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Well Pharmacy has agreed a three-year contract with online platform Locate a Locum. 

The Belfast-headquartered shift booking platform secured the deal after research and development support from government agency Invest NI helped it develop its software to integrate artificial intelligence, according to a press statement yesterday (August 27).

The business already works with 8,000 UK pharmacies, the statement added. 

Locate a Locum chief executive Jonathon Clarke commented: “Since we established in 2016 we have grown from a small team of two to having 65 employees. 

“Invest NI’s latest support has helped us to take our software development a step further by integrating AI, making it more efficient and user-friendly. 

“With a bigger technical and management team, we have been able to successfully commercialise the software and secure new business, such as this contract with Well Pharmacy. 

“Over the next year, we want to build upon this success and consolidate our position as a market leader in the pharmacy sector. 

“Recently, we have expanded into the retail optometry sector and hope to use this as a launchpad to break into new verticals. 

“With this growth, we also plan to expand our team to win more new business in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.” 

George McKinney, interim chief development officer at Invest NI, said: “Our R&D support has helped Locate a Locum to continuously develop its software, this time with AI, so that it can expand its customer base outside of Northern Ireland. 

“Supporting companies to invest in innovation and reap the benefits of AI is a key priority for Invest NI as we work to build a prosperous and globally competitive economy.”  

Related: Locate a Locum launches £5,000 scholarship fund for pharmacy students

Locate a Locum: We have removed Allcures shifts while we investigate payment claims

Well makes £13m loss as it exits dozens of ‘non-core’ branches