- Digitization within the field of health is advancing at an accelerated pace.
- Recently, Amazon Pharmacy was presented as an option to purchase medicines without leaving home and with immediate delivery.
- Tools such as QR codes and NFC technology have positioned themselves as the favorites to make payments without the need for physical contact.
The Covid 19 pandemic caused great changes in all areas of the human being. From customs to economic and cultural decisions, but where there was a total transformation was in health and personal care. With this in mind, the online pharmacy It has been positioned as a new way to acquire medicines and other healing products.
According to data from the National Association of Pharmacies (Anafarmex) there are approximately 18 thousand medical offices in Mexico. It is a model that enjoys popularity and that is why it is constantly growing.
It is worth mentioning that according to the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Concanaco Servytur), by the end of this year it is expected that in the midst of the crisis this sector will reach a growth of 36%.
The benefits of the digital pharmacy
On the other hand, the confinement caused a strong movement for the digitization. Pharmacies had to create their online channels from one moment to another. One of the most successful in the sector has been WhatsApp. Sales through this platform, boosted by its own delivery service or those of third parties, grew a lot due to the agility of delivery.
“This type of mechanisms, when they work well, are comfortable and easy for consumers, generating a better shopping experience. Even after the pandemic, sales of this type will continue to grow and at Napse we work to accompany the sector”.
Amazon enters the digital health business
One of the latest international milestones was the launch of amazon-pharmacy in United States. It is an online store in which users can create a profile, receive their doctor’s prescriptions there, enter their prepaid details, choose their payment methods and buy all kinds of medicines, which they will receive at home.
Another trend is investment in technology aimed at digitizing the business, which It ranges from the box to stock management. Many traders do not invest in it because they believe that it is something intended only for the big players, but it is not. These tools, harnessed correctly, end up being profitable even for the smallest pharmacies.
“Technological systems designed to control stock, organize payments, shipments and promotions can save time and money. They also provide strategic data to manage the business, such as which products are most successful, which allows merchants to boost sales.”
Payments without physical contact
Finally, there is a strong trend for the media contactless or contactless paymentsbe it through the NFC technology (wireless), by approach or through payment links or QR codeswhich are having great adherence in pharmacies.
These technologies are not new, but they gained traction with the pandemic, mainly after the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) to use forms of payment without physical contact. Retailers in general must satisfy this demand by offering multiple options to their buyers. Having tools that allow you to centralize all payment methods, such as VTOL, allows you to avoid human errors when processing all transactions.
Also read:
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Interoperable electronic prescriptions: The latest in digital health
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