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News Releases
New Edge Networks Helps Drug Store Chain Win More Prescriptions
VANCOUVER, Wash. – (August 29, 2005) – Duane Reade, the largest drug store chain in metropolitan New York, is boosting incremental prescriptions sales through a private network of self-help pharmacy kiosks powered by New Edge Networks.
Early success of the self-help kiosks has influenced Duane Reade to offer turn-key kiosk solutions to other drug store chains as a way of helping overcome a national pharmacy shortage and losses to mail order prescription services. Duane Reade also is attracting advertisers to market their services through the kiosks, essentially converting its private network into a profit center.
New Edge Networks is providing Duane Reade a private and secure broadband network that uses digital subscriber line, or DSL, technology for carrying voice, data, and video without using the Internet. The self-help kiosks are available round-the-clock.
Each interactive kiosk is equipped with a flat-bed scanner, touch-screen monitor, phone line and a Web camera allowing persons to talk live with a pharmacist. Patients can receive free home delivery or make arrangements for pick-up at any Duane Reade pharmacy.
“Privacy, 100 percent reach, quality of service commitments, and cost are major considerations for building a network that can handle data, voice and video applications that are sensitive to transmission latency,” said Dan Moffat, president and CEO of New Edge Networks. “Our charter was to provide an affordable, secure network that also helps improve the customer experience at the kiosk.”
The high-tech kiosks support pharmacists, shorten wait times, provide greater customer service and convenience, and increase incremental sales. Improved service translates to increased business for drug store chains.
“The private and secure broadband network we are using to power our self-service kiosks is consistent with our strategy of using technology for increasing efficiencies,” said David Siegel, director of business development for Duane Reade. “New Edge Networks has national capabilities which can help Duane Reade and other chain drug stores quickly install kiosks anywhere.”
Duane Reade utilizes superior operating and merchandising initiatives to drive industry-leading store productivity levels. It relies heavily on technology to increase efficiencies, as evidenced by its computer assisted ordering and replenishment systems as well as its distribution systems. Duane Reade remains a cutting-edge innovator in the industry, being the first drug store chain to introduce a central fill pharmacy function as well as a customer loyalty card program.
There are currently more than 60 self-service kiosks in company locations with 2,000 employees or more, major medical and hospital facilities, senior care centers, and at Duane Reade stores in the New York City Metropolitan area. Duane Reade plans to double the number of kiosks every 12 months.
About Duane Reade
Founded in 1960, Duane Reade is the largest drug store chain in the metropolitan New York City area. The company offers a wide variety of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, health and beauty care items, cosmetics, greeting cards, photo supplies and photofinishing. Duane Reade operates more than 250 stores in the New York metropolitan area. To learn more about Duane Reade’s prescription kiosk solution please email drexpress@duanereade.com or call 212-356-5217.
About New Edge Networks
New Edge Networks is a national provider of private multi-location broadband networks for business and carrier customers. Through its network facilities, New Edge Networks uses a variety of last-mile broadband access technologies (DSL, frame relay, ATM, cable, and satellite) for building wide area networks (WANs) or virtual private networks (VPNs) that reach 100 percent of U. S. business locations. New Edge Networks’ product suite of managed WAN and VPN services received Frost & Sullivan’s Telecommunications Services 2005 Product of the Year Award. New Edge Networks is listed No. 28 on the 2004 Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies in America. The company’s Web site is www.newedgenetworks.com. Telephone: 1-360-693-9009.
Contact:
Sal Cinquegrani
(360) 906-9723
ATTN: New Edge Networks news releases contain information that is accurate as of the date they are issued. Information contained in past news releases may become out of date and the company does not assume responsibility for updating information contained in past news releases.