If the pilot project is successful, it could mean Kroger pharmacists will be spending more time with customers to talk about their health and wellness, company officials said.
Kroger spokeswoman Rachael Betzler said the pilot project is part of a joint venture with Koncert IT at the Vora Technology Park on Knightsbridge Drive in Hamilton that will begin May 13. She said Koncert IT is managing the project.
About 45 consumer affairs pharmacy call analysts will be hired for the pilot project that is designed to bring more convenience to Kroger pharmacy customers.
“This will help with customers who are seeking more one-on-one time with their pharmacists, which is something our customers have said would be more help to them,” she said.
Rather than taking routine calls for prescription refills in the stores, the call center in Hamilton can handle those calls freeing up the pharmacists for in-store customers.
Betzler said the pilot project will be focused at 14 Kroger pharmacies in the eastern Cincinnati area and would not affect pharmacies in Butler or Warren counties. She said there are 103 Kroger pharmacies in the Cincinnati/Dayton division.
Koncert IT started hiring the consumer affairs pharmacy call analysts this week. Half of the employees will begin next week on the joint venture, according to Walt McLaren, president of Koncert IT, part of the Vora Group of companies that is based at the Vora Technology Park.
Hamilton city officials have said if the pilot project is successful, it could result in the creation of up to 300 jobs.
McLaren said the project “will prove out whether it works and what will ultimately be the number of employees hired.
“What we hope to do with the venture is to drive other customers to VTP,” he said.
Koncert IT said the jobs will pay between $10 and $15 per hour.
Koncert IT is part of the Vora Group, a collection of companies and investments concentrating on information technology solutions and infrastructure with an international presence.
Vora Group portfolio consists of 12 ventures in the software, services and infrastructure space with annual revenues of more than $100 million (profitable), employing more than 2,100 people worldwide, according to its website.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4504 or Ed.Richter@coxinc.com.
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