Avicenna has announced the launch of two new member support services – AviBuyer, an IT system to help with stock ordering – and AviPlus, a regulation, training, business and retail support service (reports Charlotte Rixon).

AviBuyer uses an automated system to order a pharmacy's top 50 lines in order to overcome supply chain issues. Compatible with Postscript and Nexphase, the service will result in "reduced deliveries, saved time and overall basket profit increases", according to the group. Furthermore, AviBuyer ensures that stock liveries remain consistent, avoiding staff and patient confusion.

Launching the scheme at its Cyprus conference, Avicenna commercial director Raj Haria said: "Pharmacies can spend up to ten or twelve hours a week sorting out multiple orders and filling up shelves with products in different liveries. With AviBuyer you get ease of buying, staff compliance, time savings and mainline additional discounts."

Also speaking at the conference, Brij Valla, Avicenna head of membership services, explained how AviPlus takes a holistic approach to pharmacy regulation, training, retail and business, with the aim of "taking the regulatory burden off (members') shoulders" and enabling them to focus on establishing their pharmacies as "centres for health and wellbeing".

The regulation package keeps all SOPs together and comprises a task management diary to help members keep track of daily, weekly, monthly and yearly tasks. The training section brings together core staff training, CPD and Avicenna Academy modules in one place and includes a staff training tracker to address knowledge gaps.

The retail service provides access to window service menu boards, planograms and uniforms, as well as a mystery shopper service, and the business aspect supports members to work better with GPs, improve staff efficiency and pharmacy workflow, and benchmark their performance against local and national pharmacy businesses.