Community pharmacies are under more pressure than ever, and few people understand that reality better than Mandy Tindale, Senior Product Manager for Medication Adherence at Omnicell UKI. Mandy spends much of her time on-site chatting with pharmacy teams, watching workflows in action and hearing first‑hand where the real challenges lie.
Here, she shares what pharmacists across the UK are telling her right now, and how those insights are shaping the next generation of medication adherence solutions.
What are you hearing from community pharmacies across the UK right now?
Pharmacies are navigating one of the most demanding periods in recent memory. Rising prescription volumes, new clinical responsibilities, workforce pressures and financial constraints have changed the pace and pressure of everyday working life. Many teams are simply trying to protect time, safeguard patient safety and create breathing space for the clinical work they’re being asked to deliver.
Against this backdrop, more pharmacies are exploring medication adherence automation, not as a “nice to have,” but as something essential for long‑term sustainability.
What underpins your approach to designing medication adherence solutions?
Real progress starts with understanding the real-life challenges of pharmacy teams.
I spend time on site, speaking with pharmacy owners and operators, watching trays being assembled, listening to frustrations and observing where stress or bottlenecks occur. That’s the only way to design something genuinely useful.
Every pharmacy is different. The workflows, the pressures, the pace…it all varies. The only way to design something genuinely useful is to live that reality with them.
I look for the things that slow teams down, the repetitive tasks that drain time, and the fragile points in workflows where accuracy risk creeps in. These real‑world insights shape everything from small usability improvements to major automation capabilities.
Why are more pharmacies seeking automation today?
From conversations with pharmacy owners and operators, a clear set of needs emerges. Teams want to:
- Free up skilled staff from repetitive manual processes
- Improve accuracy and reduce risk during busy periods
- Build sustainable workflows despite staffing challenges
- Create capacity for clinical services
- Prepare for future volume growth
- Work with a partner who guides them confidently through change
One pharmacy worried about expanding blister pack output with limited staff. Another struggled with workload peaks that left little room for patient conversations. Many want to grow, but manual processes are holding them back.
These real‑world pressures are shaping a new generation of adherence solutions that must be flexible, scalable and genuinely supportive.
What kinds of insights directly influence product improvements?
Some of the best developments start small - often with a passing comment on site:
- “This step takes too long.”
- “I wish the workflow worked like this instead.”
- “This part is stressful when we’re busy.”
Many of our roadmap decisions come directly from stories customers share with us: challenges in blister pack production, staffing pressures, or a need for more intuitive workflows.
These conversations highlight what truly matters: freeing pharmacy teams to do more of what they love and supporting safe, reliable medication management.
Every change has the same goal: make daily life easier for the pharmacy teams who use our solutions every day.
This partnership approach ensures we develop a roadmap that is practical, forward‑thinking, and firmly rooted in the needs of the people using our solutions every day.
Are there any moments with pharmacy teams that really stayed with you?
Absolutely. One that stands out was a team preparing for their first automation project. They were understandably nervous about the change. But after visiting a high‑performing automated pharmacy, everything shifted.
They could picture their future workflow. You could see the relief and excitement building. It’s a turning point we see often.
Another memorable moment involved a complex installation where our engineers and project teams worked seamlessly to make the transition smooth. The gratitude from the pharmacy team was a reminder of how impactful strong support can be.
These experiences reinforce a simple truth: automation succeeds when it feels like a partnership, not a transaction.
What can pharmacies expect next from Omnicell in the medication adherence space?
The future is being shaped directly by what pharmacy teams tell us they need most:
- Modernising and expanding our blister adherence solutions
- Enhancing automation capabilities for higher‑volume production
- Increasing workflow intelligence with data driven insights
- Bringing more flexibility and scalability across our product range
The future is about giving pharmacies more control, more efficiency, and more confidence.
What advice would you give to a pharmacy considering automation?
Automation isn’t just a technical upgrade. Think of it as an investment—not in technology, but in your team, your time and your future.
The right partner will support you not only through installation, but long after go‑live. My message is: choose a partner, not just a product.
Final Thoughts
Community pharmacies continue to show remarkable resilience. Even under immense pressure, you adapt, innovate and stay focused on delivering exceptional patient care. That determination is what shapes our work.
Every conversation, every site visit, every moment spent observing real‑world workflows reinforces the same truth: pharmacies thrive when you have the right support behind you. It’s not about delivering technology and stepping away; it’s about being a steady, long‑term partner.
By listening closely and standing alongside pharmacy teams, we can build solutions that genuinely support you, give time back and strengthen the care you provide for patients.
