X/Procure® - Electronic Procurement & Media Solutions

Whilst current economic conditions are challenging, pharmacies across the country realise the efficacy of electronic procurement in saving business time and money. In the last nine months, X/procure®, the undisputed leader in electronic procurement software for pharmacies, has recorded significant increases in the numbers of retail pharmacies using its software.

“In June 2007, X/Procure® hosted just more than 1000 pharmacies on the system,” says Sales & Marketing Director JD Henderson. “In nine months, to the end of March 2008, this has escalated over 19% to 1 191 South African pharmacies - the key factor impacting on the growth being our reputation of delivering on our promises.” According to market feedback, the main reasons for these pharmacies joining X/procure® was excellent service delivery, reliability and an overall attractive product and offering.

Additional success attributes are the ongoing product innovations, maintaining transparent relationships, and manning X/procure®’s 24 hour call centre with trained professionals to deal with queries. In the recently conducted Ipsos Markinor research, it was evident that the pharmacists were well aware and actively using features like integration with various dispensing and stock software systems, the ability to search for best price per generic equivalent, as well as easy regret and re-order management, to name a few.

Managing Director Deon Lewis says the increased footprint of X/Procure® is certainly pleasing but presents no reason to ‘rest on laurels’. “As with any brand, maintaining current status requires consistent self-evaluation as well as ensuring our product offerings are easy to use, fresh, and most importantly adds value to our customers’ businesses.”

X/Procure®’s procurement software is currently utilised by 53% of retail pharmacies - including Pick n Pay, Clicks, Medi-Rite and Dis-Chem. Further endorsement is indicated by the statistic that 61% of all pharmacies using electronic procurement are X/Procure® clients.

Since its inception in 2001, X/Procure® recently topped R18 billion in orders processed, a fantastic achievement in anyone’s books.

X/procure® specialises in the provision of electronic procurement and advertising technology to the South African Healthcare Industry.  To retail pharmacists X/procure® offers a premium electronic ordering system, and to pharmaceutical manufacturers it offers various advertising options on the computer interface at the point of purchase.

X/procure® recently made industry history by being the first specialised application software supplier to acknowledge and reward its licensees who actively utilise its electronic medicine procurement system, by making cash payouts through its X/points™ Rewards Programme.  To date X/procure® has paid out in excess of R600 000, ensuring pharmacists the country over are smiling all the way to the bank.

“In a society where cash is king, what better way to reward loyal pharmacy customers who subscribe to and utilise our system, than to pay them in cash?  The more the pharmacy makes use of the X/procure® procurement system, the more X/points™ they earn, which benefits advertisers on X/procure® who enjoy increased brand recall at the point of ordering, resulting in a win-win situation for all involved.  The X/points™ programme has been exceptionally well received by our numerous subscribers", commented MD Deon Lewis.

At the start of each day the pharmacist is reminded electronically of his X/points™ balance, which can be redeemed for cash on a monthly basis.  Those X/points™ not cashed in will automatically roll over to the next month allowing pharmacies to build up a healthy cash balance.

In a society where its more common to receive than to give, its refreshing to see an organisation not afraid to share their pie with their loyal supporters, once again proving why X/procure® remain undisputed industry leaders within its field.