Rents are constantly rising, especially in city centers, and retail space is valuable. Of course, it should be designed to be as spacious and attractive as possible, and the intelligent placement of certain items can also stimulate additional sales, not just in food retailing.

A dispensing robot takes up significantly less space than the classic push-pull columns. Example: 14 push-pull columns can be replaced by a picking machine that is only 3.50 m long. In addition, traffic areas are reduced (e.g., by eliminating the pull-out regions in the drawers), and there is less need for assistant positions. The space gained can be used to create entirely new room concepts, e.g. by enlarging the dispensary, creating more open and visible areas, possibly more HV tables for consultation, consultation room, and multifunctional areas (cosmetics, measuring services, children’s corner, tea corner, etc.). Installing a dispensing robot on a different floor is possible – even the basement can suddenly become interesting.

Even if the dispensing robot is installed in place of the drawer columns, without any conversion work, eliminating walking routes in the back office automatically ensures more order and structure in the pharmacy. After all, the customers and the whole team should feel comfortable in the pharmacy.

When relocating in 2008, Christchurch Pharmacy wanted to design their space to accommodate future business expansion. The team aimed to prioritize a clinical approach to patient care. „BD Rowa™ Vmax speeds dispensing without sacrificing safety. Staff use robots, freeing them for consultations. Increased capacity lets us store OTC drugs in a robot and it created access to a new consultation room. We can now spend more time with customers. Robbie, the robot helps us meet the rising demand for clinical services.“ Says Baba Akomolafe, Pharmacist and Pharmacy Owner of Christchurch Pharmacy in Essex.

The Christchurch pharmacy’s example makes it clear: a dispensing robot can save a lot of space and allow the entire pharmacy to be architecturally upgraded. Our tip: Take some measurements and consider what you could do with the space you have gained. Compare your results with the reference values of automated pharmacies. This will give you ideas on using the space you have gained sensibly and profitably.