TSE’s Vision 2026 eyes future of retail Rx

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores will host a Vision 2026 platform at the Total Store Expo this month in Denver.



“As the retail and healthcare landscapes continue to evolve, we’re at an important juncture in how technology can play an integral role in bringing them together for the benefit of the consumer,” said NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson. “The technologies presented by Kantar Retail, IBM Watson, Proactive Interactive Strategies and Grabit will certainly showcase what the future of retail and health care may look like in the next decade at this year’s NACDS Total Store Expo,” said Anderson.



Here, DSN previews a few of the companies that will be participating in Vision 2026 by offering their perspectives on the changes ahead in retail and health care in the years to come.



Kantar Retail

Focusing on the role of the retail store in primary care, rehabilitation, diagnosis and treatment, Kantar Retail will focus on an “outcome-centered” healthcare payment system and will unveil 3-D virtual prototype renderings of store environments.



IBM Watson

IBM Watson will offer a glimpse into the future’s “primary care store.” IBM Watson recently partnered with CVS Health for care management services for chronic care patients. The collaboration will synthesize health information sources, including medical health records, pharmacy and medical claims information, environmental factors and fitness devices to support patient goals.



“The capabilities of the IBM Watson Health Cloud, when coupled with CVS Health’s insights into medication utilization and patient behavior, could prove transformative,” Mike Rhodin, SVP of IBM Watson, said in a statement.



Menasha Packaging Co.

Menasha will showcase a new merchandising platform called PharmaTailing, which creates a connection between patients and pharmacists and front-of-store items that deliver significant therapeutic value. The platform allows patients to engage in deeper self-advocacy by accessing condition-specific information, product ratings and reviews, as well as offers with an option to request a pharmacist consult if/when needed.



“Based on the importance of pharmacist recommendations to both delivering better health outcomes for patients through more effective MTM and over-the-counter item recommendations, we see this platform as benefitting both retailers and vendors,” Paul Murphy, Menasha’s senior director of retail sales and new business development, told Drug Store News.



As for the future, Menasha predicts a “much more personal retail world” by 2026 that involves future technologies.



“Menasha ... recognizes that it is really about enabling commerce at any point on the path to purchase,” Murphy said. “By 2026, we believe that shoppers will define a more personalized experience that will require retailers to retool their current supply chain and in-store activation strategies, to meet a deep level of shopper personalization, both on- and off-shelf.”