ProPharm licenses CodeBaby software to launch world’s first online Pharmacy Assistant  e-mail this to a colleague

Press Release MAY.25.2004

Virtual Pharmacy Assistant will help customers use ProPharm’s eFill service to quickly refill their prescriptions on-line.

EDMONTON, AB, Canada

Two of Canada’s top technology leaders have teamed up to provide Canadians with the next generation of on-line pharmacy services. ProPharm Ltd., Canada’s leader in computerized pharmacy systems, has licensed CodeBaby™ Corp.’s virtual agent technology to create Rebecca, the world’s first on-line pharmacy assistant. Rebecca, an interactive 3D virtual agent, will provide on-line assistance and service to customers who use ProPharm’s popular eFill® prescription refill service.

“Canadians who shop at an eFill member PharmAssist™ pharmacy already enjoy the convenience of refilling their prescriptions on-line,” said George Edwards, Vice President, Retail Systems / ProPharm. “And now with the addition of Rebecca, new and existing eFill customers will benefit from an even more enjoyable, interactive, face-to-face level of service. We expect this will generate tremendous word of mouth, which will in turn encourage new users to try our service.”

The eFill on-line prescription service is offered exclusively to customers of participating PharmAssist pharmacies: Rexall, Pharma Plus, Medicine Shoppe Canada, Guardian, and I.D.A., and other select pharmacies. The eFILL service automatically sends e-mail reminders when it is time to renew a refillable prescription, allowing a customer to order a refill on-line and have the prescription delivered.

“ProPharm is clearly committed to providing its eFill customers with outstanding customer service and we’ve worked closely with them to take this to a new level,” said Shaheel Hooda, Chief Executive Officer for CodeBaby. “With its use of Rebecca both online and on a tutorial CD, participating pharmacies will be able to deliver proactive and automated customer support to its eFILL customers around-the-clock. Rebecca will be able to help customers understand how the eFill service works and can call upon her for assistance or guidance as they need her. The use of a virtual assistant will also have tremendous cost-savings benefits to ProPharm and its members.”

Starting in June 2004, customers who sign up for the free eFill program at any participating pharmacy will benefit from the assistance of Rebecca both online and through tutorial CDs available from participating pharmacies.

About CodeBaby

CodeBaby is a leader in Web-based virtual agent technology, and enables corporations to integrate state-of-the-art, interactive 3D characters with their Web sites and on-line services. The CodeBaby Production Studio is a development platform that allows a company to design and deploy a 3D interactive character – to serve as a virtual assistant, sales agent, help agent, host or tutor. CodeBaby virtual agents can benefit a wide range of industries and services, including on-line banking, health care, customer relationship management, forms management, telecommunications services and on-line entertainment. By hosting a virtual agent on a Web site, a company can interact with their customers more effectively and offer a higher level of on-line customer service, making the Internet and technology more enjoyable and easier to use. CodeBaby was named to the Branham Group’s “Top 25 IT Up & Comers” list for 2004. Additional information about CodeBaby is available at http://www.codebaby.com.

About ProPharm Limited

ProPharm Limited, a Drug Trading Company Limited subsidiary wholly owned by Katz Group Inc., is Canada’s leading developer of retail pharmacy technology. ProPharm offers innovative and top-of-line pharmacy technology, including Nexxsys, a touch screen based dispensary management system; POS Pro, a PC cash-register-based inventory management system; and eFill, an on-line service providing pharmacy patients with e-mail refill reminders. ProPharm also provides product support coverage for more than 1,500 pharmacies in Canada through its own help desk and technical field network. ProPharm Limited is a subsidiary of Drug Trading Company Limited, a member of the Katz Group of Companies. eFill is a registered trademark of ProPharm Limited.

Contact Information

For CodeBaby

Media Enquiries Contact Form

For ProPharm

George Edwards
VP, Retail Systems/ProPharm
(905) 943-9736 ext. 3364
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