Fred IT Group
Fred IT Group is Australia's largest dedicated pharmacy IT solution provider, serving 3,000+ community pharmacies with dispensing software (Fred Dispense Plus), national ePrescription exchange infrastructure (eRx), and managed cyber and backup services. Now a wholly-owned Telstra Health subsidiary.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersAbbotsford, Australia
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Fred IT Group does
Fred IT Group, founded in 1992 (originally as NU Systems Pty Ltd) and headquartered in Abbotsford, Melbourne, is Australia's largest dedicated IT solution provider to the pharmacy industry, serving over 3,000 community pharmacies across all major Australian states via offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide and a 230+ person workforce. Its core software portfolio spans Fred Dispense Plus (next-generation dispensing platform with AI-powered medication direction suggestions via Fred AID), Fred Dispense (market-leading dispenser with 2,500+ installed sites), Fred POS Plus (point-of-sale), Fred Office Plus (back office), Fred HQ Plus (cloud-based multi-store management), Fred Mobility (handheld stock management), and Fred NXT Enterprise (enterprise pharmacy group suite), all built on Microsoft SQL with cloud-aware architecture that supports offline dispensing and Microsoft Entra ID authentication.
The company operates critical national eHealth infrastructure including eRx Script Exchange (Australia's first and largest national electronic prescriptions exchange, processing 1 billion+ ePrescriptions and 2 billion clinical records), MedView Flow (electronic prescription workflow), MySL integration, and SafeScript (Victoria's real-time prescription monitoring system under contract with the Australian Department of Health). Revenue is generated through subscription software licences, managed services (Fred Protect cyber security at $125-250/month tiered by PC count, data backup at $98.50-$150/month, anti-virus, and managed HP Proliant server rentals on multi-year contracts), hardware supply (HP PCs, scanners, printers), professional training services, and a Fred Marketplace ecosystem of 30+ approved third-party integrations. Fred is wholly owned by Telstra Health following the May 2024 full acquisition that ended a 10-year joint venture, and serves customers including Ventura Health, Advantage Pharmacy Group, and the Australian Defence Force (via a Leidos Australia consortium).
Fred IT Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fred IT Group
- Legal name
- Fred IT Group Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://fred.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Fred IT Group is Australia's largest dedicated pharmacy IT solution provider, serving 3,000+ community pharmacies with dispensing software (Fred Dispense Plus), national ePrescription exchange infrastructure (eRx), and managed cyber and backup services. Now a wholly-owned Telstra Health subsidiary.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fred IT Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pharmacy Management Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)
- SIC
- Services-Management Services (8741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Pharmacy & Complex Therapy Management Platforms (HLACAKAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Provider/Health-System Telehealth + In-House/Owned Pharmacy Integration (HLALAIAB)
Keywords
Where Fred IT Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Abbotsford
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices6 records
Markets served
Fred IT Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Pharmacy Dispensing Software Licenses: Fred sells dispensing software (Fred Dispense, Fred Dispense Plus) and retail management software (Fred POS Plus, Fred Office Plus, Fred HQ Plus) to community pharmacies and pharmacy groups. Revenue is generated through software licensing, likely on a subscription or perpetual license model per installation/site.
- Managed Cyber Security Services: Fred Protect is a comprehensive managed cyber security service providing 24/7/365 monitoring by a Security Operations Centre, security assessments, training, and incident response. Priced monthly per number of Windows PCs (e.g., $125/month for 1-5 PCs, $181/month for 6-10 PCs, $250/month for 11-16 PCs).
- Managed Data Backup Services: Managed backup service with 30-minute intervals, onsite backup hardware, offsite secure Australian storage. Priced at $98.50/month for first desktop backup, $45.50/month per additional desktop, $150/month for server backup, $34.00/month for server.
- Managed Server Services: Rental of HP Proliant Server with managed and remotely monitored Windows Server, in-store backups, proactive monitoring, optional offsite storage and anti-virus. Offered on a cost-effective rental basis.
- Anti-Virus Services: Managed Anti-Virus product and monitoring service with flexible monthly licensing, covering protection, updates, scans, and license management.
- Hardware Sales: Supply and installation of IT hardware including PCs, monitors, barcode scanners, printers, and pharmacy-specific hardware tested with ePrescriptions. Hardware is sourced from HP and other vendors.
- Product Training Services: Fred Training offers on-demand, just-in-time training including online tutorials, free online product information sessions, face-to-face training at stores or offices, and specialist head office training.
- Fred Marketplace Partner Commissions: The Fred Marketplace lists third-party apps and integrations approved for Fred software. While not explicitly stated, the marketplace may generate referral or commission-based revenue from partner app placements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Cyber Security - 1-5 Windows PCs |
| Subscription | Monthly | Cyber Security - 6-10 Windows PCs |
| Subscription | Monthly | Cyber Security - 11-16 Windows PCs |
| Subscription | Monthly | Cyber Security - 17+ Windows PCs |
| Subscription | Monthly | Data Backup - First Desktop |
| Subscription | Monthly | Data Backup - Additional Desktop |
| Subscription | Monthly | Data Backup - Server |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Managed Server |
| Other | Other | Tyro Health EFTPOS |
| Subscription | Other | Fred Dispense Plus / Fred POS Plus / Fred Office Plus / Fred HQ Plus |
| Other | Other | Fred Mobility |
| Other | Other | Fred Pak |
| Other | Other | Fred Marketplace Partner Enquiry |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Fred IT Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fred IT Group develops, licenses, and supports an integrated suite of pharmacy management software (dispensing, point-of-sale, back-office, multi-store headquarters), electronic prescription exchange services (eRx Script Exchange), and managed IT services including cyber security, data backup, anti-virus, managed server support, and pharmacy hardware supply for community pharmacies and enterprise pharmacy groups across Australia.
Product overview
Fred IT Group offers a comprehensive pharmacy IT platform with multiple integrated software products. The core portfolio includes Fred Dispense Plus (next-generation dispensing with AI), Fred Dispense (market-leading dispensing), Fred POS Plus (retail point-of-sale), Fred Office Plus (back office management), Fred NXT Enterprise (enterprise pharmacy groups), and Fred HQ Plus (multi-store management). Supporting modules include Fred Mobility (handheld stock management), Fred Pak (medication packing), and Fred Help Portal with 7-day support. The Fred Marketplace provides 30+ approved third-party integrations covering payment processing (Tyro, Ezidebit, CommBank), clinical services (MIMS, Healthengine, MedAdvisor), business intelligence, robotic dispensing, and eCommerce. Cybersecurity, data backup, anti-virus, and managed server services complement the software portfolio.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Fred Dispense Plus: New generation dispensing software with AI-powered features (Fred AID), cloud-aware architecture, and enhanced security built on Microsoft SQL.
- Fred POS Plus
- Fred Office Plus
- Fred HQ Plus
- Fred Mobility
- Fred Dispense
- Fred Pak
- Fred NXT Enterprise
- Fred Protect
- Fred Marketplace
- eRX Script Exchange
Products and services
- Fred Dispense Plus Flagship pharmacy dispensing software for Australian community pharmacies, handling prescription processing, dispensing workflows, regulatory compliance, real-time prescription monitoring via SafeScript, AI-powered patient medication directions, and barcode verification with full offline capability.
- Fred Dispense Legacy pharmacy dispensing software for Australian community pharmacies, providing core prescription processing and dispensing workflows.
- Fred POS Plus Point-of-sale software for pharmacies handling retail transactions, OTC sales, integrated with Fred Dispense Plus for unified pharmacy and retail operations.
- Fred Office Plus Back-office management software for pharmacies handling administrative tasks, reporting, staff management, and operational workflows for single and small multi-store pharmacies.
- Fred HQ Plus Headquarters management software for multi-store pharmacy groups providing centralized reporting, consolidated inventory, group-wide financial management, and centralized administration.
- Fred NXT Enterprise Enterprise pharmacy management software designed for large pharmacy groups, banner networks, and buying groups requiring scalable, multi-site dispensing, retail, and operational management.
- Fred Mobility Mobile application for pharmacists providing remote access to dispensing workflows, patient records, and operational tasks from smartphones and tablets.
- Fred Pak Web-based solution for pharmacy packaging, dose administration aids, and patient medication management workflows, particularly for community service obligations.
- Fred Protect Managed cyber security service for pharmacies providing proactive threat monitoring, endpoint protection, and security management aligned with pharmacy regulatory requirements and the Notifiable Data Breaches Scheme.
- Data Backup Service Managed offsite data backup service ensuring pharmacy business continuity, regulatory compliance, and protection against data loss for Fred software systems.
- Anti-Virus Service Managed anti-virus and endpoint protection service for pharmacy workstations and servers, deployed and monitored as part of Fred's managed IT services portfolio.
- Managed Server
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces dispensing errors related to selection errors (addressing the fact that 50% of all dispensing incidents are related to selection errors) via ScanCheck Rx barcode scanning
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Fred IT Group
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Fred IT Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration41 records
AI capability3 records
Feature12 records
Fred IT Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, strategic and minor.
- MicrosoftcoreFred is a member of the Microsoft Partner Network and has achieved numerous Gold and Silver competencies as well as Microsoft Partner Awards. Fred Dispense Plus is built on Microsoft SQL Server. Fred HQ Plus uses Microsoft Entra ID authentication. Fred has been named in the Microsoft President's Club and won Microsoft Partner of the Year Award for Health.
- MedViewcoreMedView is a cloud-hosted eHealth platform operated by Fred IT Group that hosts a range of eHealth applications including MedView Flow (prescription workflow tool), MedView Chat, MedView Patient Connect, and Digital Baskets. MedView Flow integrates seamlessly with Fred Dispense and Fred Dispense Plus to manage all prescriptions in one electronic workflow. MedView was launched nationally and processes ePrescriptions alongside eRx.
- eRx Script ExchangecoreeRx Script Exchange is Australia's first and largest national electronic prescriptions exchange, operated by eRx Script Exchange Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of Fred IT Group). Fred IT Group operates eRx which processes electronic prescriptions across Australia, having handled over 1 billion ePrescriptions and 2 billion clinical records.
- Leidos AustraliamajorFred IT Group, working with a consortium led by Leidos Australia, delivers the pharmacy solution for the Australian Defence Force's new digital health system. The new eHealth system unifies patient and clinical information across healthcare settings and stages of care in the ADF community.
- MIMScoreMIMS provides world-class point-of-care drug interactions integrated into Fred Dispense Plus, helping pharmacists make more informed and safer clinical decisions when dispensing. MIMS is also available as an eMIMSplus integration through the Fred Marketplace.
- Worx (MedView)coreWorx is a smart digital workflow solution developed by MedView that integrates directly into Fred Dispense Plus via the AppBar, bringing prescriptions, consultations and dispensary tasks together in one clear, prioritised view.
- My Script List (MySL)coreMy Script List (MySL) is a national active script list service that eliminates the need to store and handle multiple ePrescription tokens. Fred Dispense and Fred Dispense Plus integrate MySL indicators and dispensing functionality directly into the dispense screen. The service is operated by eRx/MySL.
- HealthilystrategicHealthily provides GoShare Healthcare, a patient education platform integrated with Fred Dispense Plus that enables pharmacies to send health resources to patients as a follow-up to dispensing and/or consultation via SMS or email. Healthily and Fred IT Group partnered with the PSA and Healthy Bones Australia on a $1.1M osteoporosis health literacy program.
- Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA)strategicPSA partnered with Fred IT Group, Healthily, and Healthy Bones Australia on a $1.1M national osteoporosis health literacy program, delivering evidence-based osteoporosis education to patients at the point of dispensing through Fred Dispense Plus.
- Healthy Bones AustraliastrategicHealthy Bones Australia partnered with Fred IT Group, Healthily, and the PSA on a $1.1M national osteoporosis health literacy program to improve medication adherence and reduce bone fracture risk for Australians with osteoporosis.
- University of Western AustraliaminorThe University of Western Australia is the academic project partner for the osteoporosis health literacy program, using the Ophelia (Optimising Health Literacy and Access) process to co-design educational resources.
- StorbieminorStorbie serves as an ecommerce channel for Fred customers, enabling them to sell products online 24/7, integrated with Fred's inventory and pricing systems.
- Advantage Pharmacy GroupminorAdvantage Pharmacy Group engaged Fred to implement Fred NXT throughout its national network of company-owned stores, acting as a channel partner that drives adoption of Fred solutions across its member pharmacies.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fred IT Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- StrongRoom AI: StrongRoom provides AI-driven pharmacy analytics and controlled drug registers integrated with Fred. It is an emerging niche player in the pharmacy AI/analytics space that overlaps with Fred's data-driven features.
- MedAdvisor Solutions: MedAdvisor provides patient-facing medication adherence and eScript wallet tools integrated with Fred Dispense. While it partners with Fred, its PlusOne platform competes for adjacent pharmacy workflow budgets and is trusted by 2 million+ patients.
Broad incumbents
- Epic Systems: Epic Systems is a leading global health IT vendor for large health systems. It operates broadly in healthcare IT with overlapping medication management and ePrescription capabilities, though not in the community pharmacy niche Fred dominates.
- Oracle Health (formerly Cerner): Oracle Health is a large global health IT vendor serving hospitals and health systems. While it does not specialize in community pharmacy, its broader eHealth and medication management capabilities overlap with Fred's hospital/ADF-facing offerings.
Direct peers
- MINFOS: MINFOS is one of Australia's largest pharmacy software providers, offering dispensing, POS, and head office solutions to community pharmacies. It directly competes with Fred IT Group across the same pharmacy customer base in Australia.
- PDL (Pharmaceutical Defence Limited) certified dispensing software vendors: PDL certifies dispensing software vendors in Australia to support error reduction. Fred's competitors (e.g., Amfac, McCoss) are also PDL-certified and operate in the same niche pharmacy software category.
- Z Software (Australia): Z Software provides pharmacy management and dispensing software to Australian community pharmacies. It is a direct competitor in the same product category with comparable functionality for SMB pharmacy customers.
Others
- Telstra Health: Telstra Health is the parent company of Fred IT Group following the May 2024 acquisition. It provides broader digital health solutions to hospitals, GPs, and consumers, serving as both Fred's owner and an adjacent digital health platform relevant to Fred's expansion thesis.
Regional players
- RxOne (Australia / New Zealand): RxOne provides pharmacy dispensing and management software across Australia and New Zealand. It is functionally similar to Fred Dispense but operates with a regional focus in the trans-Tasman pharmacy market.
- Toniq: Toniq is a leading pharmacy software provider in New Zealand offering dispensing, retail, and head office solutions. While it does not directly compete in Australia, it serves a comparable pharmacy vertical with similar products to Fred.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fred IT Group social profiles
Digital presenceFred IT Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Fred IT Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fred IT Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Fred IT Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Fred IT Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fred IT Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fred IT Group
What does Fred IT Group do?
Fred IT Group develops, licenses, and supports an integrated suite of pharmacy management software (dispensing, point-of-sale, back-office, multi-store headquarters), electronic prescription exchange services (eRx Script Exchange), and managed IT services including cyber security, data backup, anti-virus, managed server support, and pharmacy hardware supply for community pharmacies and enterprise pharmacy groups across Australia.
Is Fred IT Group a public or private company?
Fred IT Group is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Fred IT Group founded?
Fred IT Group was founded in 1992. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Fred IT Group based?
Fred IT Group is headquartered in Abbotsford, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Fred IT Group make money?
Eight revenue lines are on record. Pharmacy Dispensing Software Licenses are the primary driver. The others are managed Cyber Security Services, managed Data Backup Services, managed Server Services, anti-Virus Services, hardware Sales, product Training Services and fred Marketplace Partner Commissions.
Who are Fred IT Group's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are StrongRoom AI and MedAdvisor Solutions. Broad incumbents are Epic Systems and Oracle Health (formerly Cerner). Direct peers are MINFOS, PDL (Pharmaceutical Defence Limited) certified dispensing software vendors and Z Software (Australia). Telstra Health is listed as an others. Regional players are RxOne (Australia / New Zealand) and Toniq.
Does Fred IT Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fred IT Group.
What industry is Fred IT Group in?
Fred IT Group's product category is Pharmacy Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLACAKAG, Specialty Pharmacy & Complex Therapy Management Platforms, with a secondary code of HLALAIAB, Provider/Health-System Telehealth + In-House/Owned Pharmacy Integration. Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 8741.