Provet Cloud (formerly Provet) is a Finnish-developed cloud PIMS used by practices across the UK. It has strengths in multi-site management and cloud accessibility. It also has consistent user complaints about customer support, financial reporting accuracy, and features that were promised during the sales process but did not materialise after launch. If your practice is considering alternatives, here is what the UK market offers.
The complaints that drive practices away from Provet Cloud tend to cluster around three areas:
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A New Zealand-developed, cloud-based PIMS with a strong UK presence. ezyVet is widely regarded as the most feature-complete cloud veterinary software available, with comprehensive clinical records, inventory management, automated billing, lab integrations (IDEXX, Zoetis), and detailed financial reporting. The interface is complex, and the learning curve is steep, but practices that invest in the setup describe it as powerful.
Pricing is quote-based and generally positioned at the higher end of the market. Best suited to medium to large practices and multi-site groups that need enterprise-level features and can absorb the setup time.
A UK-developed PIMS with a heritage stretching back decades. Merlin offers client and patient management, appointment scheduling, invoicing, stock control, and integration with major UK lab services and pharmaceutical suppliers. It is familiar to many UK vets and has a well-established support team.
Merlin has a more traditional interface than the newer cloud platforms, which some practices prefer for speed and others find dated. Best suited to single-site or small multi-site practices wanting established UK support.
A comprehensive UK PIMS now under the Covetrus umbrella. RoboVet handles scheduling, clinical records, billing, pharmaceutical supplier integration, and stock management. Its strength is in dispensing workflows and pharmaceutical management, which reflects Covetrus's supply chain background.
The Covetrus acquisition brings vendor consolidation concerns similar to those in other verticals (IDEXX in vet software, TELUS in farm software). Best suited to practices that value strong dispensing and supply chain integration.
A cloud-based UK PIMS focused on simplicity and mobile accessibility. VetIT offers appointment scheduling, billing, stock control, and client engagement features, with a mobile app that works offline for house calls and farm visits. The interface is cleaner and simpler than ezyVet or RoboVet.
Best suited to independent practices and ambulatory/mixed practices that need mobile functionality without enterprise complexity.
The newest entrant, built by veterinarians with an AI-first approach. Shepherd focuses on reducing administrative burden through automation: AI-assisted clinical notes, automated reminders, and streamlined workflows. It is cloud-based with a modern, clean interface.
Best suited to practices that want to reduce vet burnout through automation and are comfortable with a newer platform that is still building its feature set.
| Platform | Type | UK Support | Lab Integration | Multi-Site | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ezyVet | Cloud | Yes (24/7) | IDEXX, Zoetis | Strong | Most comprehensive feature set |
| Merlin | Cloud/Server | Yes (UK team) | UK labs | Moderate | UK heritage, familiar to UK vets |
| RoboVet | Cloud/Server | Yes | Covetrus supply chain | Strong | Dispensing and pharmaceutical management |
| VetIT | Cloud | Yes | Major UK labs | Basic | Mobile app, offline capability |
| Shepherd | Cloud | Yes | Building | Basic | AI automation, modern interface |
| Bespoke (ESRE) | Cloud | Yes (UK-based) | Any (built to spec) | Built to spec | Ownership, no per-vet fees |
The Competition and Markets Authority is actively reviewing the UK veterinary market (2025-26), examining pricing transparency, corporate consolidation, and the relationship between software vendors, pharmaceutical suppliers, and practice groups. The review has increased scrutiny on vendor lock-in and data portability. For practices evaluating software, it is worth asking: if you decide to switch in two years, can you export your clinical records in a usable format? Full CMA compliance guide.
For practice groups running 3+ sites, the per-vet pricing model of off-the-shelf PIMS platforms becomes a significant ongoing cost. A group with 15 vets across four sites can spend £3,000-£10,000 per month on software subscriptions, which totals £180,000-£600,000 over five years.
A bespoke practice management system built around how your group actually operates eliminates per-vet fees permanently. It integrates with whichever lab services, pharmaceutical suppliers, and payment systems your practices use, without being tied to a single vendor's ecosystem. The clinical data belongs to the practice, not the software company.
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