News

Top 20 drug stores spending $1.8 billion on IT in 2004

September 6, 2004

Franklin, Tenn. -- North America's top 20 drug stores represent $1.8 billion of information technology buying power focused on pharmacy systems, RFID technology, kiosks, self-checkout and vendor collaboration, according to IHL Consulting Group's recently released report, "IT and the North American Drug Store."

The report identifies the Top 20 North American drug stores by 2003 sales volume, including their various hardware, software and in-store systems currently installed and their defined IT systems needs going forward.

According to the report, a significant portion of this money is going into the use of RFID technology to increase the accuracy and authenticity of pharmaceuticals, capital outlays for new store systems that work within newly built or upgraded drive-through services, and updated merchandising systems that must manage an increasingly wider array of perishable and traditional products.

The report also includes technical profiles on the Top 20 drug store chains. Each profile includes competitive comparisons, hardware and software deployed, from checkout systems and related in-store technologies, such as POS, distribution and inventory management and key corporate information and personnel contacts.