BoxPicker: the automated pharmacy storage and retrieval system

Manual picking processes slow fulfillment, increase labor demands, take up valuable storage space, and make inventory control difficult. Hospitals choose BoxPicker to for high-density medication storage and robotic medication retrievel. BoxPicker automatically stores and retrieves medications, reduces medication picking errors, increases safety at dispense, and improves pharmacy workflows.

Optimal for

Inpatient Pharmacy Consolidated Service Centers

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Optimize workflow through configurable workstations.

Minimize the opportunity for picking errors through controlled access to only a single box at a time.

Ensure medication safety at dispense with scan in and scan out technology.

Increase efficiency through intelligent robotic picking.

Modular solution that accommodates ambient, refrigerated and dual-temperature storage requirements.

Accommodate ambient, dual-temperature, refrigerated medication storage requirements
Optimize workflows through configurable operator stations
Minimize picking errors and enhance medication security with controlled, single-item access
Increase efficiency with intelligent robotic medication picking from the pharmacy shelving system
Ensure medication safety and inventory control at dispense with scan-in and scan-out technology

Unlock pharmacy efficiency from storage to dispensing

Configurable operator stations

Configure to have operator stations on the same side or opposite sides of the BoxPicker. This enables staff to retrieve compounding supplies and medications without leaving the cleanroom environment.
Configurable design

Customize the configuration to meet pharmacy needs. This eliminates the need for separate refrigerators by storing temperature-sensitive items in a refrigerated half module or fully-refrigerated model.
Secure medication access

Scan-in and scan-out technology with password-protected operator access ensures inventory control and audit tracking.
Picking efficiency

Multiple operator stations enable parallel work, helping teams fulfill orders faster while reducing bottlenecks.

FAQs for automated pharmacy storage

How can BoxPicker be integrated into hospital IT systems?

Integration requirements depend on the hospital’s existing systems and workflows. Swisslog Healthcare can review interfaces, data flows, and implementation requirements with your pharmacy and IT teams. The supported integrations and project scope should be confirmed for your planned configuration.

How does the automated pharmacy storage system manage expiring drugs?

An automated pharmacy storage system manages expiring drugs by digitizing drug inventories and adhering to the FEFO method (First-Expire-First-Out): The system retrieves bins containing packages that are about to expire before ones with later expiration dates. If a bin contains the same drug with different expiry dates and the caregiver picks the drug with a later expiry date, the system informs them to select the package with an earlier expiry date instead.

The system doesn’t just keep track of drug inventories, it also provides usage trends and drug expiry reports. This information can help the staff take necessary follow-up actions.

Can BoxPicker handle prescription bottles, OTC products, and other small healthcare items?

Item suitability depends on packaging, dimensions, storage conditions, and the intended workflow. Swisslog Healthcare will confirm which items a proposed BoxPicker configuration can accommodate.

Can BoxPicker store refrigerated medications?

Yes, BoxPicker offers a refrigerated half module and a fully refrigerated model for temperature-sensitive items. Ambient, refrigerated, and dual-temperature requirements are factored into the design when planning the configuration. Dispensing workflows are assessed separately from storage and retrieval.

Is BoxPicker suitable for smaller hospitals?

BoxPicker’s configurable and expandable design can be fit to match a hospital’s storage capacity, available space, workstation needs, and workflow. Whether it is the right fit for a smaller hospital requires a site-specific review.