Irish pharmacies are evolving rapidly. Patients increasingly expect the same convenience from healthcare that they get from other services: accurate online availability, fast ordering, and reliable fulfilment.
The scale of this shift is unprecedented. As of 2025, Ireland has the highest share of online shoppers in the European Union, with 96% of internet users making online purchases. This puts Irish pharmacies in a «digital-first» environment where consumers expect every retailer to have an online presence and, more importantly, accurate digital inventory.
Whether you’re selling through your own website, delivery apps like Just Eat, or preparing for future digital channels, real-time stock accuracy is crucial. At the centre of this digital shift is one key system: your EPOS.
In this article, we explain why EPOS systems are critical for Irish pharmacies entering online sales and how real-time stock can directly impact revenue, efficiency and patient trust.
What is an EPOS system in a pharmacy?
An EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale) system is the digital backbone of a pharmacy’s operations. It manages:
- Product inventory
- Pricing and VAT
- Sales transactions
- Stock movements
- Reporting and analytics
For Irish pharmacies, EPOS systems are already essential for compliance and day-to-day efficiency. But when pharmacies expand into online and quick-commerce channels, EPOS takes on an even more strategic role.
Why real-time stock matters more than ever
1. Prevents order cancellations
Nothing damages customer trust faster than accepting an online order for a product that isn’t actually available.
With real-time stock synchronisation, products shown online match what’s on your shelves, reducing:
- Order cancellations
- Refunds
- Negative reviews
- Customer service issues
For pharmacies using delivery platforms, this accuracy is essential to protect both reputation and revenue.
2. Improves visibility on delivery platforms
Delivery apps like Just Eat and Uber Eats prioritise reliable pharmacies.
Pharmacies with:
- High fulfilment rates
- Fewer cancellations
- Accurate stock availability
are rewarded with better visibility in search results and category listings.
In short: real-time EPOS data helps you sell more by helping you show up more.
3. Saves time for pharmacy teams
Without EPOS integration, online selling often means:
- Manual catalogue updates
- Constant stock checking
- Daily price adjustments
This adds workload to already stretched pharmacy teams.
With a properly connected EPOS system, stock updates automatically, prices stay consistent and product availability stays accurate.
EPOS and online sales in the Irish context
Irish pharmacies operate within a highly regulated environment, especially around medicines and controlled products. While not all products can be sold online or via delivery apps, non-medicine healthcare, wellness and retail items are increasingly moving to digital channels.
Having an EPOS system that:
- Clearly categorises products
- Flags regulated items
- Maintains accurate availability
is key to staying compliant while expanding digitally.
EPOS integration vs manual catalogue management
Manual management (Not scalable)
Manual management means the pharmacy uploads and maintains its online product catalogue by hand. Stock levels, product availability and pricing must be checked and updated manually on a regular basis.
While this can work for a very small catalogue, it quickly becomes time-consuming and risky as volumes grow. Stock inaccuracies can lead to cancelled orders, frustrated patients and unnecessary admin for pharmacy teams. As online demand increases, manual management simply doesn’t scale.
- Time-consuming updates
- Higher risk of errors
- Difficult to manage across multiple platforms
- Limits growth
EPOS Integration (Future-proof)
With EPOS integration, stock levels are updated automatically in real time based on what’s available in the pharmacy. When a product is sold in-store or online, the system updates instantly across all connected platforms.
This ensures accurate availability, fewer cancellations and a much smoother experience for both pharmacy teams and patients. EPOS integration allows pharmacies to sell online confidently, without adding operational complexity or extra daily workload.
- Automatic stock updates
- Centralised product management
- Easier expansion to new channels
- Better customer experience
For pharmacies planning to scale online sales in Ireland, manual systems simply don’t hold up long term.
How LUDA helps Irish pharmacies use EPOS effectively
LUDA Partners works with Irish pharmacies to connect their EPOS systems directly to online sales channels, including delivery platforms like Just Eat and Uber Eats.
With LUDA, pharmacies can:
✅ Sell on Uber Eats and Just Eat (with more apps coming!)
✅ Let us handle everything: listings, updates, optimisation & marketing
✅ Pay nothing upfront: only when they sell (10% + VAT per order)
✅ Pay no extra fees to the delivery apps
✅ Zero extra effort: once connected, everything runs automatically through LUDA
This means pharmacies only need to set things up once, even as new delivery partners are added in the future.
The result: more visibility, fewer errors and zero disruption to daily operations.
What if you don’t have an EPOS system?
Not every Irish pharmacy is EPOS-ready and that’s okay.
LUDA also supports manual catalogue uploads. Many pharmacies start manually and move to EPOS integration once online sales grow, making it a flexible and low-risk journey.
Choosing the right EPOS strategy for the future
When evaluating your EPOS setup, ask:
- Can it support real-time stock updates?
- Can it integrate with online platforms?
- Does it reduce, not increase, team workload?
- Is it scalable as digital demand grows?
If the answer is “not yet”, that doesn’t mean you can’t sell online, but it does mean planning ahead is essential.
Final thoughts: Real-time stock is a competitive advantage
Irish pharmacies that invest in accurate, real-time stock management are better positioned to:
- Compete with large chains
- Meet patient expectations
- Increase online revenue
- Expand into new digital channels
EPOS is a growth tool. If you’re exploring online sales or delivery platforms, making sure your EPOS setup is ready is the smartest first step.
Thinking about upgrading or adding an EPOS system?
Whether you already have an EPOS in place or are considering implementing one for the first time, LUDA Partners can help.
If your current EPOS is compatible, we’ll guide you through a simple integration so your stock updates automatically for online sales on delivery apps.
If you don’t yet have an EPOS, our team can also advise on suitable systems and help you understand the best setup for your pharmacy.
Want to check if your EPOS system is ready for online sales via delivery apps?
Contact LUDA Partners and our team will guide you through the options, EPOS or manual, with no disruption to your pharmacy’s daily work.