Prescription apps in the United States are experiencing growth, with the ePrescribing market expected to grow from $758.57 million in 2024 to $2.45 billion by 2030. This progress is being driven by cost savings, improved medication adherence, and the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and predictive analytics. The market is becoming more competitive, as tools like telehealth become more mainstream

Walgreens Boots Alliance and Sycamore Partners are reportedly discussing a deal that would see Walgreens sold to the private equity firm.A deal could be completed early next year, although the talks could fall apart first, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday (Dec. 10), citing unnamed sources.Reached by PYMNTS, a Walgreens spokesperson said the company does not comment on rumors or speculation about its business.Sycamore Partners declined to comment on the report.Walgreens, which operates more than 12,000 stores in the United States, Latin America and Europe, has been under pressure because of its acquisition of Alliance Boots and challenges facing the pharmacy business, according to the report.The firm’s shares have been heading downward for nearly a decade, and its market value has fallen from over $100 billion in 2015 to about $7.5 billion today, the report said.Sycamore Partners specializes in retail and consumer investments, per the report. One of its major deals was its $7 billion acquisition of Staples in 2017. Its current investments include clothing brands Hot Topic, Ann Taylor and Chico’s.Walgreens and other retail pharmacies face challenges to their traditional business models as consumer preferences turn to digital solutions and telehealth services, PYMNTS reported in October.A challenging consumer spending environment served as a main theme during Walgreens’ fourth-quarter earnings call Oct. 15.“The consumer may get stronger, but you wouldn’t count on it right now,” Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Tim Wentworth said during the call. “We’ve been realistic about the consumer.”The company’s footprint optimization program includes the closure of about 1,200 underperforming Walgreens stores in the next three years, with around 500 expected in the second half of fiscal 2025

Office supply retailer Staples now offers Klarna’s Pay Now, Pay in 4 and Financing options to customers shopping online at Staples.com. With these flexible payment options, customers can pay now, split their purchase into four interest-free payments or, for bigger buys, extend payments further, the companies said in a Friday (Nov. 15) press release. “This partnership with Klarna reflects our commitment to evolving with our customers’ needs by making their shopping experience even more accessible and allowing them to easily manage purchases without the pressure of upfront costs,” Staples Chief Digital Officer Mike Shady said in the release