Rite Aid, a pharmacy chain with 2,350 retail locations in 17 states, will transition a series of its in-store and e-commerce operations to Google Cloud, the companies said Tuesday.
Philadelphia-based Rite Aid said it will migrate multiple, customer-facing applications to Google Cloud’s development platform. The chain’s vaccine scheduling tool, customer messaging and digital engagement platforms are all slated for transfer.
In addition to the customer-facing platforms, the pharmacy’s benefits and services company, Elixir will transition its applications to Google’s cloud.
The move follows an announcement earlier this year that the tech giant was working with CVS Health’s MinuteClinic to directly schedule appointments in its browser.
“Rite Aid is at the intersection of two quickly evolving industries and making strategic technology investments to meet rising customer expectations,” Carrie Tharp, vice president of retail and consumer solutions at Google Cloud said in the release.
The move is Google’s latest foray into healthcare. Earlier this month, Abridge, a health tech AI company, said it was partnering with Google Cloud to bring more advanced research to the transcription company.
The company recently hired several senior health officials from the federal government, including Bakul Patel, as its senior director of global digital health strategy.
It is also developing medical algorithms and devices through its research and Fitbit divisions, as well as with its sister company, Verily, Alphabet’s life sciences research subsidiary.
Rite Aid has partnered with other tech-focused companies in an attempt to expand access for patients. It partnered with Homeward, a rural-focused digital health company, in June to provide primary care services including annual wellness visits, screenings and risk assessments in underserved communities.
A timeline of when the transitions would be complete was not immediately available.
