How to create a pharmacy mobile app and enter the mobile healthcare market?

Software-driven medical devices have been in the picture for decades. The revolution in app technology is further strengthening the sector and bringing facilities to our doorsteps, making our lives easier.

The mobile healthcare landscape is evolving due to apps and becoming better each day. Healthcare apps are being used by doctors, patients, and medical staff to exchange information and commodities.

Fortunately, the availability of free online app maker tools like AppMySite has made app development accessible for all. Businesses, brands, and even healthcare providers are getting apps for their online stores.

One such revolutionary example is the popularity of pharmacy apps. Read further to find out more about pharma mobile apps. Stay tuned and learn how you can add your own drugstore in the rapidly growing market of m-commerce.

In this blog

1. How to develop a pharmacy app of your own?
2. How to develop your pharmacy app with AppMySite?
3. Role of mobile apps in pharmacy & healthcare: Facts & statistics
4. The significance of pharmacy app development
5. Benefits of developing a medicine delivery app
6. Top picks: 5 pharmacy apps that can give you goals
7. Top features to include in your pharmacy mobile app
8. Frequently asked questions

How to develop a pharmacy app of your own?

We will discuss the viability and business potential of pharmacy apps later in the blog. It will make you aware of the many benefits of having an app for your medicine delivery business and help you brainstorm multiple ideas of your own.

First, let us find out how you can develop a pharmacy app of your own. Essentially, you can opt for the following methods:

• Build your own drugstore app with a no-code app builder.
• Code your app using technological frameworks.
• Hire in-house experts who can build and maintain the app.
• Outsource app development to freelancers or agencies.

Out of all these methods, no-code pharmacy app builders can be your best bet. No-code app makers allow you to build, maintain, and update your own apps in a fraction of time and money as compared to other traditional methods of app development.

We recommend AppMySite as it is one of the fastest, easiest, and most affordable options available out there. You can easily develop your online pharmacy app with AppMySite and launch it on the Google Play and Apple App Stores.

How to develop your pharmacy app with AppMySite?

AppMySite makes your app development journey extremely simple. All you need is to sign up for the platform and enter basic details and you can immediately start building your app.

Here are the steps to follow:

• Sign up for AppMySite and pick the product that suits you the best. You can choose to convert your existing website into an app or build your entire app from scratch. Select the product accordingly and enter the required details to launch your dashboard.
• Begin with designing your app and creating assets like app icons, screens, and more. Again, you can build everything from the ground up or upload your existing designs that align with your brand’s theme.
• Next, finetune your app’s navigation and settings. You can add menus, bottom bars, etc. You can also connect your website and app and import all the site data with a few clicks. Do not forget to preview your progress on a live emulator and make fixes as you roll.
• Additionally, you can also integrate desired features like Rich Push Notifications, Chat, Monetization, Analytics, and more. When done, simply download your Android and iOS app builds and submit them on the Google Play and Apple App Stores.

That will be all. You can set up your online drugstore in minutes and test your pharmacy app before deploying it on the app stores. Make the most of AppMySite and build an app for your online pharmacy store. Simplify the lives of your consumers by facilitating quick medicine ordering and delivery, and amplify your profits.

Also, now that you know how you can build a pharmacy app, continue reading and exploring other significant facets of the mobile-powered healthcare industry.

Role of mobile apps in pharmacy & healthcare: Facts & statistics

How important are apps in the healthcare sector?

Well, mobile apps are not a novelty in the world of healthcare anymore. The services are being driven by apps in a variety of ways. From monitoring health and fitness to maintaining patient history, apps are being used for all.

While health bloggers are propagating information through apps, pharmaceutical companies are selling medicinal supplies online. It will not be an exaggeration to state that mobile app technology is shaping the present and future of healthcare.

Here are some facts and statistics that further strengthen this belief:

• New technologies are making the healthcare sector more safe and secure. As a result, the app stores are now home to thousands of health and pharmacy apps. There are around 350,000 healthcare and medical apps available in the app stores.
• More than 200 new healthcare apps are added to stores every day. Google Play Store currently hosts around 54,546 healthcare and medical apps, whereas the number on the Apple App Store stands at around 41.517.
• More people prefer immediate or virtual healthcare facilities these days. As a result, the healthcare app market is set to generate more than USD 300 billion by 2025.
• The mHealth market is projected to grow at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 11.7 percent and reach an estimated value of USD 88.70 billion by 2032.
• Revenue specifically in the Online Pharmacy segment is expected to reach USD 82.42 billion this year. The global online pharmacy market is likely to grow at a CAGR of 9.63 percent and reach a value of USD 130.50 billion by 2029.
• In 2020, almost USD 1.2 billion in funding was directed to the development of mHealth apps and investors continue to be bullish when it comes to investment in this sector.
• More than 50 percent of US customers order health, wellness, and nutritional products online. The US also generates the most revenue in the online pharmacy sector.
• India and China are leading countries when it comes to health app usage with a 70 percent and 66 percent share respectively.

These were some numbers that highlight where the mHealth and online pharmacy industry is headed. The data clearly indicates that the sector is on the rise and continues to grow with time. It is the best time to launch a pharmacy app of your own and penetrate the online healthcare market.

The significance of pharmacy app development

What are pharmacy apps? Why should I create an online medical store application for my pharmacy business? Is pharmacy app development profitable?

Are you overwhelmed by these questions? Do not worry. We will answer them all in this section.

Pharmacy apps are a part of the health commerce industry and are used for online medicine delivery. Such apps enable pharmacists and pharmacy business owners to go digital and reach customers across the globe.

From creating a pharmacy app for one’s own medicine delivery business to creating a pharmacy aggregator platform and listing multiple vendors and medicine shopping options, there are many avenues to explore.

As lives are getting busier and time has become a luxurious commodity, fewer people want to go out and shop for their necessities. Hence, it is not just clothes, gadgets, and accessories that people are shopping online. The trend of online medicine ordering is gaining popularity, and more people are opting for it.

In fact, for many people, especially the old and ailing ones, it is becoming a boon. There are many remote retail shops that are also ordering medicines in bulk from manufacturing pharmaceutical companies and making them easily available to people around them.

Moreover, the numbers and statistics listed above highlight the fact that the online medicine delivery industry is booming, and investing in this realm can bolster your business. All-in-all, pharmacy apps are a profitable business idea for sellers and a must-have convenience for customers.

Benefits of developing a medicine delivery app

As discussed above, pharmacy apps are a win-win for both customers and sellers. Some of the most significant advantages of pharmacy apps are as listed below:

Uninterrupted supply of medicines

Medicine is a necessary supply, often needed urgently or within a short notice of time. As the order is often placed directly to bulk suppliers and pharmaceutical companies, a shortage is not an issue. Individuals, and even retailers, can easily make orders on the app and purchase cart items as and when convenient.

Ease of accessibility and usage

Apps are bridging the gaps in infrastructure and bringing the world closer. Immediate access to data, health facilities, information, supplies, and more, is improving the experience for patients and simplifying the job for doctors and other healthcare providers. Hence, apps are making the process simple by allowing instant online and offline accessibility to medicines and an easy-to-use interface for placing orders.

Easy tracking, monitoring & ordering

Apps are becoming more efficient and empowered with the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other new-age technologies. It is also easier for both buyers and suppliers to place the order and monitor it at every stage with an app. People can easily apply for discounts and view the invoices. They can also curate their order and save it to buy later. Thus, apps can enhance the overall shopping experience.

Unified data management

Cloud-based data management systems integrated into apps can make lives easier for both, patients, and suppliers. One-point access can be used to receive, send, or monitor prescriptions, validate them, check inventory stock and order history, and more. Access to critical data can also help you understand the market better and make informed decisions for your business and customers.

Seamless administrative management

Hospitals and clinics are already benefiting by implementing app technology for managing administrative tasks. The same format of a centralized management unit can be used by pharmacy companies. Such apps can streamline operations and make the system more efficient and error-free. From inventory management to order delivery, every step can become easier.

Misuse prevention

Abusive or illicit usage of drugs is a reality. This can be widely abated as apps function in a controlled environment. One can ensure the linking of identifications and scrutiny of prescriptions before supplying sensitive drugs. Apps can ensure instant access to order history and help limit the quantity of delivery per order and thereby, prevent misuse.

Transparency and user privacy

Apps that give detailed insight to patients about the standard operating procedures of the company are trusted widely. It helps in making the services more transparent and lucrative. The more organized and easily accessible system of information, the easier it is for customers to trust the provider. This helps increase transparency and elevate brand value and authenticity. Other than that, on-demand medicine delivery apps can also help ensure patient privacy. As patients get the convenience of ordering medicines online and human interference is minimized, sensitive patient data and medical history can be better safeguarded and protected.

These are some of the outstanding benefits of creating a pharmacy app. Moreover, apps also ensure better sales, retention, and engagement than websites and contribute to the overall growth of your brand.  

Top picks: 5 pharmacy apps that can give you goals

The pharmacy industry is upgrading itself with mobile technology and becoming more advanced each day. It is doing more than just supplying medicines. Everybody, from retailers to individual consumers, is becoming a part of this app-based supply chain and changing lives for the better.

Although plagiarism is a big no-no, it is always smart to learn from the heavyweights and industry competitors. Check out our top picks and know how the existing pharmacy apps are giving goals to aspiring ones.

Our top choices of pharmacy apps, in no order of priority, include the following:

#1. CVS Pharmacy

CVS Pharmacy is a leading name and one of the most popular apps in the US that comes with a range of features. It has many advanced functionalities like prescription management, easy ordering for refills, 24×7 video chat with experts, and more, that help patients in monitoring and maintaining their medications. CVS Pharmacy is available for Android and iOS users and is quite popular among Americans.

#2. NetMeds

NetMeds is another pharmacy app that is changing the landscape of the mobile pharma industry. It is a popular name across the Indian subcontinent that offers medicines and a range of personal care and wellness products. The brand stems from a dynamic legacy of over 100 years in the pharmacy business and has become a trusted name in the digital world. Their app is available for both Android and iOS users and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or App Store.

#3. Rite Aid

Rite Aid is yet another popular name in the pharmacy sector in the US. A product of the Rite Aid Corporation, it operates a chain of drugstores in the US, the third largest of its kind there. It has evolved with time and become more than just a medicine ordering app. People can also use its app to purchase diet and fitness products, opt for immunization services, avail of benefits of insurance programs, and more.

#4. MedAdvisor

MedAdvisor, as it claims, is the most popular app-based medical adherence program in Australia. The app allows users to avail a number of benefits like curating medication lists, ordering prescriptions, setting reminders to take medicines, and so much more. It works like a medical assistant and empowers both doctors and patients by bridging the gap and facilitating communication between them.

#5. Pharmacy2U

Pharmacy2U, originally started as an online pharmacy store in 2000 by Daniel Lee, has become the most popular medicine delivery app in the UK. It allows customers to order and manage their prescriptions at any time, from any place, and delivers medication to their doorsteps free of cost. It is one of the fastest-growing and most trusted names in the world of pharmacy in the United Kingdom. Customers can easily download the Android or iOS apps from the stores and register to start ordering.

Top features to include in your pharmacy mobile app

Features are the most significant aspect of developing an app. The set of features you choose and add to your app should power your business goals and make the journey seamless for your consumers.

Ensure the following features in your pharmacy app for a robust performance and smooth experience:

Simplified user on-boarding

The immediate and long-term experience of your users should be satisfying enough to keep them hooked. A complex signup process can lead to immediate abandonment of the app. Hence, make the registration process simple and offer multiple sign-up and log-in options like Email, Google, Apple, Facebook, etc. The splash screen, landing pages, and app interface should all be coherent and compel users to stay.

Smooth & layered navigation

Many of your customers will likely be ailing patients. Hence, the very purpose of offering them an app for ease and convenience should be kept in mind. Ensure everything that your app users are looking for is available at their fingertips by enabling layered navigation. Build a premium native app that is responsive and fast and offers an unmatched experience. Think from the perspective of the users and design the icons, function buttons, pages, and screens accordingly.

Smart product search & filter

Help your users achieve their shopping goals with smart searching, filtering, and sorting options. Users should be able to filter medicines and products based on various options like company, disease, composition, order history, and more. Design and enlist products and product variations intuitively. Display important announcements, sales, offers, and more, on the banner to have the users hooked from the very start of the session-time.

Seamless payment & checkout

This is the sales point that changes your traffic and engagements into conversions. Give it a special priority and make the checkout process smooth and easy. Allow people to modify their cart, claim insurance, view taxes, and apply discounts and promo codes at this point. Also, integrate multiple payment gateways that cater to varied locations and currencies. It will help you in covering a wider demography and, hence, boost your revenue.

Additional features & benefits

You can broaden the scope of your brand by being more than just a medicine ordering app. Add other features and benefits and enrich customers’ experience with information and entertainment. You can walk that extra mile and see what your competitors are doing. Some added features that you can incorporate into your app are:

• User-consent form
• Prescription management
• Loyalty rewards program
• Blogs and catalog
• Multi-language support
• Social media integration
• In-app chat support
• Push notifications
• Review and rating collection

Decide on the final list of features based on the industry trends and the goal of your app. Do not forget to create personalized offerings and interact with your consumers on a regular basis. You can also go for in-app marketing and advertisements. Communicate new offers and updates or send trend and price drop alerts to your customers and boost conversions.

Suggested Read: Unleash the power of push notifications for your healthcare app

Wrapping up

Take ideas from this article and chalk out your plan for tapping into the mobile market. Get in touch with AppMySite and convert your WooCommerce website to mobile app.

You can also create a WordPress app if you are just a health blogger and educate people about the latest trends in the health and pharmaceutical industry.

Else, develop a pharmacy aggregator and marketplace platform, telemedicine app, or a pharmacy app of your own and grow your business. The choice is yours and there are endless options to choose from.

Go ahead and claim your territory. Build an app and get an edge over your competitors. May the force of technology be with you!

Frequently asked questions

Have questions about building a pharmacy app? Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about pharmacy app development.