Medicine Delivery App Development: A Thorough Guide

There are millions of people who want some or other type of healthcare through medicines, whether to treat and prevent diseases, relieve pain, or improve quality of life. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how people live and work and shifted towards a healthy lifestyle. Undoubtedly, this pandemic has accelerated the growth of the medicine delivery industry. People are now more than ever looking for ways to get their medications delivered to their doorsteps without having to leave their homes. This has created a huge opportunity for businesses that offer medicine delivery services. However, developing an app for the medicine delivery service is the cherry on the cake for all business owners and entrepreneurs today. 

So, if you’re thinking about starting a medicine delivery business or if you’re looking to improve the existing one, you need to develop a medicine delivery mobile app. A medicine delivery app will make it easier for your customers to order their medications, and it will also help you to reach a wider audience. 

In this guide, we will discuss the different aspects of medicine delivery app development, including the benefits of developing an app, various business models, most popular on-demand medicine delivery apps, features that you need to include in your app, the cost and time of development, and much more! Let’s dive into this essential guide to transform your business idea into a successful medicine delivery app. 

What Is A Medicine Delivery App?

A medicine delivery app, as the name suggests, is a mobile application designed to facilitate the delivery of medicines from pharmacies to consumers. It serves as a digital platform connecting customers, pharmacies, and delivery personnel. Users can search for various medications, add them to a virtual cart, pay online, and have them delivered to their doorstep. 

A medicine delivery app represents a significant advancement in the healthcare industry. It bridges the gap between traditional pharmacies and the digital world, making healthcare more accessible and convenient for everyone. By simplifying the process of obtaining necessary medications, these apps play a crucial role in improving patient compliance and overall health outcomes.

Why Should Businesses Invest In Medicine Delivery Apps?

According to the data provided by Precedence Research:

The global pharmaceutical drug delivery market size was valued at US $1,525.16 billion in 2022 and is expected to surpass around US $2,047.36 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.7% from 2022 to 2030.  

From the above data, it must be clear that the growth of the online medicine delivery market is attributed to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the rising population with poor immunity, and the growing demand for online medicine delivery services. This has necessitated medicine delivery app development in recent years.

Benefits Of Pharmacy App Development

In the era of digitalization, businesses across all sectors are taking their services online, and the healthcare industry is no exception. An online medicine delivery app can revolutionize the way pharmacies interact with customers, offering numerous benefits.

Broader Pool Of Customers

Traditional pharmacies are limited by their geographical location, serving only customers in their vicinity. An online medicine delivery app, on the other hand, has the potential to reach a much broader audience. Whether your customers are in a different city or just down the street but unable to leave their homes, your services are just a few taps away. This extended reach can significantly increase your customer base.

Advanced Analytics

One of the most potent benefits of an online platform is the ability to collect and analyze data. With an online medicine delivery app, you can track customer behavior, identify trends, understand which products are most popular, and even predict future demand. This valuable information can help you make data-driven decisions, refine your business strategy, optimize inventory management, and ultimately increase profitability.

Robust Marketing Tools

By developing a medicine delivery app, it will be easier for you to integrate your app with advanced marketing tools, which is undoubtedly, much more effective and cost efficient approach than traditional marketing methods. Push notifications, personalized recommendations, email marketing, and social media integration are just a few examples. These tools can help you promote new products, inform customers about sales or discounts, and keep your brand at the forefront of their minds.

Higher Customer Engagement

An online medicine delivery app provides multiple avenues for customer engagement. From medication reminders to personalized wellness tips and interactive user interfaces, there are numerous ways to keep users engaged. Higher engagement often translates into increased customer loyalty and higher sales.

Easier Customer Retention

Retaining customers can be a challenge for any business, but an online medicine delivery app can make this task significantly easier. With features like personalized offers, easy reordering, subscription services, and excellent customer support, you can enhance customer satisfaction and encourage repeat business. Remember, retaining existing customers is often more cost-effective than acquiring new ones.

Top Online Medicine Delivery Services In Market

Epocrates

Epocrates (Android, iOS) is one of the most comprehensive and convenient medicine delivery apps in the USA that offers a wide range of features and benefits. Epocrates app provides doctors and other healthcare professionals with access to drug information, clinical evidence, and patient care tools. It offers a wide range of prescription medications, including generic and brand-name drugs, as well as over-the-counter medications and supplements. Furthermore, users can order their prescriptions online or through the Epocrates app and have them delivered to their homes or workplaces.

Capsule

Headquartered in New York, Capsule (Android, iOS) is a prescription delivery service that promises to deliver medications to the customers’ door within one day. Capsule works by partnering with local pharmacies to deliver prescriptions. The company also has a team of pharmacists who are available to answer questions and provide counseling. Capsule accepts most major insurance plans and offers a free consultation with a pharmacist. Currently, Capsule is operating in many regions of the USA, including Atlanta, Austin, Boston, and Denver.

NowRx Pharmacy

Headquartered in California, NowRx Pharmacy (Android, iOS) provides free deliveries in 2-3 hours to the customers’ doorsteps. Their goal is to simplify the process of getting prescriptions for patients by removing the need to visit a pharmacy. The app also offers an auto-fill feature, where the users can get their medicines every month so that they can avail the services for a long time period. NowRx Pharmacy provides services in various locations in the USA that includes Mountain View, Irvine, San Jose, and Mesa. 

CVS Pharmacy

CVS Pharmacy app (Android, iOS) integrates several aspects of health management and shopping into one platform. The app allows users to manage, refill, and check the status of their CVS pharmacy prescriptions. Additionally, it allows the users to shop from thousands of items found in CVS stores, from health products to household items, and have them delivered to their doorstep or prepared for pickup. CVS Pharmacy operates in various areas of the USA, such as California, Texas, and Florida.

Various Business Models For A Pharmacy Delivery App

You should know about the business models that you can opt for in medicine delivery app development. The business model will depend on your target audience and business requirements. There are basically two types of business models for medicine home delivery apps.

Business model – Marketplace

In a marketplace model, the medicine delivery app owner acts as an intermediary between the customers and pharmacies. The app owners do not own any inventory, and they are not responsible for delivering the medicines. Instead, the app owner takes a commission from each sale made by the pharmacies through the app. This model is a good option for businesses that want to get into the medicine delivery business without having to invest in inventory or delivery infrastructure.

Business model – Operational

If you have your own pharmacy, then this business model will be the best fit for you. In an operational model, the app owners have their own inventory and deliver the medicines to the end customers through the delivery agents. This model requires a larger investment, but it gives the app owners more control over the customer experience. This model is a good option for businesses that want to provide a high-quality customer experience and that have the resources to invest in inventory and delivery infrastructure.

Various Features In A Medical Delivery App

Creating an online medicine delivery app involves more than automating the buying process. It requires thoughtfully designed features that cater to the unique needs of customers, admins, pharmacies, and delivery executives. If you’re considering developing an application for medicine delivery weather it is an iOS application or a Android application, you need to add essential features to your app so that it stands out from the rest of the competition. Below are mentioned essential features that can significantly enhance the user experience and set your medicine delivery app apart from your competitors.  

Features For Customers

• Registration and login: The customers can register and log in to the medicine delivery app through email ids, passwords, and phone numbers. 
• Profile management: The users can manage and update their profile, such as updating personal information, adding phone numbers, updating shipping address, etc.  
• Add prescription: Users can easily add prescriptions in written as well as pictorial form through their phone galleries and documents into the medicine delivery app so that the pharmacies can verify the prescriptions. 
• Search medicine: Users can conveniently browse and select the drugs and medicines they require through advanced filters and search options in the medicine delivery app. 
• Order medicine: Users can place an order for medicine directly from the medicine delivery app. 
• Pay for orders: Users can pay for the orders they have placed through various payment gateways, such as debit/credit cards, mobile wallets, e-banking, etc. 
• Order history: Users can check their order history to keep track of the medicines they have ordered and also the time and date so that users can easily reorder their medicines. 
• Drug details: Users can check detailed descriptions of each drug, including its usage, side effects, precautions, and other necessary information.
• Ratings & feedback: Users can provide ratings and feedback depending on the medicines and delivery service in the medicine delivery app. This will help to maintain the quality of service. 
• Notification: Users can receive real-time updates about order status, new offers, reminders for medicine refills, etc., through the notification feature on the medicine delivery app. 
• Refund query: Customers can raise a refund query in case of cancellation or return through a simple process through the medicine delivery app. 

Unique Features

• Discounts & reward system: If you offer discounts and have a reward system in your medicine delivery app, then the customers will use your app more frequently, increasing customer retention. Rewards can be in the form of points earned per order, which can be redeemed for discounts on future purchases. 

• Fast reordering: Fast reordering feature will allow customers to reorder medications quickly, which can be a major time-saver, especially for those with chronic conditions who need to purchase the same medicines regularly.
• Search for substitutes: This feature can suggest alternative medicines that are cheaper or more readily available than the originally searched medication. It can help customers find the best deal and ensure that their treatment is not delayed due to the unavailability of a particular medicine.
• Built-in chat: A built-in chat feature will allow customers to communicate directly with the pharmacy or a customer service representative, helping them resolve queries or concerns promptly.
• Order tracking: Real-time order tracking will give customers a sense of satisfaction by allowing them to trace their orders from the pharmacy to their doorstep.
• Online doctor consultation: Integrating a feature for online consultation with healthcare professionals can add immense value to your medicine delivery app. It can help customers get advice about their symptoms, understand their prescriptions, or discuss potential side effects.

Features For Pharmacies

• Registration and login:  Pharmacies can create a new account using their official email or contact information. The login feature allows existing pharmacies to access their account.
• Account management: Pharmacies can manage their profiles by adding, editing, or updating their information, such as name, contact number, email, address, and operating hours.
• Order management: Pharmacies can receive orders from customers, process them, and track the delivery status. They should be able to accept or reject orders based on the availability of medicines.
• Order notifications: Pharmacies can get real-time notifications for new orders, changes in orders, or delivery status.
• Digital prescriptions: Pharmacies can view and verify digital prescriptions uploaded by customers. This feature should also allow pharmacies to communicate with customers in case of any discrepancies or clarifications.
• Payments: Pharmacies can track the payments received for completed orders. They should be able to view transaction details for record-keeping and financial management.
• Order history: Pharmacies can view their past orders. This feature can aid in inventory management and trend prediction.

Unique Features

• Analytics: Providing pharmacies with access to advanced analytics can help them understand sales trends, popular products, peak order times, and more. This can aid in decision-making and strategy planning.
• Push notifications: Push notifications can alert pharmacies about new orders, low stock, customer feedback, and more. This ensures they are always up-to-date and can act quickly.
• Discounts: The discount feature can allow pharmacies to offer discounts on specific products, help move inventory faster, promote new or overstocked items, and attract more customers.
• Delivery Tracking: The delivery tracking feature for pharmacies can help them ensure that orders are being delivered on time and address any issues promptly.

• Related medications: This feature can help pharmacies upsell and provide a more comprehensive service to their customers by suggesting related or complementary medications. 

Features For Admins

• Dashboard: Admins can overview the entire operations, including the number of orders, active users, active pharmacies, revenue, etc., through the dashboard, which will help in providing insights and analytics for better decision-making.
• Payment gateway management: Admins can manage different payment methods, monitor transactions, handle refunds, and resolve any payment-related issues.
• Customer support management: Admins can oversee the customer support process, respond to user queries and complaints, and ensure a smooth customer experience.
• Inventory management: The admin can monitor overall inventory across all pharmacies, especially for platform-wide promotions or discounts, through the inventory management feature in the medicine delivery app. 
• User management: Admins can manage all user accounts, whether customers or suppliers. They can add, update, deactivate, or delete any user account if required.

Features For Couriers

• Registration/Login: Couriers can quickly and securely register or log into the app using their credentials. This process may also include identity verification for added security and trust.
• Courier profile: The courier profile can include information like name, photo, contact details, vehicle details, and ratings/reviews from customers. It can also show the courier’s successful delivery count and any pending deliveries.
• Push notifications: Push notifications can be used to alert couriers of new delivery requests, changes to existing orders, or updates from the management. They are crucial for maintaining real-time communication.
• Navigation: A navigation feature integrated with maps is essential to guide couriers to the pickup and drop-off locations. It can help in providing optimal routes to ensure timely delivery and reduce fuel expenses.
• Delivery status: The delivery status feature can allow couriers to update the status of deliveries in real-time (e.g., picked up, in transit, delivered). This helps customers and pharmacy operators track the progress of orders.

Unique Features

• Analytics: Analytics can help couriers track their performance metrics, such as the number of deliveries completed, earnings, distances covered, and time spent on deliveries. This can be useful for self-assessment and improvement.
• History of delivered orders:  A record of completed deliveries helps couriers keep track of their past work, serving as a reference for any disputes or clarifications.
• Work status: This feature lets couriers switch their availability status (online/offline) in the app. When they’re ready to start accepting orders, they can go online, and when they’re done for the day, they can switch to offline.

Monetization Models Of Online Medicine Delivery Apps

You must be aware of the fact that medicine delivery apps have taken the world by storm in the healthcare industry. Therefore, investing in medicine delivery app development is one of the wisest decisions you can ever take in today’s era. However, to earn more income from these apps, you should know about various methods through which you can earn money and make it a profitable business. Let’s know about some of these methods. 

Service Fees 

One of the most direct ways to generate revenue through your medicine delivery app is by charging a service fee for each transaction. This can be a flat rate per order or a percentage of the order total. Typically, the customer pays this fee and helps cover the costs associated with maintaining the app and providing delivery services.

Subscriptions

Offering premium subscription plans is another way to generate consistent revenue through your medicine delivery app. You can provide extra benefits to the people who have taken subscription plans, like free delivery, priority service, discounts on medicines, and more. This not only provides a steady income stream but also encourages customer loyalty.

Advertisements

In-app advertisements are another monetization method that can opt for your medicine delivery app. You can provide ad space for pharmaceutical companies, health insurance providers, or other businesses related to health and wellness. These ads can appear in various sections of your app and help you generate extra income. 

Built-in Promotion Features

Another method through which you can earn extra income is to allow pharmacies to promote their products or special offers. Through this method, pharmacies can get more visibility, and you will be paid for providing them with promotional space. This feature can help pharmacies highlight new arrivals, offer special discounts, or promote overstocked items.

Using The Best Technology Stack For On-Demand Medicine Delivery App Development

Choosing a robust technology stack for your medicine delivery app is an important task that will help you determine effective functioning, optimal page loading time, and responsive design. If your app does not provide ideal performance, the customer retention rate will reduce, leading to a loss of revenue. Therefore, it is necessary to get in touch with various components of the technology stack for scalable e-pharmacy app development. 

There are two main components of the technology stack: 

Front-end Technology Stack

Front-end technology stack is for the clients, i.e., the customers can see and engage with the online store through the app. It is responsible for the mobile app’s design and navigation, providing a rich user experience and seamless user interface. 

Back-end Technology Stack

Back-end technology stack is for the server side of software development. It refers to the app’s inner workings, which the users cannot see.

The table below shows some of the commonly used technology stacks used for medicine delivery app development. 

How Much Does It Cost To Build A Medicine Delivery App?

The medicine delivery app development cost depend on various factors that are mentioned below:

• App complexity and features.
• Team type you are hiring – In-house, Outsource, or Freelance.
• The geographical location of the app development company.
• Mobile app platforms and development approach.
• Third-party integrations.
• App maintenance and support after the launch.
• App security and testing.

Based on the above factors, it must be clear that medicine delivery application development requires proper cost estimations. If you want pharmacy app development services from India, the cost may start from $999. APPWRK IT Solutions, a leading medicine delivery app development company, has a proven track record of building successful mobile apps for clients worldwide, including those in the US, with the price starting from just $999! Contact us today for further assistance.

APPWRK IT Solutions – Your Partner In Upscaling Your Pharmacy Delivery Business Through App Development

Medicine delivery app development has revolutionized the way we access and manage our health needs, providing us with the power to take control of our health right at our fingertips. However, to develop a flawless app, you need an ideal partner that has a deep understanding of both technology and healthcare. You need not worry because APPWRK stands tall among its contemporaries as the best medicine delivery app development company. We will help you thrive in this digital age with our robust and scalable medicine delivery app solutions! 

APPWRK IT Solutions is a mobile app development company and a trusted partner in your long-term growth and progress journey. Our expert mobile designers and developers have completed over 2000 projects globally that have helped businesses scale up development, design, and digital marketing proficiency. We assure to provide you with the finest pharmacy app development services so that you can scale the heights in this competitive industry! 

Conclusion

From the above data, you must have understood that the future of pharmacy lies in digital transformation, and these apps are at the forefront of this revolution. Therefore, medicine delivery app development represents a significant step towards blending technology with healthcare, fostering accessibility and convenience.

However, building a successful medicine delivery app is not just about replicating a physical pharmacy’s functions on a digital platform. It requires a deep understanding of the unique needs of users and pharmacies and the thoughtful integration of features that cater to these needs. Through this guide for medicine delivery app development, you have got a thorough knowledge of various crucial aspects, from benefits and business models to the technology stack and cost needed to develop an app. 

So, let’s take up this profitable business opportunity to skyrocket your sales. Contact us to build a top-notch medicine delivery app from the best mobile app developers in the industry! 

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