-Based Medication History
- Online Medication Counseling System
- Electronic Prescriptions
- Self-Checkout/Semi-Self-Checkout Systems
- Cashless Payment Terminals
- Prescription Pickup Lockers
- Translation Devices

Q11. Products sold other than prescription drugs (multiple answers allowed)

Q12. Products other than prescription drugs that you plan to focus on selling in the future (multiple answers allowed)

Q13. Impact of the revision to patient copayments for OTC-like medications on the number of prescriptions brought in

Q14. How has the pharmacy operating environment changed in the last three years?
- Recruitment situation
- Medication inventory (stable supply)
- Status of various costs such as electricity bills, labor costs, and purchase prices
- Number of patients visiting the pharmacy
- Status of sales of non-prescription products

Q15. Management challenges (multiple answers allowed)

Q16. Challenges related to the introduction of systems and equipment for pharmacy digital transformation (DX) (multiple answers allowed)

Q17. Opinions on pharmacy DX (Free response)

DX Progress Score

• Analysis of DX Progress Scores by Number of Stores
• Analysis of Responses to Q14–Q16 for the Advanced DX Group