Veterinary practice management systems have a key role to play in streamlining veterinary practice operations, improving patient outcomes, reducing the administrative burden on staff, and reducing practice chaos. However, many practices are still struggling with outdated and inadequate systems that hold them back from realising positive tangible business outcomes.
Covetrus Ascend has grown in adoption very quickly across Australia and New Zealand as a leading cloud-based software choice for veterinary practices who want a modern, intuitive, and comprehensive practice management system. Its suite of integrations, functionality and user-friendly interface offer veterinary professionals a streamlined approach to managing all aspects of their practice operations, from electronic patient records and appointments through to inventory management and financial reporting.
Its cloud-based architecture lets practices access their data anytime, anywhere, and its intuitive interface simplifies everyday tasks and reduces the learning curve for new users but up to 90%.
Why leading veterinary practices switched to Covetrus Ascend
But what drives practices to switch from their existing systems to Covetrus Ascend? To answer these questions, we surveyed over 35 veterinary practices that have made the switch to Ascend, a small portion of the client base.
Using the survey data and real-world experiences of a range of veterinary practices, we reveal the time-saving benefits, competitive advantages, cost-effectiveness, and robust security features that make Ascend a compelling choice for practice owners and managers who want to optimise their practice management.
Biggest time-saving elements of Ascend
Our survey results showed that from a selection of 18 defined areas, the top 6 elements of Ascend which saved the most time for users were thanks to device flexibility and cloud-based functionality, followed by MyHub, the integrations suite, ease of use and training of staff, and security and cloud-based backups.
A significant 25% of respondents indicated that the ability to use Ascend on various devices like computers, laptops, tablets, or smartphones saved them significant time. Additionally, 20% of respondents reflected that Covetrus Ascend’s cloud-based nature, which lets them work from anywhere, was a major time-saver.
Furthermore, 12% of respondents highlighted MyHub as a time-saving feature, due to its ability to centralise communication and collaboration within the practice. Integrations also contributed to time savings for 8% of respondents.
Additionally, 7% of respondents found that Ascend’s ease of use and the availability of training resources helped them save time by reducing the learning curve and improving staff efficiency. Finally, 6% of respondents appreciated the security and cloud-based backup features of Ascend, which can save time in the event of data loss or system failures.
Why veterinary practices choose Covetrus Ascend over other cloud-based competitors
Survey results from 15 initial criteria showed that device flexibility, cloud-based functionality, company reputation, and security features were among the strongest reasons veterinary professionals chose Covetrus Ascend. A large number of respondents gave the ability to use Ascend on various devices, like computers, laptops, 
tablets, or smartphones, as a major factor in their decision. This flexibility lets veterinary professionals access patient information and manage practice operations from anywhere and at any time, which improves efficiency and convenience.
The cloud-based nature of Ascend is also highly valued by respondents. Being able to work from anywhere without being tied to a specific site or device, was seen as a major advantage over on-premise software solutions. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for veterinary practices with remote teams.
Covetrus’ strong reputation as a market leader in the ANZ region with over 30 years of experience gave customers confidence they were choosing a reliable and trusted partner. The software’s security and cloud-based backup features are other key factors in customers’ decisions. This ensures the protection of sensitive patient data and gives peace of mind in case of system failures or data breaches.
Ascend’s cost-effectiveness
A combined 55% of respondents considered Ascend to be either affordable or very affordable. A further 37% considered Ascend cost-effective, with only 6% feeling that Ascend is expensive.
This positive perception of Ascend’s pricing reflects the value that users see in its features and benefits, such as improved efficiency, enhanced patient care, and reduced administrative burdens. This suggests a majority of users believe Ascend offers a competitive price point compared with other cloud-based vet PMS options.
The overall conclusion is that Ascend provides a great balance of cost and value, which makes it an attractive choice for veterinary practices who want to optimise their operations without breaking the bank.
Savings due to Ascend’s cloud-based architecture
A staggering 80% of veterinary practices surveyed reported significant cost savings ($1,000-$5,000 AUD) thanks to Ascend’s cloud-based nature, which eliminates the need for expensive on-site hardware infrastructure.
This illustrates that the transition to Ascend has resulted in substantial reductions in IT costs for many practices. 20% of responses reported savings of $6,000-$30,000 for larger practices. This is a key reason for switching for many practices, before their current ageing hardware fails.
Importance of Ascend’s cloud-based backups and security features
Survey data revealed that security and cloud-based backup features are highly valued by veterinary practices that have switched to Covetrus Ascend, with 55% of respondents considering them extremely important. This shows that the protection of sensitive patient data and the reliability of backup solutions are top priorities for veterinary professionals.
While 29% of respondents consider security features to be important, only 8% rated them as slightly important, and just 6% consider them not important at all. This suggests the vast majority of veterinary practices recognise the critical role that security and data protection play in their operations.
Daily time-saving with Covetrus Ascend
Survey data highlighted that veterinary practices experienced significant time savings when using Covetrus Ascend. A majority of respondents (48%) reported saving between 15 minutes and 1.5 hours per week, while 23% saved between 30 minutes and 2.5 hours. A slightly smaller percentage (19%) saved over an hour per week, while 6% saved more than 2 hours per week.
These results demonstrate the substantial efficiency gains that veterinary practices can achieve by switching to Covetrus Ascend, which allows them to focus on providing quality patient care and improving their overall operations.
What veterinary practices say to others considering switching to Covetrus Ascend
A strong theme among veterinary practices who switched to Ascend is the exceptional customer service and support provided by Covetrus. Many singled out the responsiveness, expertise, and helpfulness of the Covetrus team and highlighted their positive experiences when receiving assistance and guidance.
“The customer service and support are the best I’ve ever come across in 16 years of using practice management software.”
The intuitive design and ease of use of Ascend were frequently mentioned as key factors that contributed to a smooth transition and adoption of the software.
“It thinks for itself, very intuitive and easy to train new staff of any skill level.”
Veterinary professionals also emphasised the value of Ascend’s cloud-based architecture, which gives seamless access to patient information and practice management tools from anywhere and at any time. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for practices with remote teams or those facing unexpected disruptions.
“Cloud-based software for in-the-field real-time documentation and billing is really valuable.”
Furthermore, the ability to train new staff easily and efficiently on Ascend was a common point of praise, which highlights the software’s user-friendly interface and intuitive design.
“It has some of the easiest functionalities compared to other software and is hands down the easiest platform to train with.”
Overall, veterinary practices considering Ascend expressed great satisfaction with the software’s features, ease of use, and the exceptional support provided by the Covetrus team.
This positive feedback underscores the potential benefits that Ascend can offer to any veterinary practice owner or manager who wants to streamline their operations, improve efficiency, and enhance patient care.
Learn more about Covetrus Ascend