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How to Start Online Pharmacy App Like PocketPills in Canada or USA?

Quick summary: According to the report, “Global Online Pharmacy Market Size to hit USD 210.35 Billion by 2028 at a 17.83% CAGR Growth (with COVID-19 Analysis).

But the question remains the same.

  • How much are you getting out of it and how?
  • Is it right to start an online pharmacy?
  • How to build an online pharmacy app?

Don’t worry! We have comprehensive answers to all your questions.

How long does it take to develop an online pharmacy app like PocketPills?

Developing a healthcare app including a pharmacy app is challenging due to interoperability, compliance, remarkable UI, and complex workflow.

No one can estimate how many days exactly it will build an online pharmacy app or start an online pharmacy as it depends on several factors.

However, we put all resources to good use and make sure to deliver as soon as possible without compromising its quality.

 What are the benefits of online pharmacy?

For business owners:

  • Expand product catalog without spending on the brick-and-mortar store.
  • Support expanded the roles of a pharmacist such as medication therapy management.
  • Provide a personalized customer experience.
  • Expand the pharmacy business beyond your locality.
  • Make strategic decisions after understanding customer behavior with data.
  • Divert the target audience from multiple marketing channels to one place – an app.
  • Manage customers, staff, vendors, data, and inventory painlessly, from one place only.
  • Secure and fast patient data management
  • Efficient inventory management that saves valuable time and human resources.

For consumers:

  • ePharmacy app is easily accessible to the consumers
  • Patients can simply manage and track their orders in real-time
  • Consumers can discover detailed information regarding every drug
  • Less time-consuming and affordable solution rather than a physical store
  • Consumers can easily communicate with certified medical experts for every query regarding medication or prescription
  • Online pharmacy is the most useful solution for the patient having – chronic conditions and disabilities

Which are the types of pharmacy apps you can develop?

1. Pharmacy Marketplace

An Amazon-like platform where all individual pharmacies can register and carry out online pharmacy practice.

2. Online Pharmacy App

A dedicated app allowing a brick-mortar pharmacy to receive & manage orders online, parallel to offering in-store service.

3. Online Only Pharmacy App

For pharmacies not offering in-store service. Only having a dispensing center to fulfill orders received through the mobile app.

Why and which compliance is needed to build an online pharmacy in Canada?

Any pharmacy selling drugs online through a mobile app or website is required to adhere to the ‘Internet Pharmacy Guideline’ released by the government of Ontario.

In the event of negligence, the pharmacy can be liable for the fine. It sometimes costs the pharmacy license.

According to the Internet Pharmacy Guideline,

  • The website or app must comply with federal and provincial regulations regarding the advertising of drugs, fees, and pharmacy services.
  • The home page of any pharmacy site must identify the accreditation number and owner, the physical location of the pharmacy, the designated manager, telephone number to contact the pharmacy.
  • The site or app should be PHIPA compliant and protect the personal information of the patients as noted in the PHIPA law.
  • Get the full list of online pharmacy laws here.

📌 Explore our detailed guide on: Pharmacy app development

Which types of pharmacies can be turned into online pharmacies in Canada and the USA?

At SyS Creations, we have turned many types of pharmacies including long-term care pharmacies and hospital pharmacies into modern online pharmacies.

With gained experience, we have drafted a workable process to turn any pharmacies into the best online pharmacies in Canada and the USA.

These pharmacies include

  • Community pharmacy
  • Hospital pharmacy
  • Clinical pharmacy
  • Industrial pharmacy
  • Compounding pharmacy
  • Consulting pharmacy
  • Ambulatory care pharmacy
  • Regulatory pharmacy
  • Home care pharmacy

Which technologies are utilized for pharmacy app development?

A pharmacy app is equipped with complex yet mandatory features such as tracking, payment, notifications, analytics, etc.

To accommodate such features, developers use many cutting-edge technologies and solutions.Technologies in online pharmacy app development

Why is PocketPills Pharmacy leading the Canadian market?

PocketPills is Canada’s leading online pharmacy. It provides a full pharmacy experience in a digital environment.

PocketPills has already built a large user base by instantly connecting patients with pharmacists and managing patient medication online through the easy-to-use mobile app.

In case of every query regarding medication or prescription, patients can directly communicate with the healthcare professional via text or video call.

PocketPills leverages workflow automation to satisfy the prescription delivery needs of the patients even with the minimum staff.

In essence, people are opting more for PocketPills due to the convenience it offers.

Funding information of PocketPills

PocketPills which was founded by Abhinav Gupta, Harj Samra, and Raj Gulia recently raised $7.35 million in a funding round, led by the WaterBridge Investment Firm.

PocketPills Pharmacy has been using this cash injection to expand across the country and to open fulfillment centers in Nova Scotia and Quebec.

The important news of PocketPills

Benefits By Design (BBD) Inc. Partners with PocketPills

On October 5, 2020, PocketPills announced the partnership with Benefits By Design Inc. to provide digital pharmacy services to Canadian businesses.

PocketPills Announces Partnership with BioScript Solutions

On August 5, 2020, PocketPills announced a partnership with BioScript Solutions to expand access to specialty medications for Canadians.

PocketPills Expands to Nova Scotia

PocketPills which has already been providing Canada’s first full-service online pharmacy service in BC, Alberta, Ontario, Yukon and Northwest Territories, and Manitoba recently expanded to Nova Scotia.

PocketPills Raises $30 Million in Series B (Updated March 2021)

Recently, PocketPills announced that they have raised 30 million CAD in their Series B funding round. The round was led by Telus Ventures, with participation from the previous investors.

PocketPills announces advisory board to expand the company’s reach (Updated April 2022)

PocketPills, which already offers free same-day delivery across Canada, recently stated that they have begun to implement a new plan to help the company expand across the country.

Rise People partners with PocketPills to scale up the online pharmacy in Canada and the USA (Updated August 2022)

Rise People is the leading people management platform in Canada. This partnership will help Canadians to access faster, more efficient, and more affordable online pharmacy services.

Which features do we offer for the online pharmacy Canada and the USA app?

As a healthcare-focused IT company, we offer fast, convenient, and easily accessible features for the online pharmacy app.

For business owners:

  • Dedicated interface
  • Manage inventory
  • Track and manage orders
  • Order notifications
  • Customer data management
  • ePrescription
  • Prescription verification
  • Contact via text and video call
  • Payment management
  • Track earnings
  • Analytics tools
  • Daily, weekly, and monthly reports
  • Technical support

For consumers:

  • Dashboard
  • Search box
  • Individual drug and product sections
  • Direct communication with medical experts via text, call, or video call
  • Upload the prescription by taking a picture of it
  • Detailed medicine information
  • Offers and discount section
  • Product cart
  • Track and manage orders
  • Manage prescription and medication history
  • Refill medicine and prescription
  • Secure payment option
  • Medication reminder
  • Technical support

What challenges will you face if you turn your pharmacy into an online pharmacy?

1. Regulatory compliance

Online pharmacies must comply with various regulations, such as those related to

  • Licensing
  • Prescription verification
  • Privacy

Failure to comply with these regulations can result in fines, legal action, or loss of business.

2. Security and privacy

Online pharmacies must ensure that their systems and data are secure to protect patient information and prevent unauthorized access.

They also need to protect against cyber threats such as hacking and malware.

3. Prescription verification

Online pharmacies must have a robust system in place to verify prescriptions and ensure that medications are being dispensed to the correct patient.

This can be challenging as strict regulations surround the dispensing of prescription medications.

4. Shipping and delivery

Online pharmacies must ensure that medications are shipped and delivered safely and securely.

This includes ensuring that medications are packaged properly and that they are shipped using reputable carriers.

How much profit can you make if you turn your pharmacy into an online pharmacy?

All thanks to mobile apps or websites, pharmacies get an online presence which automatically increases sales.

It also facilitates pharmacy owners to attract new customers and reach new geographical locations.

By starting an online pharmacy in Canada, you can keep an eye on customer behavior and make data-driven business strategic decisions.

Recently, a top Canada-based long-term care pharmacy went online and achieved outstanding results.

They automated prescription order management by 90%, reduced transcription errors by 80%, and doubled the revenue.

Furthermore, telemedicine service in the ePharmacy app can be more financially beneficial for your business. So, let’s discover it in more detail.

Why should you offer telemedicine solutions in your online pharmacy app?

For patients, it is an all-in-one solution.

Using telemedicine, patients can directly communicate with certified physicians regarding their several health-related concerns, medication advice, and prescription refill.

Apart from that, here are some of the common benefits of providing teleconsultation services in your online pharmacy app.

  • Assists you stay ahead of your competitors
  • It enriches the patient care experience
  • Helps you boost your online pharmacy business revenue

📌 Explore our solution on: Telehealth Telemedicine

How can we help you if you do not have a technical background to understand pharmacy app development elements?

Since you are not serving in the technical field, you might have many technical and legal questions regarding online pharmacy.

For instance, you must be wondering how a pharmacy app gets drug information, whether is it legal to sell medical cannabis through a pharmacy app, what are the pharmacy and cannabis laws in Ontario and other provinces, etc.

However, our team accommodates business experts as well as legal advisors who will give you insightful consultations on the market, laws, and other technical elements of the pharmacy app.

A resourceful guide: Cannabis app development

Our expertise in Kroll integration will help you optimize all online pharmacy operations in Canada and the USA

Kroll is a very popular pharmacy management solution. It is so popular that more than 90% of pharmacies are using it in Canada.

If you integrate Kroll with your Canadian online pharmacy app, you can save time, cost, and manage workflows from your app itself.

In other words, you can utilize almost all pharmacy management features and data provided by Kroll from your mobile app.

For example, if you fill a prescription on your Kroll dashboard, it appears on your app too. And from the app, you can manage the workflows and prescriptions.

For your better understanding, the following are the major benefits of Kroll integration with the ePharmacy app.

  • Secure access to patient data in real-time
  • Error-free patient medical records entry into Kroll
  • Saves your valuable time
  • Painless workforce management that enhances productivity
  • Time-saving drug inventory management
  • Kroll integration supports e-refills

So, if you’re looking for a way to make your online pharmacy app workflows easier, we have dedicated experts and hands-on experience with Kroll integration.

What is the definitive solution if you have a low investment cap?

Due to the pandemic, consumers are now preferring online solutions for any type of health concern.

As a result, for pharmacies, starting an online pharmacy app is a must-needed solution to fulfill the ongoing and future demands of consumers.

However, the development of a pharmacy app is a costly concern, especially if you have a low investment cap.

To eliminate those challenges, we have a superior solution for that.

“Kroll’s PharmaConnect white-label app”.

At very affordable prices, you can use a feature-rich app that is integrated with Kroll PMS.

We help you acquire and set up Kroll PharmaConnect white-label with ease.

Telus Kroll PharmaConnect White-label

📌 Explore our solution on: White-label pharmacy app

How to scale up the online pharmacy back-office operations with RPA?

RPA is the key elevate online pharmacy growth at a 10X pace!

But why?

Because manual workflows such as – data entry, prescription refills, and other back-office tasks slowdowns the pace of the pharmacies.

RPA (Robotic Process Automation) not only automates repetitive computer-based tasks but also enables pharmacy staff to focus on other important areas.

Here is what you can automate using RPA.

  • Data entry process
  • Inventory management
  • Prescription refill procedure
  • Patient data management
  • Billing and accounting

RPA holds the potential to bring peace of mind into the entire pharmacy ecosystem.

It eliminates the chaos and gives benefits like,

  • Streamlined workflows
  • Faster and more flexible pharmacy ecosystem
  • Humans create a mess. RPA doesn’t
  • Enriches work performance and productivity
  • Lowers the patient data management headaches
  • Eliminates the mess of inventory management
  • No need to scratch the heads accuracy
  • Ensures operational efficiency

📌 Explore our guide on: RPA in healthcare

You are just one click away to start an online pharmacy in Canada and the USA

Though it seems a fantasy, we have been ceaselessly leveraging technologies to affordably and quickly modernize pharmacies.

At the end of the day, we are healthcare specialists and we have answers to your every question.

So, let’s connect to discuss your 15-day journey toward actualizing the online pharmacy to survive the next 30 years effortlessly.