The Life Sciences industry is being disrupted by a confluence of forces, including socioeconomic changes, scientific advancements and healthcare consumerization. As these forces come together and digital technologies advance at an unprecedented pace, Life Sciences organizations have an opportunity to fundamentally change the patient experience. Taking advantage of this opportunity requires a shift in focus from delivering volumes of products to delivering value for patients and healthcare systems.

Organizations must harness disruption by leveraging digital technologies to architect an intelligent Supply Chain that is smart, connected, learning and agile. Those who stand still, rather than pivot to new technologies to enable breakthrough Life Sciences Supply Chain capabilities, put themselves at risk of being unable to do the one thing that matters most: better serve their patients.

97%

of Life Sciences Supply Chain execs believe digital will enhance Supply Chain capabilities to get closer to patients.

73%

of Life Sciences Supply Chain execs believe the Supply Chain function in 2020 will be a customer service provider.

Digital technologies are enabling an intelligent Life Sciences Supply Chain that revolves around services with the potential to make a big impact.

Accenture research shows a wide range of digital technologies have been deployed across different Supply Chain functions, and Life Sciences organizations are seeing both strategic and operational gains. Executives, however, are limiting their value potential by applying a fragmented investment strategy as they dabble in digital technologies across the different Supply Chain functions with a very generalized focus on increasing efficiency. Are you limiting yours?

Our research indicates that there are opportunities for bigger value potential when investing in digital technologies across the Supply Chain. We are seeing the art of the possible through early digital adopters in Life Sciences Supply Chains:

  • Plan. Machine learning can be used to enable leading-edge supply/demand planning capabilities. Accenture helped a global pharmaceutical company establish a Supply Chain planning capability with enhanced business processes and advanced systems.
  • Make/build. Imagine the plants of the future with plant managers as connected colleagues managing entire networks of plants remotely—all the while enabling their physical presence remotely through the capabilities of AR and VR.
  • Fulfill/deliver. Drones can be used for cycle counting in enabling warehouse automation. Other examples of using new technologies to fulfill/deliver in the Supply Chain include IIoT for temperature tracking during delivery and Blockchain for serialization.

Understand the challenges in creating value with digital technologies. By anticipating them, you can determine a course to conquer them.

There can be effective alignment between business and technology leadership for investing in digital across the Supply Chain to create new capabilities and competitive differentiation. So, how can Life Sciences organizations begin to turn today’s business challenges into Supply Chain opportunities?

Carly L. Guenther

Managing Director – Life Sciences Supply Chain

Brad Pawlowski

Managing Director – Products Supply Chain

Matthew Pierson

Consulting Manager – Life Sciences Supply Chain

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