SIGMA is the latest pharmacy group to join Locumate.ai, a Melbourne start-up specialising in pharmacy talent automation.
The agreement arrives at a pivotal time as Sigma, the parent company of Amcal and Discount Drug Stores, prepares to merge with Chemist Warehouse in a deal worth $25 billion (PD 08 Nov 2024).
"What impressed us about Locumate's software was that it was an aggregator of the workforce within pharmacy, providing our members the agility they need to manage their on-demand workforce requirements," said Renee Watson, Sigma's Head of Retail Operations.
The major sign-on sees Locumate gain access to more than 400 pharmacists, with the on-demand workforce platform now enjoying exposure to the majority of pharmacies in Australia, having already signed on Douglas Chemist Group, Prime Pharmacy and Allied Health Locums as clients.
According to Locumate founders Kavita Nadan and Surge Singh, the AI-powered platform has filled thousands of locum shifts since its launch in 2021, saving pharmacists around $2.5 million in locum agency fees.
"During the COVID pandemic we identified a huge gap in the on-demand workforce in the pharmacy industry and after creating Locumate.ai with Surge to solve that problem we realised the potential for our solution to operate in all types of business verticals," Nadan said.
"With Locumate.ai, organisations have more control over their on-demand staffing needs on a daily basis and it is fast, efficient and enables more opportunities for mutually meaningful and long-lasting connections."
The start-up expanded into the US last year, teaming up with the Californian and American Pharmacist Associations to launch a new joint venture called HealthShifts (PD 23 Apr 2024).
Locumate.ai was also recently recognised on The Australian's Top 100 Innovators list for 2024, and (PD 22 Oct 2024). JM
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