Ask most Canadian pharmacy owners where their profit comes from, and they will likely point to the dispensary. Ask their accountant, and you may get a different answer. Prescription dispensing will always be the foundation of community pharmacy. However, it also operates within a highly regulated reimbursement environment. According to IBISWorld’s Pharmacies & Drug Stores…
Read article
Join us at RetailNOW 2026! July 26 – 28, 2026 Caesars Forum Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Booth #410 The retail IT channel’s premier trade show, education conference, and networking event returns to Las Vegas, July 26-28, 2026. Join the industry’s leading VARs, ISVs, software vendors, distributors, and technology partners for three days of education,…
Read article
Across North America, tariff activity, trade uncertainty, and shifting foreign policy are putting pressure on grocery costs, supplier relationships, and shopper expectations. At the same time, food retailers continue to operate on thin margins. According to FMI’s The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2025, financial performance remains a key pressure area for food retailers, making it…
Read article
Smoke shops, cigar retailers, and vape stores are no longer simple checkout-and-shelf operations. Today’s specialty retailers are managing more product categories, more detailed inventory, more pricing changes, and more age-restricted sales workflows than ever before. From premium cigars and vape products to accessories, nicotine alternatives, and convenience items, the modern smoke shop needs more than…
Read article
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the most important innovations in retail POS (Point of Sale) technology. In fact, the Global Artificial Intelligence in Retail Market size was estimated at $22.4 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $148.7 billion by 2035. While AI is often viewed as an emerging technology, retailers are…
Read article
Auto-Star Compusystems Inc., a leading provider of retail point of sale solutions, announced the release of Star-Plus Version 8.5, introducing new AI-powered tools and enhanced retail capabilities designed to help stores reduce manual processes, improve accuracy, and make smarter business decisions. Automation and Real-Time Visibility At the heart of Star-Plus 8.5 are new features…
Read article
The Pharmasave Conference & Trade Show 2026 transformed the Metro Toronto Convention Centre into a hub for pharmacy innovation, technology, and industry connection. The event brought together Pharmasave members, vendor partners, and pharmacy professionals from across Canada for several days of networking, collaboration, and conversations focused on the future of community pharmacy. A Pharmasave Convergence…
Read article
The retail industry is currently navigating a momentous transition as the long-awaited AI (8112) Universal Digital Coupons (UDCs) shift from experimental pilot programs into full-scale market saturation. For decades, the coupon landscape was defined by the legacy paper coupons or the AI (8110) barcode, a data format that is riddled with inefficiencies and a staggering…
Read article
Join Auto-Star at the PharmaChoice Canada Trade Show! April 23 – 25, 2026 Halifax Convention Centre Halifax, NS | Booth #40 Auto-Star is excited to be part of the PharmaChoice Trade Show, one of the most anticipated events in the Canadian pharmacy industry. Taking place at the Halifax Convention Centre, this year’s trade show brings…
Read article
Join Auto-Star at the Pharmasave Conference & Trade Show 2026! May 2 – 4, 2026 Metro Toronto Convention Centre Toronto, ON | Booth #226 Auto-Star is excited to be exhibiting at the Pharmasave Conference & Trade Show 2026, an essential event for Pharmasave members and vendor partners alike. This year’s event celebrates the theme “Better…
Read article