Walgreens unveils redesigned Web site with enhanced health, mobile options

DEERFIELD, Ill. Walgreens Monday unveiled a redesigned Web site with a broader offering of healthy living and product resources, and more shopping tools and services that the company said will make it easier for customers to shop online.

The relaunch of Walgreens.com has been a prime objective for the 7,105-store drug chain, in line with a top-to-bottom overhaul of its retail health mission, customer-centric merchandising presentation and go-to-market strategy. The new Web site is designed to make it easier for customers manage their prescriptions online, and features “a selection of interactive tools to help consumers better understand and monitor their health,” the company said today. The site also offers photo service enhancements and new mobile applications, Walgreens announced.

“We’ve integrated our content, products and services to offer customers a more holistic online solution,” explained Sona Chawla, SVP e-commerce. “We pride ourselves on having the most convenient locations throughout the U.S., and now Walgreens is adding greater convenience for our growing numbers of customers who shop with us online.”

Among the enhancements:

• Some new options under the pharmacy tab to make it easier for customers to order prescriptions and manage their prescription history. The system can also provide for automatic e-mail refill reminders and refills
• An online offering called “Walgreens Health Shops” that provides a wide selection of products, healthcare resources, care guides and calculators for heart risk and other symptoms. The interactive feature, part of the “Walgreens Healthy Living” marketing program, offers one-stop shopping for items, information and interactive tools covering allergy, blood pressure, diabetes, flu, heart health, pregnancy/new moms and weight loss
• A new tool that lets customers check availability of products at local stores through the Web site
• A flash-based application, called Easy ImageUpload, which allows customers to add images to their online photo albums, making it easier to order prints, share photos and create personalized gifts. Photos and albums can be shared through e-mail and a wide variety of social media sites, including Facebook and MySpace
• New mobile applications designed to bring the conveniences of Walgreens stores to any Web-enabled mobile phone.

Walgreens.com now averages more than 13 million visits per month and is the most popular Web site among all drugstore-based retailers, according to a study from Compete.com cited by the drug chain.