Amazon is no stranger to acquiring a variety of companies and services, but as The Information reported, it’s finally starting to take steps to streamline many of its acquisitions. PillPack, which was acquired by Amazon in 2018, and Amazon Pharmacy, launched in 2020, are gradually being combined into one service. Amazon is also integrating the online components of Whole Foods and AmazonFresh, albeit in different ways.
PillPack is a service that sends customers medicine packs containing enough pills for one day’s consumption, while Amazon Pharmacy is for general purchase. One of the planned changes is to allow PillPack users to use their Amazon Pharmacy account to fulfill orders. You can also use coupons and Prime discounts to purchase pill packs. Additionally, Amazon Pharmacy will be accepting Medicare through PillPack in January.
Amazon has plans to expand Amazon Pharmacy to the UK, Canada, and Australia, but that hasn’t happened yet. This service remains US only.
Both pharmacy services are currently already shipping orders from the same facility, which is a change from previous arrangements. PillPack previously had its own facilities, but the changes will allow same-day delivery in 20 new cities, bringing the total number of available locations to nearly 30, up from fewer than 10 currently.
Amazon previously acquired Whole Foods in 2017, but it had nothing to do with Amazon’s grocery delivery or Amazon Fresh. Currently, Amazon carries the popular item at Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh Centers in the US, UK, Italy, and Spain. Shoppers can now stick to Amazon Fresh more often instead of buying from multiple stores at once. It also helps Amazon lower costs by allowing one driver to deliver everything in one order.
Additionally, Amazon is testing mini-warehouses inside Whole Foods stores where customers can pick up their orders. The warehouse stores products such as Coca-Cola and Oreos that are not allowed to be sold in Whole Foods stores due to policy. Amazon intends to help shoppers avoid visiting multiple stores due to product shortages, an issue Whole Foods suffers from having fewer brands in stock.
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