In the year 2020, the medication segment in the US accounted for approximately 76% of the US online pharmacy market share. The reason was the increasing demand for patient medications and rising consumer preference for online pharmacy platforms due to convenience, reduced cost, and time efficiency.

However, consumer expectations are more, they expect a higher level of service, personalization, flexibility of choice, and innovation.

During the pandemic, pharmacy stores witnessed low traffic due to the stay-at-home restrictions and the Covid-19 related job losses had affected millions to lose their health insurance. At the same time, an eCommerce gainst entered into the online pharmacy market (Amazon launched its online pharmacy for medication), and some big medicine warehouses announced same-day medication delivery.

With all these challenges, small and medium-sized business owners found it difficult to compete in the market. The only way to survive is to offer better online services to local customers.

Regulation that enforces lower medication prices has created a threat to offline pharmacy businesses. Besides that, earlier it seemed to be restrictive to go for the online pharmacy.

However, the situation is changing slowly as telehealth is permitted in half of US states and the government has recognized the need to add new policies for regulating online pharmacies.

Pharmacies can benefit by investing in advanced technologies. Integration of the online pharmacy with the technologies such as AI, RPA, data analytics, and IoT can help pharmacists a lot by reducing the manual work related to inventory management and supply chain, supporting patients 24/7 through bots, analyzing the patient’s demand, and much more.

New technologies not only keep the pharmacy business on track but also provide pharmacists or business owners with a clear and deeper view of how to make the processes more efficient by generating meaningful insights.

• Saves time and efforts
• Provides competitive prices
• Contactless delivery of medication 24/7
• Secure patient information and prioritize patient privacy

• Increases customer reach
• Improves inventory and supply chain management
• Helps in brand establishment
• Helps in building up a loyal customer base
• Improves productivity

Before developing an online pharmacy application, find out which type of app you want to build as there are mainly three types of pharmacy apps based on the business model.

• Individual app for single pharmacy store or brand
• Aggregator app for multiple pharmacies
• Direct manufacturer-to-consumer app

Here we will see how to build a medication delivery app for aggregators’ business models using the following app modules.

• Customer app for patients
• Aggregator app for pharmacy stores
• Admin panel app to manage app backend
• Medication delivery app for the delivery person

Customer app features:

• User account
• Account configuration settings and privacy
• Advanced and basic search medicine functionality with filtering option
• Locate the nearest store
• Upload prescription
• Place order
• Add to Cart
• Secure payment gateway
• Add coupons and discounts
• Claim for the drugs that are covered under health insurance
• Track your order
• Drug information (composition, manufacturing, expiry date, side effects)
• Refill medication, Refill reminder
• Notification and Feedback
• Rewards, discount coupons, and gift
• Pill reminder
• Order history
• Medication management for individual and family
• Connect with pharmacist
• Contact store
• Access to useful information, articles, news, and other content
• Place a return or replacement request

Aggregators/Pharmacist web panel features:

• Pharmacy registration
• Account configuration
• Search and find drug details
• Notification and alert
• Prescription checker
• Order management
• Inventory management
• Invoice generator
• Sales and billing
• Customer support
• Shipment and delivery management
• Connect with Admin
• Analyze sales and generate financial report
• Reward program management
• Discount coupons and gift card management
• Insurance claim management

Admin panel features:

• Admin profile and registration
• Configuration setting and Privacy
• User role management
• Aggregator management
• Customer management
• Supplier, shipment, inventory, and delivery management
• Marketing and sales team management
• Analytics and reporting
• Compliance management
• Connect with store/aggregators

Medication delivery app for the delivery person features:

• Admin profile and registration
• Configuration setting and privacy
• Notification alert
• GPS route guide
• Performance history
• Calls and messaging
• Medication Delivery manager
• Feedback and ratings

CVS is the largest pharmacy chain in the USA. Currently serving more than 5 million customers in the USA. The company is owned by CVS Health (Consumer Value Store Health).

Features:

• User-friendly interface
• Search medication
• Shop using a prescription with a single scan
• Discounts, deals, and rewards
• Refill prescription
• Check drug interaction
• Healthcare provider services(search and call doctors and physicians)
• Video counseling with a healthcare provider
• Order prints and more from your device and online albums for same-day pickup

The app offers its customers same-day medication delivery with zero delivery charges.

Features:

• Manage prescribed medication for individual and family
• Easy medication refilling
• Same-day medication delivery free of charge
• Chat or message the pharmacist for any query
• The app coordinates with doctors and medical insurers if required

Pill Pack is an Amazon-owned online medication delivery service that provides free medication delivery within two days. It is unique in the sense that it provides personalized medication packaging, simplifying medication management.

Features:

• Medication order and delivery
• Medication management for individual and family
• Delivers refills
• Works with health insurance plans
• Access to caregiver
• 24/7 Support from pharmacies
• Pay with amazon prime option to save maximum

As an online pharmacy platform owner, you should verify the authenticity of prescriptions before dispensing medications.

This can be achieved by checking the prescription’s details, including the doctor’s credentials, the patient’s identity, and the prescription’s validity.

As an online pharmacy platform owner, you must have robust quality control systems.

These quality systems ensure that the dispensed medication is precise for that patient in terms of quantity and dosage.

As an online pharmacy platform owner, you should provide accurate and clear information about each medication with its uses, side effects, and interactions with other medications.

Medications should be packaged and labeled correctly to ensure that patients can easily identify them and understand how to take them correctly.

As an online pharmacy platform owner, you need to secure communication channels for protecting patients’ confidential information like medical history, prescriptions, and personal details.