How Supply Chain Visibility Can Change the Face of Clinical Trials
HOW SUPPLY CHAIN VISIBILITY CAN CHANGE THE FACE OF CLINICAL TRIALS
October 2012
When it comes to clinical trials, many pharmaceutical companies seem to be lacking something. Opportunities to make financial and time saving benefits are not being taken. And yet easy to initiate solutions are now available that can affect genuine change. Often discussed but rarely seen in action, clinical trials supply chain visibility looks set to significantly improve the entire clinical trials process. Everything from overcoming forecasting challenges and dealing with regulatory complexity, right through to enhancing the returns process will be affected for the better. When it comes to supply chains, information truly is power.
Greater access to more reliable data through the use of visibility tools stands to benefit all of the numerous stakeholders involved in clinical trials. These advantages will be felt far beyond those in supply chain roles alone. At present though, investment in such tools is relatively rare, even when their benefits are well known amongst clinical trials professionals. This stems from an acceptance of limitations of current solutions, a perceived lack of feasibility or perceived high cost. Having the foresight to invest in the proper visibility of every aspect of a clinical supply chain can make an impact on time-to-market, on cost savings and on efficiency too.
About this report
This report was commissioned by DHL Supply Chain, with original research undertaken by FreshMinds, an independent research agency in autumn 2011. In depth qualitative interviews were carried out with seven external clinical supply chain experts and six internal DHL experts. All external experts have anonymised titles that closely match their role, whereas DHL experts are named. For further information on any aspect of this report, please contact DHL using the details provided at the end of the report.
One of the most serious is the loss of supply chain agility; an
October 2012
When it comes to clinical trials, many pharmaceutical companies seem to be lacking something. Opportunities to make financial and time saving benefits are not being taken. And yet easy to initiate solutions are now available that can affect genuine change. Often discussed but rarely seen in action, clinical trials supply chain visibility looks set to significantly improve the entire clinical trials process. Everything from overcoming forecasting challenges and dealing with regulatory complexity, right through to enhancing the returns process will be affected for the better. When it comes to supply chains, information truly is power.
Greater access to more reliable data through the use of visibility tools stands to benefit all of the numerous stakeholders involved in clinical trials. These advantages will be felt far beyond those in supply chain roles alone. At present though, investment in such tools is relatively rare, even when their benefits are well known amongst clinical trials professionals. This stems from an acceptance of limitations of current solutions, a perceived lack of feasibility or perceived high cost. Having the foresight to invest in the proper visibility of every aspect of a clinical supply chain can make an impact on time-to-market, on cost savings and on efficiency too.
About this report
This report was commissioned by DHL Supply Chain, with original research undertaken by FreshMinds, an independent research agency in autumn 2011. In depth qualitative interviews were carried out with seven external clinical supply chain experts and six internal DHL experts. All external experts have anonymised titles that closely match their role, whereas DHL experts are named. For further information on any aspect of this report, please contact DHL using the details provided at the end of the report.
One of the most serious is the loss of supply chain agility; an