How can life sciences companies unlock the most value to deliver more effective treatments to patients and meaningful insights to healthcare providers (HCPs)? The answer lies within the cloud and their people.

Companies have been turning to the cloud to generate greater speed to market, increased agility to innovate, and generate relevant analytics across the value chain. COVID-19 only accelerated their planned digital transformation timelines from three years or more to 12-18 months. 

Overnight, employees pivoted to operating and collaborating entirely virtually. In fact, 92% of life sciences executives agreed that their organization faced the largest and fastest human behavioral change in history due to COVID-19.  

With only 64% of employees (non-IT/non-technical) moderately ready to leverage the technology tools provided to them, how can leaders tap into the value from their cloud investments?  

Change enablement professionals have a unique opportunity to support their clients on their cloud journey and realize their vision through the power of people. 

Five obstacles to cloud adoption in life sciences:

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 1

Competition for talent with other industries, particularly tech giants and startups, leaves the industry at a disadvantage to access the best human capital. 

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 2

Margin decline is so slow that it can be hard to see or be considered alarming, especially when profitability is still high compared to other industries. 

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3

Individual data silos, different systems and security concerns across the value chain add complexity and risk to the move to cloud. 

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 4

Different groups hold responsibility and budget for digital, cloud and ecosystem collaboration – resulting in multiple stakeholders with different incentives and ways of measuring success. 

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 5

Regulatory policies are slow and complex whereas new IT methods that cloud enable are agile and faster. They require a new approach for regulatory approval, many of which are still in development. 

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Three “A”’s to change 

Alignment and partnership between IT and the business is critical to realize growth and innovation. Prioritizing a cloud-first culture starts with leaders. Visioning sessions across IT and the business create alignment on the key outcomes and holistic objectives. Working together to remove barriers (not only between leaders, but among employees) while also advancing business objectives in the cloud.  

Adoption of cloud technology means embracing new mindsets, behaviors and ways of working (including working locations). An agile operating model that promotes collaboration and ongoing innovation provides open, easy access to people and data. This empowers employees to make faster, smarter decisions and take risks or even (dare we say) fail.  

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99% of life sciences execs said that access to powerful technology capabilities enables every employee to be an active, vital part of the digital transformation effort. 

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An able workforce that is prepared and skilled to adopt to these new, harmonized ways of working can improve speed to market for new drugs, therapies, and treatments across the connected life sciences ecosystem. 90% of industry execs agreed that their organization must train their people to think like technologists - to use and customize technology solutions at the individual level, but without highly technical skills.  

When alignment, ability, and adoption collide, life sciences companies are better equipped to deliver transformative therapies, positive patient experiences and meaningful outcomes based on data, insights and analytics.  

Creating true value through our people 

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Accenture helped a large life sciences organization move to a COVID-19 home-care app. Patients would use the app to track and monitor their symptoms.  

Empowered by cloud technology, HCPs could then review the insights and utilize predictive analytics to admit patients to the hospital only when critically necessary, a move that helped reduce overflow in hospitals.  

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Access to critical patient information at the right time  is a direct example of how data and analytics can deliver a better experience for patients and HCPs, globally.

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Now more than ever, life sciences leaders recognize the need for a bold vision, C-Suite conviction and energized, prepared talent that together can ignite change for patients, HCPs, and employees. 

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Geoff Schmidt

Managing Director – Cloud First, Life Sciences


Shira Macagon

Senior Manager – Life Sciences Cloud First Talent and Organization Lead

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