Reinventing pharma operations: Embracing multi-resource planning technology

In the fast-paced and ever-changing pharmaceutical industry, stakeholders face a critical challenge: resolving the productivity drain caused by operational planning within rapidly evolving departmental environments. While multi-type resource management remains essential, inflexible legacy systems have often hindered it, sabotaging the quest for better communication and efficiency.

After the intense industry challenges experienced during the pandemic, significant lessons were learned. A 2022 survey of industry executives reported that 80% of respondents believe companies will embrace more agile working methods, and 70% feel that organisational structures within pharma must be simplified. These figures reinforce the point that technology which supports operational needs, reduces database administration, and improves company-wide communication is critical.

A drastic reinvention of resource planning, assignment, and scheduling is imperative to optimise capabilities and revolutionise departmental functionality. Investing in technology is vital to assist administration, enabling pharmaceutical companies to navigate staff shortages, strikes, supply chain disruptions, and other uncertainties while maintaining operational success. By prioritising the right technology, pharma stakeholders can streamline services, foster collaboration between hospitals, pharmacies, and other healthcare modalities, and ultimately enhance patient care.

Addressing the productivity drain

Operational planning has been a longstanding concern for pharmaceutical stakeholders, as it can significantly impact productivity and resource utilisation. Legacy systems that lack flexibility limit the ability to manage multiple resource types, wasting time and impacting productivity from the outset.

Enterprise technology has historically suffered from a lack of seamless usability that hinders fast and effective operational management, and crucial data has remained fixed within spreadsheets due to a lack of efficient alternatives. When designing technology for business and medical environments, the capabilities of consumer technology should guide developers. There is a vast gap between the technology people in many industries use in the workplace and the devices they use outside of the workplace. When the device in your pocket is intuitive, adaptive, responsive, and allows interactivity and a convenient flow of data that can be shared instantly, it is frustrating to encounter cumbersome interfaces, hardwired processes, and siloed systems.

In vital services such as healthcare, technology that drains efficiency has a much more severe impact than employee frustration. When data is confined within spreadsheets that must be manually updated as changes occur, communication and accessibility across departments suffer, ultimately leading to repercussions on patient care.

Embracing multi-resource planning technology can mark a significant shift, offering dynamic solutions that adapt to rapidly changing departmental environments. By eliminating the productivity drain, pharma companies can focus on core objectives, from drug development to clinical trials, without unnecessary hindrances.

Revolutionising resource management

The pharmaceutical industry’s diverse resource requirements demand an innovative approach to resource management. Through technological solutions designed to enable digital transformation, pharma will be empowered for success. Multi-resource planning technology presents a radical reinvention, enabling efficient planning, assignment, and scheduling of personnel, equipment, and materials. This transformative capability optimises departmental functionality and unlocks untapped potential.

With streamlined resource allocation, pharma stakeholders can maximise available resources, minimising disruptions and enhancing productivity during challenging times. An event such as COVID-19 was unexpected. Still, it demonstrated that managing resources must provide a holistic view of resources and take advantage of the latest technologies to enhance visibility for key stakeholders and remove complications. In or outside of a global pandemic, a platform where all resources can be catalogued, viewed, and organised with the familiar drag-and-drop motion within one interface is game-changing.

Navigating uncertain environments

Pharmaceutical operations often face turbulent environments characterised by staff shortages, economic instability, and supply chain disruptions. They must also be prepared for emergency health events – potentially globally. Investing in technology that can assist administration becomes crucial to successfully support healthcare teams through uncertain periods and weather these strains.

The old systems have been effective, but can easily break down when rapid change occurs, the personnel that manage them are unavailable, or pressure suddenly overwhelms these processes. When a traditional planning and scheduling system for people, locations, and equipment must be overhauled due to an unexpected change, time and resources are lost responding to it. During such events, the operational system should support personnel, not add to the workload.

Multi-resource planning technology empowers pharmaceutical companies with real-time insights into resource availability, allowing them to adapt swiftly to unforeseen challenges. With enhanced agility, pharma stakeholders can effectively manage crises and maintain operations, safeguarding the continuity of patient care and employee wellbeing.

Streamlining services through collaboration

Collaboration between hospitals, pharmacies, and other healthcare modalities is vital to improving patient care and treatment outcomes. The last few years have outlined why it is key to have collaborative systems in place to prepare for any eventuality. More robust planning technology serves as a catalyst for fostering such collaboration. By providing a unified platform for seamless communication and resource visibility, this technology can enable different entities to work together effectively. This streamlined approach optimises the entire healthcare ecosystem and sets the tone for the future of pharma operations.

The necessity for effective resource planning and allocation in a rapidly evolving pharmaceutical landscape cannot be overstated. By embracing multi-resource planning technology, pharma stakeholders can address the productivity drain, revolutionise departmental functionality, and quickly navigate uncertain environments. This investment in technology streamlines services and encourages collaboration across healthcare services, ultimately leading to improved patient care.

As the industry evolves, companies prioritising the right technology to assist administration will be better equipped to thrive amidst challenges, ensuring success in drug development, clinical trials, and healthcare delivery. With multi-resource planning technology at their disposal, pharmaceutical professionals can unlock the industry’s true potential, revolutionising patient care and transforming the future of healthcare.

Stephane Bensoussan is the head of operations at dizmo and the product owner of Planisy, the latest product powered by dizmo’s technology. Through his extensive industrial and technical background, Bensoussan brings over 30 years of experience working in high-tech environments across marketing, sales, business development, operations, strategic partnerships, and R&D. He is a cross-disciplinary individual who has the ability to bring new innovations to the market.

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Reinventing pharma operations: Embracing multi-resource planning technology

Addressing the productivity drain

Revolutionising resource management

Navigating uncertain environments

Streamlining services through collaboration

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