HVMS vs Merlin: Veterinary Software Compared
A side-by-side look at HVMS and Merlin. See how these veterinary practice management systems compare on features, deployment, and Puppilot sync support.
HVMS On-Premise
Merlin Hybrid
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
How HVMS and Merlin stack up across 26 core capabilities
| Feature | HVMS | Merlin |
|---|---|---|
| EMR / Medical Records Core Clinical | ✓ | ✓ |
| SOAP Notes Core Clinical | ✗ | ✗ |
| AI SOAP / Transcription Core Clinical | ✗ | ✗ |
| Treatment Sheets / Whiteboard Core Clinical | ✗ | ✗ |
| Prescription Management Core Clinical | ✗ | ✗ |
| Digital Imaging / DICOM Core Clinical | ✗ | ✗ |
| Controlled Substance Logging Core Clinical | ✗ | ✗ |
| Appointment Scheduling Scheduling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Online Booking (Client Self-Service) Scheduling | ✗ | ✗ |
| Boarding / Hospitalization Scheduling | ✗ | ✗ |
| Inventory Management Financial | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invoicing & Billing Financial | ✓ | ✗ |
| Payment Processing Financial | ✗ | ✗ |
| Wellness Plans Financial | ✗ | ✗ |
| Client Communication (Reminders) Client Engagement | ✗ | ✗ |
| 2-Way Messaging / Texting Client Engagement | ✗ | ✗ |
| Client Portal / App Client Engagement | ✗ | ✗ |
| Telemedicine / Video Client Engagement | ✗ | ✗ |
| Reporting & Analytics Operations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Location Support Operations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile App / Access Operations | ✗ | ✗ |
| Digital Forms (Intake/Consent) Operations | ✗ | ✗ |
| IDEXX Lab Connection Lab Connections | ✓ | ✗ |
| Antech Lab Connection Lab Connections | ✓ | ✗ |
| Heska Lab Connection Lab Connections | ✗ | ✗ |
| IDEXX Web PACS Imaging Lab Connections | ✗ | ✗ |
Strengths & Weaknesses
HVMS
Merlin
Puppilot Syncs with Both
Whether your clinic runs HVMS or Merlin, Puppilot's AI phone answering service syncs directly with your practice management system to answer calls with real patient context. Learn more about how Puppilot works with HVMS and Merlin.
Puppilot + HVMS Full Sync
Reads: Patient records, appointment schedule, medical history, medications, client info
Writes: Appointment booking, call notes, follow-up tasks
Connection: Direct database connection (on-premise server)
Setup: Days
Puppilot + Merlin Full Sync
Reads: Patient records, appointment schedule, medical history, medications, client info
Writes: Appointment booking, call notes, follow-up tasks
Connection: Cloud API or direct database connection
Setup: Days
Frequently Asked Questions
HVMS is HVMS: on-premise, multi-location support. Merlin is Merlin: cloud-based. The best choice depends on your clinic's size, specialty, and workflow preferences.
It depends on your priorities. HVMS is best for Larger practices and hospitals looking for a on-premise practice management system. Merlin is best for Practices of any size looking for a cloud practice management system. Consider factors like your budget, whether you prefer cloud or on-premise, and which lab systems you use.
Yes. Puppilot syncs with both HVMS and Merlin, providing AI-powered phone answering that reads patient records and appointment data directly from either system.
Yes, data migration between HVMS and Merlin is possible, though it typically requires careful planning and may involve a third-party migration service. Your Puppilot service would continue working seamlessly through the switch.