Walgreens opens new robotic prescription micro-fulfillment center
A major pharmacy retailer is streamlining the filling of prescription medications for close to 200 stores in the Midwest.
Walgreens is adding to its existing network of 11 robotic micro-fulfillment centers spread across the U.S. with the opening of a new facility in Brooklyn Park, Minn. The pharmacy giant intends for its newest micro-fulfillment center to streamline prescription processing and reduce administrative tasks, freeing up pharmacists to focus more on customer service.
This new facility will support nearly 200 Walgreens stores across the Midwest, including 145 in Minnesota, and is expected to process approximately 13 million prescriptions each year. The retailer also expects the center to bring more than 175 jobs to the area.
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]
Micro-fulfillment centers are a network of facilities using robotic technology in a central pharmacy environment in an effort to more efficiently dispense and ship prescriptions to Walgreens locations nationwide.
Walgreens’ network of what is now 12 micro-fulfillment centers supports morew than 5,000 stores across the country, fulfilling more than 3.5 million prescriptions weekly.
"Walgreens’ investment in micro-fulfillment centers is another strategic step toward a brighter future for community pharmacy," said Rick Gates, chief pharmacy officer, Walgreens. "Research shows that Americans want more health services at their local pharmacy, and micro-fulfillment centers help us meet those needs by allowing our pharmacists do what they do best: spend more time with patients."
Amazon Pharmacy also uses robotic micro-fulfillment to help fill prescriptions, while Walgreens competitors including Albertsons, Kroger, and Walmart all utilize micro-fulfillment in their supply chains (not necessarily for prescriptions).
According to Walgreens, its micro-fulflllment facilities have yielded successful results, including:
- A 24% year-over-year increase in shipped volumes from micro-fulfillment centers, with approximately 16 million prescriptions filled each month.
- Approximately 40% of a store’s total prescription volume is managed by micro-fulfillment centers.
- The implementation of a recycling program across Walgreens’ micro-fulfillment centers recycled 3.7 million pounds of cardboard, plastic, and toner cartridges in fiscal year 2024.
"Our pharmacists working in locations supported by our micro-fulfillment sites are spending less time filling prescriptions and more time on patient care, like providing medication adherence support or administering vaccines – all of which help strengthen the health of our communities and provide a better overall patient experience," said Kayla Heffington, VP, pharmacy operating model, Walgreens.
Walgreens focuses on pharmacy
Walgreens has been taking other steps to strengthen the pharmacy portion of its business. These include teaming up with talent development company Guild to launch PharmStart, a “first-of-its-kind,” fully-funded online education program designed to help eligible team members meet the prerequisite requirements for pharmacy school.
The company also offers 1,500 free in-store kiosks for safe disposal of expired medications and expanded same-day pharmacy delivery nationwide in January 2025.
Walgreens operates approximately 8,500 stores throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, as well as a number of omnichannel platforms. Walgreens is the flagship U.S. brand of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
