Germany is struggling with a shortage of skilled workers. According to the German Chamber of Commerce (DIHK) and studies by the Bertelsmann Foundation, many companies expect no improvement in 2024.

One key reason is Germany’s aging population. Current projections show that in the next 10 years alone, the labor force will shrink by almost 4 million to just under 46 million people.

Clinics forced to cancel emergency services

The veterinary sector is also feeling the pinch. Even though the number of people studying veterinary medicine is as high as ever, many practices have trouble recruiting qualified staff. It’s particularly tough in rural, less prosperous regions. Another sign of this labour shortage is that vets are less willing to cover the night and weekend shifts in clinic emergency services. As a result, these clinics are forced to cancel their emergency service and lose their status as clinics. Between 2015 and 2020, the number of small-animal clinics with a 24-hour service in Germany fell from 161 to 68, a decrease of 60 percent.

Today’s top criteria when choosing employers are work-life balance, friendly working conditions, good pay, and job security. However, around half of the people surveyed by Bitkom said they also looked for modern technology in the workplace. Generation Y and upwards (born after 1980) grew up with the internet; their daily lives are shaped by social media and messenger services, they routinely use apps on powerful smartphones, tablets, and notebooks – and they expect state-of-the-art tech at work too.

Today’s World Is Digital

According to the Bitkom survey, 91 percent of respondents said that digital technologies play a major role in their daily work. For over 75 percent, they are vital. And for two thirds, digital technologies are a motivating factor.

In most veterinary practices today, practice management software combined with high-performance hardware and network tech are standard. Above all, the recording and maintenance of client, animal, and treatment data, as well as appointment scheduling, electronic exchange of lab results, data exchange with medical devices, and inventory management are primarily intended to streamline internal practice workflows.

Digitalization Boosts Staff Satisfaction

But optimizing internal processes isn’t enough. Engaging in dialog with pet owners offers tremendous potential for enhancing the satisfaction of both customers and staff. This starts with online appointment booking, identified by a Bitkom survey as a service around 60 percent of customers want. The more customers book their appointments online, fill out registration forms online, and electronically transfer all the necessary data to your practice software, the more time you have for in-person consultations. In other words, your team will spend less time answering the phone or performing data entry, allowing them to focus on other tasks.

And it doesn’t stop there. As soon as your clients arrive at the practice or clinic, they can benefit from an electronic self-check-in service. Instead of standing in line at the reception desk, customers can simply check in by phone or tablet. They can then go for a stroll or grab a coffee nearby until it’s their turn to see the vet. Meanwhile, all the necessary paperwork – digitally completed – is sent directly to your practice software: registration and medical history forms, data protection consent declarations, and more.

Electronic Patient File: Simply Makes Sense

After the treatment, you can send your clients selected information, such as lab results, X-rays, examination forms, and medication instructions, directly to their electronic patient record – saving time and reducing your environmental footprint by eliminating the need for printing or saving to a CD. Bitkom and Statista show that over 70 percent of respondents are interested in this.

And finally, invoicing is just as convenient. Pet owners get the bill and simply pay by phone or tablet on their way out.

Send Reminders Digitally

Paperless, automatic reminders about vaccinations, follow-up examinations, or times to administer meds free up your staff from sending emails or letters to customers.

What if a pet owner doesn’t have time to come to the practice or clinic in person? Simply set up an online consultation service via video chat.

All this is possible today and available to every practice and clinic, whatever the size. Your staff doesn’t need special training, and you won’t have to invest in hardware or software.