When to use this guide: To quickly find any medicine in your stock, or to suggest an alternative medicine (substitute) when the customer's brand is out of stock.
5 Easy Ways to Search for a Medicine
Press F1 to start searching. You can type any of the following into the search bar:
| What you type | Example | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine Name | augm | Shows Augmentin 625 Duo |
| Salt / Composition | paracetamol | Shows all medicines containing Paracetamol |
| Company / Brand | cipla | Shows all medicines manufactured by Cipla |
| Barcode Scan | Scan with barcode reader | Instantly picks the scanned item |
| Short Code / Alias | pcm | Instantly finds Paracetamol 500mg |
In the picture above, 1 is what was typed — just cro was enough. Every result then tells you three things at a glance: 2 the salt and the company, so you can see what the medicine actually is and who makes it, and 3 the MRP and how many strips you have.
Note: You don't have to worry about exact spelling — BitMed handles small spelling mistakes automatically and still shows matching medicines.
Finding Substitutes (Same Salt & Same Strength)
If a customer asks for a medicine that is out of stock (or wants a lower-cost alternative), you can quickly find an exact substitute.
Steps to Find Substitutes:
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Highlight the item in your search results or bill items table.
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Press F8 on your keyboard (or click Substitutes).
In the picture above, 1 shows which medicine and which salt BitMed is matching on, 2 is the list of alternatives with the company, your stock and the MRP of each, and 3 is the keys you can use in this window.
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BitMed will display medicines with the exact same salt composition and strength along with their current available stock and MRP. (For example, if you search for a 500mg medicine, it will only suggest 500mg alternatives).
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Select the substitute the customer agrees on, and press Enter — it will replace the item on your bill instantly.
Faster still: the numbers down the left of the list are quick picks. Press 1 to 9 to replace the item with that substitute straight away, without arrowing down to it first. Esc closes the window and leaves the bill untouched.
Good to Know
- Salable Stock Only: The stock number shown in search results only counts usable stock — expired batches are automatically excluded.
- Rack Location: If you have set up racks in your store, the rack number shows right next to the medicine name so you can retrieve it from the shelf instantly.