And why they decided to automate — before the end of the year.
Phones ringing nonstop.
A tech called out sick.
A line forming at the counter.
A prescriber swearing they faxed something “four times already.”
And behind the counter, Sarah — the pharmacist — was counting pills.
For the third time.
Because the first count didn’t match the second.
She stared at the pills and mumbled to herself:
“I didn’t go to pharmacy school to be a human calculator.”
Behind her, a tech yelled,
“The LTC trays still need to be packed!”
Someone else whispered,
“We’re out of room in the safe again.”
Then a patient tapped on the counter, frustrated:
“Should I just come back tomorrow?”
Sarah felt the familiar weight:
The pressure. The backlog. The constant feeling of being behind.
At lunch — which was really just cold coffee — the pharmacy owner stopped in.
“Everything okay? We’re tracking behind again.”
Sarah didn’t look up but said:
“We don’t need more people. We need less chaos.”
He sighed.
“Automation feels expensive.”
Without missing a beat, she replied:
“So is burnout.”
Two days later, he called another pharmacy owner — someone he met at the NCPA tradeshow — who had automated their counting and packaging with an Eyecon 9430 and RapidPakRx.
“Be honest,” he asked. “Did it really help?”
The other owner laughed:
“I got my evenings back.”
They talked about accuracy, cycle counts, space issues, LTC growth — and one thing the owner couldn’t stop mentioning:
“Section 179 paid for part of it.”
He explained that if your new financed 5.99% automation is purchased by December 19 and installed before December 31, the IRS allows the pharmacy to deduct the full equipment cost this tax year.
Not depreciated. Not spread out. Deducted. Up front.
The owner hung up the phone, sat back, and said:
“We’re doing this.”
The equipment arrived. The install was simple. The training was comprehensive and easy to follow.
And everything changed:One afternoon, Sarah looked around and realized:
☑ No waiting line
☑ No backlog
☑ No recounting the same bottle three times
She exhaled and said quietly:
“So, this is what breathing feels like.”
The owner met with his CPA.
“Just confirming we get the deduction this year?”
The CPA nodded.
“Yes. Because you purchased and had it installed by year-end.”
Control.
Automation isn’t about a machine.
It’s about:Section 179 isn’t a loophole.
It’s the IRS saying:
“If you invest in your business, we’ll reward you for it.”
To qualify for year-end pricing and Section 179:
✅ Requirement
|
📆 Deadline
|
|---|---|
Purchase order submitted
|
December 19
|
Installation completed & in service
|
December 31
|
If automation is already on your radar for 2026, moving now could mean tens of thousands of dollars in tax savings.
Not because a machine is cool.
Not because it’s “what everyone is doing.”
Purchase by December 19. Install by December 31. Deduct the full cost this tax year. Breathe.
➡️ Ready to see how pharmacy automation can impact your business?
👉 Connect with us to learn more.