Celebrating 15 Years of Iso-Fixu at Siilinjärvi Pharmacy

In 2010, Siilinjärvi Pharmacy was among the pioneers when it automated its inventory management by acquiring the Iso-Fixu automated dispensing system. This forward-thinking approach was evident in other aspects of the pharmacy’s operations as well – even back then, the pharmacy offered Drive-In services to customers, a rare concept in Finland at the time.

The implementation of Iso-Fixu at Siilinjärvi Pharmacy was a significant milestone for both the pharmacy and the device manufacturer, NewIcon.
“It became a valuable reference site close to our company’s headquarters,” says Jori-Matti Savolainen, acting CEO of NewIcon, who was responsible for the device’s sales to the pharmacy back then.

Inventory Management as the Key Benefit

Iso-Fixu has made inventory management at the pharmacy smooth and easy. The most significant benefits include automated handling of incoming medicines, inventory control, and minimizing human error during the dispensing phase. Iso-Fixu has streamlined the pharmacy’s processes and improved the efficiency of customer service.

Another important advantage is enhanced security. Compared to the previously used medicine drawer system, the safety of medicine storage is now on a whole new level. In Iso-Fixu, medicines are stored in a locked space in a controlled chaos, offering peace of mind against potential pharmacy theft.

Over the years, Iso-Fixu has become an integral part of the pharmacy’s operations, and letting go of automated dispensing system would no longer be easy.
“Many of our processes would have to be redesigned, and we would also need to hire more staff,” notes owner Harri Sormunen.

NewIcon Supporting a Smooth Implementation

The overall implementation process of the automated dispensing system went smoothly.
“NewIcon staff were on-site at the beginning to guide us in using the device, and our staff quickly learned how to use it,” recalls pharmacist Timo Hänninen of the summer Iso-Fixu was installed. The Iso-Fixu user interface is clear and logical, making it easy for new employees, summer assistants, and trainees to learn the system.

The pharmacy has been very satisfied with NewIcon’s technical support.
“The support team has always been easy to reach, and all issues have been resolved. We haven’t had any major problems with the device over the years,” Timo adds gratefully.

A Sight to See – Still Impressing Visitors

In its early days, the automated dispensing system installed at Siilinjärvi Pharmacy sparked a lot of interest – it was practically one of Siilinjärvi’s attractions, drawing visitors from as far away as Japan. Even today, children in particular are fascinated by the robot. They love watching the moving machine through the glass door.

15 years of reliable service deserves a celebration. Iso-Fixu’s anniversary was honored at the pharmacy with coffee and strawberry cake – just the way a birthday should be celebrated.