Services

Advertising

Every Link pharmacy benefits from the impact in the market place made by the implementation of highly effective national product promotions negotiated by the Link Central Office. As a group, Link are in the fortunate position of being able to schedule a series of promotions which includes advertising on, Radio and in national magazines,such as You, Huisgenoot and  Drum.

Brochures - These promotions include the supply of promotional material and full colour advertising leaflets distributed to 80 000 consumers via Link Pharmacies

Magazine Advertising - A consumer magazine called LINK TO GOOD HEALTH is produced on a monthly basis featuring health related articles of major interest. This magazine is distributed by all Link pharmacies countrywide at no cost to the consumer and is proving to be most popular and highly regarded. A listing of all Link pharmacies and telephone numbers is included in the body of the magazine.

Radio - Link advertises monthly covering stations such as SAFM, 94.7 Highveld Stereo, RSG, OFM, Algoa FM, KFM 94.5 amongst others. Link offers competitive pricing in this regard.

Categorisation and Merchandising

The primary goal of a good Pharmacy is to expose as many of the customers as possible to the departments, categories and products. The layouts should therefore reflect the strategy of the store. The purpose of the layout is to maximize sales and profits whilst ensuring convenience of shopping for the consumer. To this end UPD as a value added service offers extensive training on Ranges, Categorisation, Merchandising and Planograms.

Customer Contact Centre

A world class centre offering a one stop service resolution to our customers. The latest contact centre technology  ensures faster and more efficient call answering, allowing speedy resolution of queries. Our friendly, competent staff are able to handle all customer calls. All calls are recorded to ensure quality service to our customers.

Delivery Services

Effective dispatch and delivery is crucial to the success of UPD. The organisation’s national infrastructure, export capacity (via UPEX) and its accommodating IT system means that it can tailor distribution solutions according to individual client requirements. The company has an extensive distribution network, which accurately transports up to two deliveries a day to more than 9 000 customers.

In 1999, New UPD recognized the opportunity of outsourcing some of its delivery requirements and, by so doing, initiated a very successful black economic empowerment scheme.

After a process of mentoring and training in accounting, management and legal services, and the provision of financial support and preferential service terms, UPD’s owner-driver scheme has enabled drivers to set up their own profitable businesses. The company has entered into agreements with 92 previously employed drivers and/or historically disadvantaged individual drivers who now provide the company with independently operated and very successful delivery services. ‘This means that 123 (90%) of New UPD’s 137 delivery routes nationwide are managed by owner-drivers, accounting for a substantial portion of the company’s monthly transport expenditure.

Benefits to Client:

• Black Enconomic empowerment benefits
• High levels of accountability for product and POD liability to UPD (to the benefit of the client)
• High fine service levels
• Reliability and continuity of service not affected by national strike action
• High service lead time from order cut off to delivery - order is dispatched and then delivered without a 3rd party process (thus without additional time, double handling, risk and accountability to the chain
• No other model like thi\s in industry

Link In-store Promotions

Link plays an important role for suppliers and our members. As part of our marketing programme, Link develops promotional themes throughout the year for its members. These activities bring huge value to member pharmacies as they are supported by exciting competitions, extensive prizes and themed POS material.

Preventative healthcare promotional campaigns are also held, examples of which are Flu Campaign, Diabetes and Blood Pressure Campaign and a Cholesterol Campaign, all of these being supported by product and price promotions.

Marketing

Sport Promotions - UPD hosts annual regional Golf Days where both pharmacists and suppliers get together to have a day in the sun playing golf. These are rounded off with a regional winners final at end of the year.

Entertainment Promotions - Every year-end UPD entertains it's suppliers at up-market venues. A fun-filled evening of dining and wining.

Publications

The UPDate is a National magazine which is distributed monthly to Pharmacists, Hospitals, Doctors and Clinics.

Information relating to pricing specials and new  product launches can be found,as well as articles covering diseases ,Industry news and many other interesting items.

Telesales

Nationally we have 60 dedicated personnel in our call centres, offering a daily outbound as well as an inbound service. Regional contact centres offering an excellent customer experience from placing orders to customer service. The ability to handle all forms of communication mediums being telephone, email and fax meaning we are always accessible!

Offering telesales promotions to all of our suppliers to improve unit sales and increase awareness which can be done on an inbound and outbound basis, both regionally and nationally. First-time resolution on all service- related queries Up-to-date product listings and product enquiries handled with knowledgeable agents.

Training

At UPD we are committed to helping the pharmacies to understand the products available and to assist in growing their business. As part of this commitment we,together with our Suppliers, organize regular free training sessions on some of the most  popular products in pharmacy. This training is designed to help front shop staff as well as pharmacists to improve their knowledge of the products. The training is held across the country at upmarket venues and includes a meal before the training session begins.