Vending

PharmaShop24 teams with Zytronic on digital pharmacy kiosk

August 19, 2020

PharmaShop24, based in Luzzara, Italy, recently revamped its pharmacy dispensing vending machine, adding an interactive user interface, according to a press release. The company used a customized Zytronic ZyBrid 55-inch touch sensor to develop a kiosk, called "Virtual," that can function in all weather conditions. The touch sensor was made using 6mm thermally toughened anti-glare glass. By helping to hide and replace the previously bulky internal electromechanical systems, the new Virtual module can hold many more products without increasing its size.

With the vandal resistant and sunlight-readable touchscreen in place, the Virtual window shows digital representations of the available products on the interactive LCD display, adding a new level of customer engagement. After payment, a robotic pick-and-place system selects and dispenses the product to the waiting client.

The Pharmashop24 vending machines feature networked telemetry, enabling owners to monitor sales and manage stock levels. This enables the reporting in real-time of product demand at a specific location and can issue a low stock level alert to trigger replenishment, minimizing lost sales and customer frustration as a result of vending machine shortages.

An optional "locker" enables prescription drugs to be safely held within the machine and released to a patient only when a special, pharmacy provided security code has been keyed into the touchscreen.

In comparison to the company's Extensive module, which holds up to 120 product types, the Virtual module can manage up to 255 lines, which effectively doubles capacity while also reducing its footprint.

Image courtesy of PharmaShop24.