Walgreens Expands Use of Prescription-Filling Robots to Cut Costs and Empower Pharmacy Staff

As part of a broader strategic overhaul and an impending move to go private, Walgreens is accelerating its investment in automation through an expanded network of robot-powered micro-fulfillment centers, aiming to slash operational costs and free up pharmacy staff to focus on patient care.

The company announced that it is increasing the number of its retail locations served by its eleven micro-fulfillment centers, which deploy advanced robotics to fill prescriptions for common chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. The expansion comes after a temporary pause in growth, which Walgreens used to refine operations based on internal feedback.

According to Walgreens, the centers now handle 40% of prescription volume across supported stores—an output equivalent to approximately 16 million prescriptions each month. By year-end, the company aims to serve more than 5,000 stores, up from 4,800 in February.

Technology-Driven Transformation Amid Industry Pressures

Walgreens first launched the robotic centers in 2021. They automate much of the routine prescription-filling process, using robotic arms, conveyor belts, barcode scanners, and pharmacist oversight to ensure accuracy and efficiency. The initiative is intended not only to streamline pharmacy operations, but also to relieve staff from repetitive tasks, allowing more time for vaccinations, diagnostic tests, and direct patient engagement.

“This technology has become the backbone of our pharmacy operating model,” said Rick Gates, Walgreens’ Chief Pharmacy Officer. “It gives us flexibility to reduce costs and significantly enhance care.”

The company reports that these centers have already generated $500 million in savings through reduced inventory waste and improved workflow. Furthermore, retail locations supported by the system are administering 40% more vaccines than those still reliant on manual fulfillment.

Preparing for a $10 Billion Takeover

The renewed automation push comes at a critical juncture for Walgreens, which is in the final stages of a $10 billion acquisition by private equity firm Sycamore Partners. The deal, expected to close by the end of 2025, aims to stabilize a company that has faced challenges such as declining pharmacy reimbursement rates, pandemic-related disruptions, and intensified competition from CVS Health, Amazon, and Walmart.

In response to market pressures, Walgreens—like its major rivals—has shifted from expansion to cost rationalization, closing underperforming stores and rethinking traditional pharmacy operations.

Frontline Benefits and Patient Safety

At ground level, the effects of automation are already being felt. Brian Gange, a Walgreens pharmacist in Arizona, said micro-fulfillment has significantly reduced the time his team spends filling prescriptions, enabling them to focus on high-impact services.

“We’re no longer buried under a list of repetitive tasks every morning,” Gange said. “We now have time to engage directly with our patients.”

He recalled an incident at a previous store where he took a patient’s blood pressure despite a heavy workload. The reading was dangerously high. “That man might not be alive today had we not taken that time,” Gange added.

Improved Systems, Streamlined Workflow

Each micro-fulfillment center is staffed by certified technicians and pharmacists, who oversee operations and ensure safety. Yellow robotic arms dispense medications into vials, which are then checked, packaged, and shipped back to retail stores.

Certain items, such as inhalers or birth control, are filled manually at designated stations. For added safety, the robot pods have built-in error detection: canisters lock and emit warnings if misconfigured, preventing incorrect fills.

In response to feedback, Walgreens is implementing further improvements, such as transitioning to smaller prescription vials to lower shipping costs and improve space utilization. A training manager role has also been introduced at each of the 11 sites to ensure operational consistency.

Walgreens is using new internal tracking tools that give real-time updates on where a prescription is in the fulfillment process, improving transparency and responsiveness. “Now, when a patient asks, ‘Where’s my prescription?’ we can answer with precision,” said Kayla Heffington, Vice President of Pharmacy Operations.

Challenges Remain

Despite the benefits, Walgreens acknowledges that challenges persist. Technical errors and delays have been reported in isolated cases. WRAL News reported last month that some patients in North Carolina received partial fills or experienced delays.

Moreover, Walgreens’ competitors—including Walmart, Albertsons, Kroger, and the Gemini Alliance—are experimenting with similar fulfillment models, introducing new pressure to differentiate through scale and service.

Gates hinted at further evolution: Walgreens is evaluating direct-to-patient delivery from fulfillment centers, potentially bypassing retail stores for some prescriptions.

A New Era in Pharmacy

For Walgreens, the expansion of robotic prescription centers represents a critical component of its turnaround plan—a bid to reduce costs, improve care quality, and modernize its business ahead of private ownership.

“We’re just getting started,” Gates said. “Micro-fulfillment is step one in reimagining the pharmacy of the future.”