Introduction
AccordRx is an online marketplace that offers a user-focused solution for pharmacies to buy and sell overstocked prescription drugs. The company approached our team to create a system that would simplify the process of listing items for sale on their platform. Our solution was to create a custom form that uses Gravity Forms, PHP, and APIs to fetch and display data from various sources, including the National Drug Code (NDC) directory. With this system, pharmacy owners can quickly and easily list their items for sale without manually entering all the necessary details.
Challenges
One of the biggest challenges we faced during this project was integrating multiple data sources. We needed to pull data from various APIs and databases to provide accurate and up-to-date information about each pharmaceutical item. This required us to carefully manage our data connections to ensure that the system was always able to fetch the latest information.
Another challenge was designing the form in a user-friendly and efficient way. We wanted to create a form that would allow pharmacy owners to easily enter the NDC number and then quickly edit any necessary details before submitting the item for sale. This required careful consideration of the form layout, field types, and validation rules.
Previously, pharmacy owners had to manually type every product detail, making listings time-consuming and prone to errors.
The biggest hurdle? Integrating multiple pharmaceutical data sources (like the National Drug Code directory) to ensure listings were accurate and up-to-date.
Solutions
To address the challenge of integrating with multiple data sources, we took a strategic approach that involved creating a custom API using PHP. This API was designed to fetch data from various sources, such as the NDC directory and other third-party databases. We used various APIs that we found to provide accurate and up-to-date information about each pharmaceutical item.
The custom API that we developed was responsible for combining data from multiple sources into a single, unified response. We carefully managed our data connections to ensure that the system was always able to fetch the latest information. Additionally, we implemented caching to reduce the number of API calls and improve performance.
To create a user-friendly form, we utilized Gravity Forms, which is a powerful form builder plugin for WordPress. We created a custom form template that included all of the necessary fields for listing a pharmaceutical item. We added dynamic fields that would automatically populate with data from the API, such as the item name and description. We also added validation rules to ensure that the user entered a valid NDC number and that all required fields were filled out before submitting the form.
One of the advantages of using Gravity Forms was that we were able to customize the form to meet the specific needs of AccordRx. We could easily add or remove fields, change the layout, and adjust validation rules as necessary. This allowed us to create a form that was perfectly tailored to the requirements of the client.
We built a custom API in PHP that merges data from the NDC directory and third-party pharmaceutical databases, then caches it for speed.
Using this API, we developed a custom Gravity Forms listing template that:
- Lets vendors enter just the NDC number
- Auto-fills product name & description from the API
- Validates NDC numbers & required fields
- Matches AccordRx’s branding for a seamless experience
Expanded Features
Instant Vendor-to-Vendor Purchases
- Vendors can now buy products directly within the platform — no separate calls or emails.
- Orders are tracked in real-time via the vendor dashboard for better transparency.
Wishlist with Price Alerts
- Vendors can save items and set a target price.
- If the price drops, they get an automatic email alert.
- A dedicated wishlist dashboard lets them track and update items anytime.
Automated Refunds
- Vendors can initiate refunds directly in the system if orders are canceled or out of stock.
- Transactions are logged for easy dispute resolution and financial tracking.
Results
Since launching the new system, AccordRx has seen a significant increase in the number of items listed for sale on its platform. Pharmacy owners can quickly and easily list their overstocked prescription drugs, which has helped them to reduce waste and improve their bottom line. Additionally, the user-focused approach of AccordRx has helped to establish it as a leading online marketplace for pharmacies.
- More Listings: Vendors can now list products in seconds, leading to a surge in available inventory.
- More Sales: Direct purchasing removed friction, increasing vendor-to-vendor transactions.
- Better Experience: Automated alerts and refunds boosted vendor satisfaction and trust.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the customs system we created for AccordRx has greatly improved the process of listing items for sale on their platform. By using Gravity Forms, PHP, and APIs, we were able to create a user-friendly form that simplifies the listing process and improves accuracy and performance. The results of the project have been highly successful, with AccordRx seeing a significant increase in the number of items listed for sale on their platform.