The best practice software for vets 2026

1. Cost structure

Examine the total cost of the software, including licence fees, implementation costs, training costs and any recurring charges.

Establish whether it is a one-off payment or a subscription fee, and how that affects your budget in the long run.

2. Functions

Make sure the software offers every function your veterinary practice or animal hospital needs. That includes an intuitive interface, records for both animal and owner, a clear agenda, treatment documentation, billing functionality, the in-house pharmacy with stock management, and vaccination and appointment reminders.

3. Infrastructure

Establish which PC infrastructure the practice software runs on. Is it a locally installed solution or a cloud solution?

If it is a locally installed solution, further consideration of security (firewall), backups and resilience is necessary. Establish as well which operating systems are supported.

If it is a cloud solution, internet speed and resilience are of major importance.

4. Scalability

Check whether the software is scalable as your practice grows. Do you intend to increase the number of staff and/or the number of sites in future? Do you want to bring in further specialists? Are those requirements supported?

You should make sure the software can still meet your requirements in future, because switching always comes at a high cost.

5. Integration with existing and future systems

If you use, or want to use, other systems (accounting software, X-ray equipment, laboratory devices, online appointment booking and so on), you should make sure the new software can be integrated seamlessly, to avoid entering data twice and running into compatibility problems.

6. Connect interfaces

Establish which communication interfaces the software has.

Can the software receive and send data? Is the communication compliant with data protection law?

Does the software have a Unomed interface, through which you can communicate simply and lawfully with your team, your patients and your network?

7. Training and support

Take into account the training costs for your team, to make sure every member of staff can use the software effectively.

Examine the software's support options, in terms of response time, hours of availability and cost.

If the worst happens, you want support as quickly as possible, so the practice can keep running.

8. Updates and maintenance

Find out about the cost and the schedule of software updates and maintenance services.

Are software updates included in the price or do they have to be paid for separately?

Cloud-based solutions offered on the SaaS model have the advantage that you always get the latest version and never have to deal with updates.

9. Data security and compliance

Make sure the software meets the data protection rules and security standards required for health data. Check in particular whether the data is encrypted in transit and at rest, whether it is transmitted securely and where it is stored. Is access protected by two-factor authentication? Establish as well which data is left behind on the end device and whether a “ zero footprint solution ” is part of the product. Is access logged?

10. References and ratings

Where you can, read the ratings of other users of the software. Ask for references and speak directly with other practices about their experience.

Take the time to assess your future practice software in live operation. That can save you a lot of trouble later on.

11. Requirements specific to your country

Consider local software. That way you make sure the statutory requirements and standards applicable in your country are met. In particular, data protection laws are not uniform internationally. The new Swiss Data Protection Act has fortunately been aligned with the European GDPR. Outside the EU, however, the legal position can differ considerably, which makes the corresponding solutions carry significant risk.

12. Long-term cost-benefit analysis

Carry out a cost-benefit analysis to make sure the software supports the profitability of your practice.

If your software supports the efficiency of your practice better than the alternative, then in most cases the additional cost will pay for itself quickly.