If you are in the market for a new pharmacy software system, you've probably put in your research.
Having done your research and found a promising software vendor, you may feel as if you are ready to make the jump and purchase your next software system. Before you do, though, make sure that you check off one important item on your list: a free demo.
A virtual demo 一 short for demonstration 一 provides you with the unique opportunity to see a software system and all of its features in action, at no cost to you. In a demo, you can get a sneak peek into a technology’s features and visualize how they might work in your pharmacy.
Demos are usually hosted by a representative of the software company, via phone call or virtual video call, and are done either privately or alongside other professionals who are also in the market for new software.
No matter the format, though, free demos can provide you with a number of benefits. They are the final, and perhaps the most important, step in ensuring that the software you are considering is the right choice for you.
Benefit #1: Understanding the Software
Whether you are purchasing your first software system or switching to a new vendor, it can be intimidating to learn the ins and outs of a new piece of technology.
By taking part in a demo, though, you can offset the inevitable learning curve and get to know your software from the very beginning 一 which will make your transition much easier in the long run.
Because demos are so feature-focused, they will give you the opportunity to see some of the software’s most important capabilities on display. When your representative gives you a demo, they will walk you through each feature step-by-step and teach you how to optimize it for maximum use.
If there is a particular feature that you have heard about, or that you are interested in, demos also give you the opportunity to ask to learn more and see how it works in the software.
On a broader scale, a demo will give you a better idea of whether or not the software in question can give you what you need: if it is easy enough to use, if it can accommodate your patients’ needs, and if it can be smoothly integrated into your pharmacy’s daily operations.
In this way, demos are the key to making sure you understand your software and deciding whether it is the right fit for your pharmacy.
Benefit #2: Getting to Know the Software Vendor
In addition to helping you learn about the software, a demo can help you learn more about the software vendor 一 as well as the team that you will potentially be working with in the coming weeks, months, and even years.
One of the most important considerations in picking any software system is the level of support that the vendor offers. In fact, customer support is one of the top 3 factors that pharmacists consider when picking and sticking with a vendor.
Demos offer an excellent way to see customer support in action for the first time. When you attend a demo, you can get a feel for the vendor representative, and by extension, the vendor itself.
Demos can therefore give you a better idea of whether or not the vendor you are considering is the one that you want to partner with in the future. During your demo, pay attention to the representative’s attitude, knowledgeability, and especially their willingness to help.
The best representatives (and best software vendors) go out of their way to make your software simple 一 and to alleviate any issues that you face as quickly as possible.
If the representative operates with this mindset, they are probably indicative of a vendor who does the same and who you should consider further. If not, they probably represent a vendor who does not value your pharmacy’s success, and who you should stay away from.
Whatever the case may be, a free demo can give you the opportunity to interact with the software vendor directly and decide if they can give you the support you need.
Benefit #3: Asking Questions + Taking Next Steps
Finally, a demo can give you the opportunity to address any specific considerations or concerns you may have about the software and get them solved in a timely manner.
If you have a question about the software 一 from how a particular feature works to how it can help you solve a problem in your pharmacy 一 a demo can provide you with the opportunity to speak up and get answers.
If you want to know more information 一 about pricing, payment plans, or installation times 一 a demo can allow you to get specifics that a Google review or website search can’t give you.
And, if you want to know how to take the next steps in the process 一 in terms of purchasing your software 一 a demo can help you decide how you want to move forward.
A demo can give you faster, more personalized answers and information than other means can. With better information, you can speed up your software search and get one step closer to finding the software of your dreams.
Conclusion
Before you close your software system search, make sure that you have all of the tools you need to make an informed buying decision. Your pharmacy software system is the most important equipment in your storefront, so make sure that you get it right with the help of a free demo.
To get started, click any of the most popular software vendors below to visit their website and schedule a demo:
