Client's Testimonial

Scaling our delivery operations across 30 states required a partner with deep technical expertise and an obsession with security. Developers.dev was that partner. Their CMMI Level 5 process was evident from day one. They didn't just build an app; they engineered an enterprise-grade logistics and patient engagement platform that seamlessly integrated with our legacy PMS. Their understanding of HIPAA was second to none. They are a world-class team.

David Chen, CTO, HealthFirst Pharmacy Group

Client Overview

HealthFirst Pharmacy Group is a top-5 national pharmacy chain in the United States with over 500 retail locations. While they had a robust in-store and mail-order business, their digital presence was lagging. Their existing mobile app was outdated, and their backend systems were a patchwork of legacy software, making it impossible to launch a competitive, modern, same-day prescription delivery service. They needed to innovate to fend off competition from digital-native pharmacies.

Problem

HealthFirst's existing infrastructure could not support the complex logic required for a real-time, location-aware delivery service. They needed to build a new, scalable platform that could integrate with hundreds of individual store inventories, a legacy Pharmacy Management System (PMS), and a new third-party driver network, all while ensuring ironclad security and HIPAA compliance for millions of patient records.

Key Challenges

Legacy System Integration:

The new platform had to securely pull data from a 15-year-old, on-premise PMS without disrupting daily pharmacy operations.

Enterprise Scalability:

The solution needed to handle millions of users and tens of thousands of simultaneous orders and deliveries across the country.

Data Security & Compliance:

Migrating and handling millions of patient records required the highest levels of security, with SOC 2 and CMMI 5 process maturity being key requirements.

Complex Logistics:

The system needed a sophisticated dispatching and routing engine to manage a fleet of third-party drivers and provide real-time tracking.

Our Solution

We proposed a phased modernization approach, building a new microservices-based platform on AWS that would act as a middleware layer, orchestrating data between the legacy PMS, the new mobile apps, and the driver network.

👥 Dedicated Enterprise POD

We assigned a 15-person team, including a Solutions Architect, a certified AWS Cloud expert, a DevSecOps engineer, multiple backend and frontend developers, and a QA automation team.

🏗️ Microservices Architecture

We broke down the monolithic challenge into manageable microservices for user management, order processing, inventory lookup, payment, and dispatching. This improved scalability and resilience.

🔑 Secure API Gateway

We built a secure API gateway to manage communication between the legacy PMS and the new cloud platform, ensuring no direct public access to the old system.

🗺️ Real-Time Dispatching Engine

We developed a custom logistics engine that used geolocation data to assign deliveries to the nearest available driver, calculating optimal routes to meet delivery windows.

Implementation and Execution

Phase 1 (Months 1-3):

Deep discovery, auditing legacy systems, and designing the new cloud architecture. Focused on building the secure data synchronization module.

Phase 2 (Months 4-7):

Development of the core microservices and the new patient-facing mobile apps (iOS and Android).

Phase 3 (Months 8-10):

Integration with the third-party driver network API and building the pharmacy-facing dashboard for managing orders.

Robust Testing:

The QA team created over 2,000 automated tests covering unit, integration, and end-to-end scenarios, including performance and load testing.

Pilot Program:

We launched a pilot program in a single state (50 stores) to test the system in a real-world environment and gather feedback.

Staged National Rollout:

After a successful pilot, we executed a staged, region-by-region rollout over the next 6 months, ensuring a smooth transition.

Positive Outcome

✅ Successful National Launch

HealthFirst launched its same-day delivery service nationwide, which was featured in major news outlets and led to a 5% stock price increase.

📈 Increased Digital Revenue

The new platform processed over $50 million in prescription delivery revenue in its first year of operation.

⏱️ Improved Operational Efficiency

The automated dispatch system reduced the manual workload on pharmacy staff by an estimated 30%, allowing them to focus on patient care.

❤️ Enhanced Customer Loyalty

Patient satisfaction scores (NPS) for digital services increased by 25 points, and the app has over 1 million active users.

Why Choose Us

🏢 Enterprise Experience

We have a proven track record of handling complex, large-scale modernization projects.

🔗 Legacy Integration Mastery

We specialize in helping enterprises break free from legacy constraints without disrupting business.

🏆 Verifiable Process Maturity

Our CMMI 5 and SOC 2 certifications were critical in winning the trust of the HealthFirst security team.

☁️ Cloud Expertise

Our certified AWS and Azure experts design resilient, scalable, and cost-effective cloud architectures.

🤝 Dedicated PODs

A stable, long-term team ensured deep domain knowledge and consistent progress.

🔒 Security First

DevSecOps was not an option; it was a core part of the engagement.

🛡️ Phased, De-Risked Approach

Our phased rollout strategy minimized risk and ensured a smooth transition.

🎯 Business Outcome Focus

We measured success not just in code, but in business metrics like revenue and efficiency.

🌟 Full-Service Partner

We continue to provide ongoing maintenance, support, and new feature development for the platform.

Conclusion

Developers.dev proved to be more than a vendor; we were a strategic partner in HealthFirst's digital transformation. By combining deep technical expertise with a mature, security-focused process, we enabled a market-leading enterprise to innovate and successfully compete in the age of on-demand everything.

Modernizing Legacy Systems to Power Same-Day Delivery for HealthFirst Pharmacy Group

Industry Retail Pharmacy, Enterprise