Walgreens expands robotic pharmacy fulfillment network – here’s where
Walgreens continues efforts to automate prescription dispensation.
In an email to Chain Store Age, a spokesperson for Walgreens said the retailer has opened a new micro-fulfillment center in Allentown, Penn. dedicated to prescription fulfillment. Micro-fulfillment centers (MFCs) are a network of facilities using robotic technology in a central pharmacy environment in an effort to more efficiently dispense and ship prescriptions to store locations nationwide.
Micro-fulfillment centers automate tasks such as picking and packing, reducing the need for manual labor while also enabling more inventory to fit into a smaller space. Walgreens initially launched its prescription micro-fulfillment program in 2021 at an automated facility in the Dallas area specifically focused on rapid fulfillment of customer prescription orders.
[READ MORE: Robots help Walgreens fill prescriptions in micro-fulfillment hubs]
Walgreens’ newest MFC follows the July opening of a facility in Kent, Wash., that supports nearly 200 Walgreens stores across the region.
Human pharmacists manually fill prescription orders that involve controlled substances and/or are time-sensitive. The Allentown facility brings Walgreens' total MFC count to 15 across the U.S. that support more than 5,500 stores and fulfill 18 million prescriptions nationwide each month.
The MFC will support nearly 650 Walgreens stores across the region, including 55 in Pennsylvania, by processing nearly 29 million prescriptions annually, which Walgreens hopes will allow pharmacists to spend more quality time with patients.
Walgreens introduces 'hybrid pharmacist' role
As part of its efforts to streamline prescription fulfillment, earlier this year Walgreens began rolling out a new "hybrid pharmacist" role in an effort to combat burnout and workforce gaps among its employees.
The program, which allows pharmacists to work both in-store and in centralized settings such as regional support sites, micro-fulfillment centers, and approved work‑at‑home environments, is a “first of its kind” role, according to the pharmacy retailer.
So far, the hybrid pharmacist position has been rolled out in six states: Arkansas, Missouri, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Walgreens says that early feedback and interest in the role have been strong, with participating pharmacists noting the “increased flexibility” and “differentiated work experience” as key benefits.
Founded in 1901 and headquartered in Deerfield, Ill., Walgreens operates approximately 8,500 stores throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
