Digital transition is happening in all domains faster than we think!
Many industries like finance, entertainment, commerce, etc have already been adopted to the transition. Healthcare is not an exception to that list. Mainly during and after covid19, the pharmaceutical industry faced many challenges and transitions. The one important transition among that is moving the pharma industry online.
Due to the location and time constraints, the demand for Online Pharmacy has increased and to meet the demand, Pharmacy App Development has become prevalent in the product offerings of the Software development companies.
Hence why, this blog is going to give you a detailed guide on Pharmacy app development, its importance, the process to develop a pharmacy app, and its features.
What is Pharmacy app development?
Pharmacy app development is the process of developing an online website or application to buy and sell medicines online and get doorstep delivery. Through this app, consumers will be provided with different options to buy medicine at a fair price. On the other hand, pharmacy owners can increase their sales and business by providing the best online service. Other than delivering medicine, pharmacy can also offer other services online like lab tests, preventive healthcare checkups, etc.
Why online pharmacy is important?
Considering the demand and digital transition in the world, moving the pharmacy online is important and it brings a lot of benefits to the business. They are:
- The Pharmacy app streamlines the communication between the patient and verified pharmacist or doctors
- It gives the best place to share crucial medicine details in app inbox
- The app automates the manual and repetitive process. For instance, automated record-keeping that minimizes the expenses
- Many options like direct management of family prescriptions from one account, record of the old prescription, etc will strengthen the client experience
- The app gives a way for patient retention and engagement
- People who live way from their parents appreciates the online pharmacy
- It is a time-saving solution
- Record of the drugs and prescription can be used in the future
- No need for infrastructure or order management fees.
- Overall, it will increase the business sales and profit
Processes involved in Pharmacy app development
Here, I listed the full cycle process of pharmacy app development which starts from planning, requirement gathering, UI design, software development, and testing to app maintenance with a detailed explanation.
Define the objective and functionalities
Choose the functions of your pharmacy app and what purpose it will serve. Include a mix of basic and sophisticated features. Include Unique selling points as well.
Choose the platform and tech stack
There are several platforms and programming languages available. You must choose the appropriate combination based on the needs of the use case and your current skill set. For instance, if you are aiming for the Android platform, choose Java, and if you are aiming for the iOS platform, choose Swift. React Native is a good option if you want to create for both Android and iOS.
Get your eye-catching UI designed
Design the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). Keep in mind that the UI should be simple and easy to use while building the design. Make a user-friendly, intuitive design.
App backend development
The backend of the pharmaceutical app will interact with servers and manage critical functions including data processing and storage. So, create a dependable, scalable, and secure backend for the app.
API integration
For several features, an online pharmacy app has to be integrated with specific external healthcare systems and equipment. In order for your application to interact with other services & systems like EHR (Electronic Health Records), medication databases, pharmacy management systems, etc., integrate the relevant APIs. Your app will be able to provide end users with more features and data if it is integrated with external healthcare systems.
Exhaustive testing
Test your pharmacy app thoroughly to find errors and ensure that the functionalities function as intended. You may do this by using automated testing tools or by hiring a QA expert to perform manual testing. To get the greatest results, I’d suggest combining both human and automated testing.
Launch, maintain, and upgrade
It’s time to deploy your app after you are happy with its usability and sure about the features working. Launch your software in the Google Play and Apple software marketplaces, among other appropriate marketplaces.
Maintain your online pharmacy app once it has gone live. As soon as possible, fix defects and address problems. Additionally, update your software with the newest security patches and features.
Key features of the pharmacy app
The basic features that must be integrated with the pharmacy app are listed in this section for three different categories: Customer app, Admins dashboard, and delivery personnel app
Basic features of the customer app
- Easy to navigate UI
- Detailed user profile
- Signup and login
- Prescription uploading
- Seamless browsing
- Advanced search filters
- Detailed instructions about medicine and possible side effects
- Medicine price comparison across different industries
- Alternatives of unavailable medicines
- Order tracking and history
- Repeat orders
- Convenient payment options
Basic features of admin dashboard
- User management
- Pharmacy management
- Order tracking and management
- Returns and refund management
- Report generation
- Order verification
- Inventory management
- Earning management
- Performance tracking
- Real-time inventory availability
- Customized campaigns
Basic features of the delivery personnel app
- Detailed driver profile
- Location tracking
- Delivery info and order status
- Google map integration
- Instant notification of finished deliveries and new orders
These features form the basic functions of the app. To enhance the app functions and customer convenience, advanced features can be found and integrated
Now we have come to the end
Thus far, the importance of online pharmacy apps and the process involved in Pharmacy app development are seen. Pharmacy apps are in great demand with the time and location constraints of people and, there is a high scope for them in the future. Hence, if you are the owner of the pharmacy industry or the one who is trying to start a pharmacy chain, first, you must build an application for your service.
It’s okay if you don’t have technical knowledge, there are many software development companies in the market who develop applications for various industries. Contact the finest one, share your requirements, get your app developed, and stay ahead of the competition by using present trends.