This is Part 3 of our 3-part blog series based on the ARC Advisory Group whitepaper, “Digital Transformation of the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industries.” We’ve added a brief commentary about the 3DEXPERIENCE vision of how data analytics is driving the future of business transformation in these two key industries.
Previously in Part 2 we examined how the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology industries are using data analytics to speed up innovation. Now let’s look at some critical initiatives that are currently underway.
Critical Digital Transformation Initiatives
The main challenge of digital transformation is determining how to balance and prioritize the many organizational areas, technologies, and systems that will all need to be transformed. Some pharmaceutical and biotech companies face disruptive challenges from top to bottom, inside and out. In addition to substantial changes in products and services (such as for personalized medicines), companies in this sector should expect a series of transformational changes in their technologies, culture and organizational structure, business systems, corporate culture, IT, engineering and design systems, and production systems.
Pharma and biotech manufacturers should recognize that digital transformation extends to their culture, people, documentation, regulatory compliance, product quality, assets, supply chain, business processes, operations, lifecycle services, and even patients. In the future, pharmaceutical companies undergoing a digital transformation will store more data in the cloud and mine the Big Data using machine learning and artificial intelligence to identify patterns and behaviors that were not apparent previously. This will extend from research to clinical trials to manufacturing to the supply chain and right out to the patient. All will provide better patient outcomes. Eventually some manufacturing processes will be autonomously validated, tested, and operated.
A majority of pharmaceutical and biotech executives maintain that the digital transformation and a smart, connected-sensor environment in factory production systems are important to their competitiveness. These executives understand the value from the transformation starting with research and clinical trials through manufacturing and support. Additionally, new supplier service offerings will enable pharmaceutical companies to focus on what they do best.
[Excerpt from the ARC Advisory Group whitepaper, “Digital Transformation of the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industries.”]
Recommendations
ARC believes that many pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and medical device manufacturers could realize significant benefits from digital transformation. But this will require implementing new business, manufacturing, and work processes; new digital solutions; and advanced automation technologies that interoperate effectively.
Processes should be reviewed for production innovation whether moving from batch to continuous manufacturing, to batches of one, or additive manufacturing. Data connectivity, interoperability, MES, digital twins, process simulation, augmented reality, advanced analytics, and AI (including ML) will be applied in ways that improve products, increase efficiencies, support delivery of new therapeutics and drugs, and provide other benefits.
If you have not already started investigating these types of manufacturing approaches and technology solutions, ARC recommends that you assess your current “as-is” state from both the technology and cultural perspectives, determine your digitally enabled “to-be” state, and then carefully develop and execute a strategic plan that reflects the need for continuous improvement.
[Excerpt from the ARC Advisory Group whitepaper, “Digital Transformation of the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industries.”]
3DEXPERIENCE Commentary
Digital transformation in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries requires new solutions to break down data silos, analyze real-time information and collaborate with colleagues instantaneously—all in one platform. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform delivers all these capabilities in one. By adding a scientifically aware search and analytics layer on top, pharma and biotech enterprises can uncover more value from their data, speeding innovation and unlocking key breakthroughs.
Scientific Intelligence on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform delivers:
- Dashboards –Visually interpret trial results and improve transparency into operations
- Search & Real-Time Analytics –access your corporate memory and keep all relevant experimental data at your fingertips
- Machine Learning & AI –Provide timely and actionable insights to the organization
- Collaborative Applications –Share relevant expertise and standardize best practices across teams
Scientific Intelligence portfolio connects people, data and processes to transform information into actionable knowledge.
Learn more about Scientific Intelligence on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
Part 1: Digital Transformation of Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Industries: Major Challenges
