Six expert tips for choosing a pharmacy tech platform
Written by Judit Mora, CEO and Co-founder of Nuumad
Published in the Scottish Pharmacy Magazine, Volume 17, Issue 3, 2025
Independent pharmacies can mistakenly buy digital tools the same way they buy stock - price first, everything else later. Yet purchasing the wrong digital platform can lock in hidden costs for years. Borrow these six tried-and-tested checks from larger corporates to make a safer, faster decision.
1. Put a price on time
Before looking at software licence fees, quantify the hours the system claims to be able to save you – or squander. A quick formula helps: annual staff wage (£/hr) × extra or less hours the platform requires each week × 52. A £15/hour dispenser losing 10 minutes per script can erode tens of thousands of pounds annually once you scale to multiple branches.
2. Test real-world User eXperience (UX)
Ask vendors for a test log-in, then map your entire prescription journey through the system from receipt to clinical check to hand-out. Count the number of steps involved in using the system – right down to timings, clicks, screen swaps and resolving any errors or prompts. Good UX should feel invisible; clunky flows result in manual workarounds and under-use.
3. Assess the brains behind the build
Great platforms marry clinical insight with specialists in product management, data security and design. Ask for references from other pharmacies that have successfully implemented their software and proof that they are achieving the tangible benefits that the vendor has claimed.
4. Balance innovation with proof
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly emerging technology that can help with many areas of the pharmacy practice. It can help triage queries or pre-fill forms, but it is not yet trusted for final clinical decisions. Ask the vendor whether AI algorithms are explainable, audited and compliant with NHS Data Security & Protection Toolkit (DSPT).
5. Examine the business model
Check the vendor’s business model thoroughly. Some vendors may be selling aggregated data, advertising cross-subsides, or impose a steep post-trial price hike. Request a five-year price schedule and look for transparent revenue streams that align with your interests.
6. Verify data stewardship
Health information is “special category” data under UK GDPR and NHS DTAC. Pin down where digital information is stored and if it is encrypted. Ask where servers are physically located, how long records are retained.