TEXT: VIRPI KIRVES-TORVINEN PHOTO: EEMELI KIUKKONEN PHOTOGRAPHY
“If anything, our confidence in NewIcon has grown even stronger”
By chance, pharmacy owner Helvi Hänninen and NewIcon Marketing Director Jori-Matti Savolainen happened to be in the same event. Mr. Savolainen told her that his company was looking for a pilot pharmacy for its new medicine storage robot. This is how the Finnish Pielavesi Pharmacy soon became NewIcon’s first pharmacy customer in 2008.
The decision to purchase the storage robot was prompted primarily by the limited space available in the old premises. Our comprehensive planning and help with the renovation strengthened their confidence in us. While Ms. Hänninen was excited and also a bit nervous about the robot, she never had any doubts. Frankly, the excitement was mutual. The time after the installation of the storage robot has been memorable. All functions, including invoicing and electronic prescriptions, are now electronic. Communications have also changed: The amount of traditional mail has decreased, and a fax machine is no longer a viable option to maintain. “This feels like a historic period of time,” says Ms. Hänninen.
NO PAIN, NO GAIN The first pilot version did not perform as expected, and its users had to contact NewIcon frequently. However, Ms. Hänninen’s confidence in the company never waned. NewIcon was there for her pharmacy all along and helped whenever it was necessary. “Since I know the people at NewIcon, it has always been easy to ask them questions. They are not bureaucratic or presumptuous at all,” she says.
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