Artificial Intelligence is the basic component when it comes to information technology. It has in it several critical capabilities, right from automating the supply chain to helping machine learning and robots to perform operations. That said, everything AI gets to learn comes from the sets of data that it happens to be exposed to. AI happens to be widely and consistently used in Pharma, right from predicting behaviour to analysing and reading the sensors faster.
It is well to be noted that Intelligent Automation- IA can be considered a pillar of AI. Organisations like hospital networks and also warehouses typically make use of it sparingly so as to come up with work processes or also use learning abilities to predict customer needs. Although IA happens to be programmed with built-in logic, it also gets to learn as it is executed. Apparently, the more intelligent and effective automation gets used, the better the results. Executing IA happens to be transformative for pharma organisations, especially in
- Offering real-time visibility throughout the supply chain
- Cost reduction
- Elevating efficiency as well as precision
- Eradicating bottlenecks
- Enhancing compliance
- Helping quality control be seamless
Pharma executives happen to be increasingly inclined towards potential benefits when it comes to IA. PwC, in a recent survey, found that 79% of pharma executives happen to believe that intelligent automation will prominently have an impact on their sector in the coming five years.
Intelligent Automation Value in the Pharma Supply Chain: A Case Study
At the recent LogiPharma EU 2023 expo, a fireside chat between Tomas Fant, Head of Temperature-Controlled Logistics Projects for Pfizer, and Martin Thaysen, the CCO of Controlant, went on to cover a host of topics, including AI vs. IA in pharma.
Intelligent Automation happens to be an exciting proposition, especially for the leaders in the pharma supply chain, and Thaysen asked if the sector is on the verge of a phenomenal shift in the way things are executed with regards to automation. Fant opines that they have to walk before they run. They still have numerous processes that happen to be paper processes that have been just scanned into a digital format, but they aren’t actually the entire databases, which are interconnected or are being in a smart form, and as a matter of fact, they do see that pharma has silos with the data and varied elements of it.
Fant went on to add that there is still a lot of groundwork that needs to be completed, which is indeed going to bring immense value. So, it is not going to be artificial intelligence, but intelligent automation before that. They are now at the stage of maturity where they can go on to automate numerous steps and can do that in parallel while also having an open mind for artificial intelligence as well as other advanced technologies.
Intelligent automation can actually be a game-changer in case of supply chain management. IA solutions can be used to manage the pharma supply chain, right from raw materials to finished goods.
It can also go on to provide novel ways for inventory level optimisation, supplier management, track as well as trace products and also streamline the transportation management. By making use of these technologies, manufacturers can go on to enhance productivity as well as efficiency, lessen costs, and elevate patient outcomes.
It is well to be noted that finding the exact platform is very important as pharma companies look to have solutions that work towards more auto-driven processes. Intelligent automation will play a crucial role when it comes to streamlining operations.
