As a business owner, you know that every dollar in additional revenue does not mean an extra dollar to spend. If you want to pad your pockets, you have to reduce your expenses.

Here at PDS, we strive to bring you more ways to cut costs and put more in your pocket so you can use your hard-earned money on things that matter.

One of the areas we have seen ignored time and time again has been those pharmacies who have initiated a home delivery service in their store.

If you have a home delivery service, awesome! Implementing a delivery service is a great way to:

• Differentiate yourself from other local options.
• Service a greater population than what is in your immediate area.
• Get you into accounts that you otherwise would be blocked from, such as LTC, RCF & medical offices.

But just like any program, maintenance and continuous improvement is key. If you set up a delivery service in your store, read on for the tell-tale signs that your service needs a checkup.

1. Late or inconsistent deliveries. If your deliveries are infringing on normal store hours, or if your delivery driver constantly returns closer to closing time, you may need to take a closer look at the delivery route you laid out. You could be unnecessarily taxing your driver by providing an inefficient route.
2. Confusing delivery logs. Do you get a headache just thinking about trying to find a paper log? Many pharmacies even find themselves struggling with improper signatures. Obtaining a new signature, not to mention the constant hassle of going through paper logs to file and organize in your system, can lead to major inconveniences for your driver or the customer.
3. Customer Dissatisfaction. Your employees are your most valuable asset – and delivery drivers serve on the front lines of customer service. They are the face of your business. If you are constantly hearing about poor performance or attitude, you may want to re-evaluate your driver choice and provide the proper training. There are many resources available to you that you can use to train your team to be rockstars at customer service.
4. Driver ambiguity. Have you checked how much you’re paying to fill up the gas tank on your delivery vehicle? If you find that the mileage on your delivery van is inconsistent with your designated delivery routes, you may want to take a closer look at where your driver is going. Tracking your drivers is key to creating a streamlined and profitable delivery service. Read on for more on how you can optimize your tracking and routes.
5. Multiple deliveries to the same patient or address. This happens more than you may think and is due to confusing delivery logs, an inadequate structure to store that data or a clearly developed delivery policy.
6. Erratic payment process. If you do not establish a set payment structure for deliveries (i.e., not requiring patients to have a credit card on file or pay before delivery), you are creating the perfect storm of confusion and liability. Establish the rules upon delivery and you will have smoother, more efficient transactions.

Do any of these tell-tale signs fit your current delivery service? Not to worry, we’re here to help you turn your home delivery service from headache to profit!

We recently hosted a free webinar with Walt Brooks, President of RxTrax on 5 ways to increase profits & expand your delivery service. On the webinar, Walt guided listeners through how to make a home delivery system into an efficient and profitable machine  – whether you have an existing service or looking to start one.

Now you can watch the replay!

On the call, Walt introduced a revolutionary system that anyone who is in the home delivery service should look into. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and watch the free replay!

Watch the replay here!