Getting ready for installation

Welcome!

We're excited to help you transition to Fred Office Plus.

This page is your central preparation hub, bringing together everything you need to get ready for installation, training and go-live. By completing the activities and resources on this page, you'll help lay the foundations for success, giving your team the confidence and knowledge they need to make the most of Fred Office Plus from day one.

For a printable overview of the installation process, see Onboarding to Fred Process Overview (PDF).

Not sure where to start? This short video will guide you through your onboarding journey, explain what to expect along the way, and help prepare your team for a successful transition.

The video explains:

  • How to prepare your team for change.
  • What to expect before installation.
  • How training works.
  • Key activities to complete before go-live.
  • What happens on installation night.
  • How to support your team after go-live.

Implementing new software is more than a system upgrade. It's an opportunity to improve workflows, gain greater visibility across your business, and create efficiencies that help your pharmacy team work more effectively.

Taking the time to prepare helps:

  • Reduce stress leading up to go-live.
  • Build staff confidence.
  • Minimise disruption during transition.
  • Improve software adoption.
  • Help your pharmacy realise the benefits of Fred software sooner.

Successful transitions happen when teams are informed, engaged, and prepared. Taking the time to plan, communicate, and prepare your team will help ensure a smooth and successful onboarding experience.

A successful implementation starts with keeping your team informed and involved. When staff understand what's changing and why, they are more likely to feel confident and engaged to embrace the transition.

Before installation:

  • Make all staff aware of the upcoming transition.
  • Encourage staff to review training materials.
  • Discuss the benefits of moving to Fred software.
  • Create opportunities for staff to ask questions.
  • Address concerns early and openly.

Open communication helps build confidence and encourages adoption of new workflows.

  • Prepare staff for the change: allocate time for them to watch change management and pre-installation training videos (listed below).
  • Contact all third-party software vendors that integrate with your POS system (e.g. customer loyalty program) to discuss the change and schedule a time for them to update their software on go-live day.
  • Complete the Fred Office questionnaire your Fred onboarding team emailed you.
  • Order stationery:
    • Shelf label tickets: either 1-wide cardboard or 3-wide sticky labels.

Before your live-day training, all staff should watch the introductory videos below. These short videos introduce key concepts and terminology, helping your team build a strong foundation and get the most value from their live training experience.

These resources are designed to:

  • Introduce key concepts and workflows.
  • Help staff become familiar with Fred software.
  • Improve confidence before training.
  • Allow more time for practical learning during live-day sessions.

Once the introductory videos have been completed, staff can continue building their knowledge through the training resources below. These materials focus on common tasks performed in Fred Office Plus and are designed to help staff build confidence before live training.

  • Create a draft order and send to electronic supplier.
  • Receive an electronic invoice with a mobility.
  • Receive an electronic invoice without a mobility.
  • Create a manual invoice and receive it.

One of the best ways to support a smooth transition is to nominate one or two team members as your in-store champions. These team members will receive training first and act as a key point of support for the wider team during and after go-live.

This approach helps build knowledge and confidence within your pharmacy, supporting a smoother implementation and long-term success.

To help your team get the most value from your live-day training:

  • Roster additional staff where possible.
  • Allow your champions to focus on training activities.
  • Leave some everyday tasks, such as adding new stock items, creating a new customer debtor account, and receiving a non-electronic invoice, available to complete during training.

Your Fred Trainer will provide you with a training plan prior to live-day. Refer to this to determine who will be best suited as your in-store champion(s).

On the evening of your installation, several important activities must be completed before your Fred technician can begin the installation process.

  • Perform your end-of-day process in your existing POS (point of sale) software. After this is completed, no further transactions can be put through.
  • Close off customer debtor accounts, generate and print their statements.
  • Print an uncollected scripts report. Any scripts that have not been paid for will not appear within Fred POS Plus on live day and will need to be processed in the POS as a miscellaneous script sale.
  • Provide your Fred onboarding team with 4 invoice numbers from your primary supplier so they can transfer the electronic gateway to Fred Office Plus.

While your Fred technician runs the installation process you will not be able to use your previous POS or Dispense software.

Your implementation doesn't end on installation day.

Following go-live:

  • Encourage staff to ask questions.
  • Use your trained champions as the first point of support.
  • Continue reinforcing key workflows.
  • Share feedback and lessons learned.
  • Refer to available support resources on Fred Office Plus Online Help.

Building confidence takes time, and a learning curve is completely normal.

If you have any questions during your onboarding journey, please contact your Fred onboarding team.

We're here to support you every step of the way and help ensure a smooth and successful transition to Fred Office.