Discover how Inventory Ally transformed inventory management, saving time, ensuring predictability, and bringing inventory under control at East Poplarville Veterinary Clinic
Established in 1983 by Dr. Gale Harris, East Poplarville Veterinary Clinic has been a trusted provider of veterinary services in South Mississippi. Initially focused on equine care, the hospital adapted to the growing needs of the community, expanding its services to include companion pets, and exotics.
The hospital provides a diverse array of services, including dental care, in-house diagnostics, laser therapy, microchipping, nutritional counseling, surgery, ultrasound, and dermatology. Additionally, it offers grooming, boarding, daycare facilities, and a fully stocked pharmacy.
Despite its reputation for excellence and a loyal customer base, the clinic struggled with inventory management, which caused staff stress and frequent stockouts. Addressing these challenges, the clinic found Inventory Ally, the solution it needed to streamline operations and ensure optimal inventory control.
Putting out fires
Samantha Rhodes, Office Manager at East Poplarville Veterinary Clinic, shares that managing inventory was time-consuming. “I had a notebook, and anytime we were running low on something, I’d have someone jot it down for ordering,” she recalls. “Whenever I got a minute, I would do a manual count to track our inventory. There was no system; everything was managed on the fly.”
This reactive approach led to stockouts of essential items such as flea treatments, vaccines, preventatives, or antibiotics. “It affected client satisfaction because we had to ask them to come back later while we were waiting for the next shipment.,” Samantha explains. “It also impacted our bottom line because those clients could go and buy the medication somewhere else.”
Samantha estimates that approximately 10% of her day was consumed by inventory replenishment, diverting her attention from other tasks. “It seems like not much, but in my office manager role, I carry many other responsibilities, and having to place and accept orders almost every day was quite distracting.”
Smooth transition
Samantha shares that she was initially cautious about adopting Inventory Ally. “I was worried it might be another software we pay for and never use because it’s complicated or not needed for a small hospital like ours. But we decided to give it a try, and it was so easy to adopt.”
“Within minutes, our clinic’s account was set up,” Samantha continues. “I uploaded our data, connected our Vetcove account, and entered our current counts. Instantly, the program analyzed our order history and generated recommended optimal order quantities.”
She emphasizes that although Inventory Ally is user-friendly and self-explanatory, there’s always a support team available for assistance: “Whether it was the simplest question or something more complex, there was always someone there to help.”
No more playing catch-up
“The program maintains precise inventory counts, detailing exactly what needs to be ordered and in what quantities,” Samantha explains. “Now, we consistently have the right items on hand – never too few, never too many.“
However, the most notable impact has been the time saved and the reduction in order frequency. “Thanks to Inventory Ally, I now spend half as much time on replenishment,” Samantha notes.
“Eliminating those daily orders was a significant achievement for me. Now, I have the time to focus on continuing education and professional development – priorities that were previously sidelined. But most importantly, I no longer bring work home.“
Now that inventory is under control, the team can focus on expanding the hospital. “We have been considering hiring an associate veterinarian to accommodate more clients,” Samantha explains. “With increased appointments and production comes the need for increased inventory. Having a reliable system in place makes me much more confident about an expansion.”
“Every veterinary hospital should give Inventory Ally a chance,” Samantha concludes. “It’s truly a game-changer. Even if you believe your inventory management is flawless and there are no issues, if you find yourself spending excessive time on inventory tasks or suspect you’re losing money, it’s definitely worth a try.”
Photo credit: East Poplarville Veterinary Clinic
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