Explore the history of grocery store pharmacies and how Emporos is leading the modernization of Pharmacy Commerce.
The grocery store pharmacy has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the colonial era. Today, it offers a convenient one-stop shop for groceries and prescriptions, but this wasn’t always the case. Let’s take a stroll through American history and explore the key events that shaped pharmacy commerce – from the introduction of the pill capsule to the mobile point of sale (POS).
Apothecaries and Mass Production
The 18th century saw the rise of apothecaries in the United States. These shops predicated the grocery store pharmacy, functioning not only as pharmacies but also as general stores, selling a variety of goods alongside medicines. Physicians primarily owned these apothecaries – dispensing their own drugs in the same building they saw patients 1.
The invention of the cash register in 1879 introduced the first form of automation. This innovation helped shopkeepers, including apothecary owners, better manage their finances and protect their profits. Keeping detailed transaction records reduced the likelihood of theft and errors 2.
New methods of medication delivery in the late 19th century, such as tablets and capsules, helped bring standardization into the pharmaceutical space. Instead of producing custom medications, physicians and pharmacists could stock ready-made options ahead of time, increasing efficiency and the number of customers they could serve 3.
Groceries and Technological Advancements
The grocery store we know today started taking shape in 1916 with the opening of Piggly Wiggly, the first supermarket. The Piggly Wiggly chain allowed shoppers to browse the shelves and pick out their own groceries – from prepared and canned foods to raw ingredients and other supplies. It even had an in-house pharmacy, foreshadowing the future of integrated shopping experiences 4.
Fast forward to the mid-20th century and we see a rapid succession of technological advancements that significantly impacted pharmacy commerce. Electronic calculators replaced cumbersome manual calculations in the 1950s, paving the way for the electronic cash register 5. The introduction of point-of-sale (POS) systems in the 1970s, followed by the first barcode in 1973, further streamlined operations and sped up checkouts 6.
The Digital Revolution Expands Pharmacies Beyond Brick and Mortar
The late 20th century ushered in the digital age and a new era of consumer convenience. Visa processed the first online payment in 1994, allowing consumers to use their credit cards for digital transactions 7. This was soon followed by the first online pharmacy in 19998 and the first online grocery store in 2000 9 – allowing consumers to access prescriptions and consumer goods outside the four walls of the retailer.
While restaurants originally experimented with curbside pickup in the 1920s, the concept wouldn’t gain widespread adoption until the 20th century digital age. Retailers, pharmacies, and grocery stores could leverage technological mobile advancements to enable Buy Now Pickup Later capabilities 10.
Beyond the 2000s: A Future of Convenience and Innovation
More recently, the past two decades have seen a surge in pharmacy technology. Recognizing the unique needs of pharmacies of all sizes and segments, Emporos launched the first POS system purpose-built for pharmacies in 2002. MerchantSoft integrates directly with the PMS and allows pharmacies to conduct transactions faster, easier, and safer than ever before.
Looking to the 2020s, Emporos continues to be at the forefront of innovation, introducing modern capabilities like a mobile POS, text-to-pay patient payments, and a POS-integrated lighted will call system to the pharmacy space. These features and bidirectional integrations help grocery store pharmacies gain the same efficiencies afforded to their retail counterparts.
Ready to Streamline Your Grocery Store Pharmacy Commerce?
The evolution of pharmacy commerce in grocery stores reflects a relentless pursuit of efficiency and convenience. The Emporos Pharmacy Commerce suite of solutions empowers pharmacies to meet the demands of the 21st century shopper. With cloud-based and mobile capabilities, Emporos helps pharmacies deliver seamless provider and patient experiences in-store, at curbside, drive-thru, or via mail out.
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Are you ready to bring your grocery store pharmacy into the future? Request a demo today and see how Emporos can help you meet patients wherever they need you to be.
References
- Apothecaries from the Eighteenth Century Onward: USA · Jars of “Art and Mystery”: Pharmacists and their Tools in the Mid-Nineteenth Century · OnView (harvard.edu)
- James Ritty and the Invention of the First Cash Register (thoughtco.com)
- The Colorful History of Pills Can Fill Many a Tablet – Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
- The World’s First Supermarket Was Invented To End Grocery Delivery (foodrepublic.com)
- Calculating Genius: The Story Behind Who Invented the Calculator | History Cooperative
- The History Of Point Of Sale In Five Key Steps | Retail Technology Group (rtgpos.com)
- Visa’s 25-year anniversary of first e-commerce payment | Payments NEXT
- Understanding the Rise of Digital Pharmacies (pharmanewsintel.com)
- E-Commerce Report; The history of online grocery shopping: first as Web farce, now a lucrative field for older companies. – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
- What is Curbside Pick Up | Parcel Pending