Ann: Trading Update-COO.AX, page-17

Interesting jet328. More information please.... not doubting you but who is it so it gives credibility to your statement and gives us insight into the impact it may have?

Assuming it is not just a banner group associated with one of the major wholesalers, I would have believed that no corporate pharmacy group in Australia would be big enough to justify investment in development and maintenance of their own special software package and integration with existing gateway platforms that are essential for functioning within the PBS, supplier networks and other 3rd party bolt on providers. Ownership rules still are limiting the number of the corporate pharmacies anyone entity can operate. Surely it would be more sensible to negotiate a deal that makes economic sense to both parties. Why would they reinvent the wheel, risk the disruption a new system may bring and have to employ extra IT staff? Existing providers have developed their products over 20 plus years and are pretty good.

Even the biggest corporations understand the pitfalls of attempting to have your own "in house" IT departments developing "unique" software platforms. It rarely works out more cost effective! That's why the SAAS industry has boomed over the last couple of decades. This is particularly the case in industries where there is common functionality (e.g. Heath care delivery by hospitals, GPs, pharmacy etc.). It is stupid to try and invent your own.