Information Technology - Hardware - Making the Right Decision

It is hard to imagine a modern pharmacy within the Australian context functioning without a relatively sophisticated IT system as the centre piece in the offering of a wide and varied range of services delivered daily at our local pharmacy.

The significance of IT as a cornerstone in the provision of services such as, dispensing including patient management, information and advice - the checking & lodgement of claims, every aspect of POS transaction processing & data collection, eftpos functions and inventory control can be seen in operation across the nation’s pharmacies every day.

With all these services in mind reliability and speed cannot be underestimated. The right IT infrastructure driving your pharmacy will lead to increased productivity and efficiency. Businesses being interrupted with ‘flaky’ or unreliable equipment cannot only have an effect on your staff but in the servicing of your customers.

It often seems difficult for some businesses to quantify the savings or justify the need for new equipment. On the surface it appears an added expense that will affect the bottom line. However taking the time to continually assess the implications to the business through customer service delays, staff frustration and equipment downtime, we begin to understand the benefits of a policy of constant maintenance and upgrading the equipment every 36 - 42 months will bring benefits to the quality and scope of the pharmacy’s offerings.

In continuing the theme of reliable Hardware and its benefits, we come to a central point in the decision making process. The benefits of Tier 1 product (IBM, HP & the like) as opposed to the Tier 2 product - brands that are lower quality and lower priced. These Tier 2 products often considered a reasonable compromise between Tier 1 equipment and the bottom end cheap and nasty clones. The rating between the Tier1, Tier 2 & Clone machines is based on 2 factors. These relate to design factors that affect the machines overall performance and most importantly there reliability factor. Obviously with the Pharmacy environment in mind it is clear that the reliability and performance of Tier 1 product will ultimately deliver a cost benefit advantage across the board.

Performance factors based on superior design plays a significant role in supporting the operating systems software packages in general use within community pharmacy. Unfortunately, little if any close scrutiny is given to the importance of design as a criteria in the choice of Hardware. Superior design qualities enhance not only the reliability of the CPU’s but enhance the efficient operation of Operating Systems and software programs. It is a factor little known but many that some of the more sophisticated sections of both OS (operating systems) & software will not run effectively with poorly designed hardware.

We are at a stage where Software & IT infrastructure is considered a cornerstone in supporting your business in its development and in delivering a wide range of services with both efficiency and reliability. It is important when considering your IT Infrastructure to not only consider the importance your choice of Operating Systems & Software Packages play in the operation of your pharmacy but also to consider the importance of your choice in Hardware. This is a pivotal factor in delivering your pharmacy’s services "Making the Right Choice' is critical to success.

We at GZD pride ourselves in offering you free unbiased advice and direction with these decisions and welcome the opportunity to offer you an assessment and audit on your IT infrastructure at no cost and obligation free.

To take advantage of this free assessment simply contact us on 1300 739 732 or visit our website www.gzd.com.au and one of our technically qualified staff will be pleased to assist you in making the right choice for your business.