In the Internet of Things ecosystem, every “thing” is geared up with a tiny sensor, microchips, UID’s that permit devices, physical objects things, and systems to intelligently interact with other objects and systems within the IoT environment. By enforcing IoT platforms, solutions, and services pharmaceutical companies can digitize and connect vital functions, elevate efficiencies, and assure product quality and compliance.

Pharma sector and life sciences industries generally require progressive technologies to take part and adapt to the worldwide market share and trends.  Pharmaceutical and bioscience organizations invest more time, effort, and capital for the digitalization of their business. By 2020, it was estimated that there were over 5 billion connected devices, and in five years, 80% of companies are expected to utilize IoT in their digitized firms.

Last year ended itself with 4 billion internet users worldwide, while IoT includes 7 billion devices, which is expected to reach 10 billion connected devices by the end of 2021. On the other hand In India as of January 2021, there was 1.10 billion mobile connection which was equivalent to 79.0% of the overall fattening population. IoT revolutionizes the pharmaceutical sector by providing and automating pharmaceutical manufacturing, the discovery of drugs and remote monitoring of patients, and more.

Digitization holds tremendous future prospects to help pharma companies address various challenges.

Connecting Opportunities

To sustain the product standard, quality, and operational efficiencies, which, tops the long list of business preference for pharmaceuticals executives, who can usher in growth by improvising product assembly and supply chain performance? Capitalizing the key areas such as floor automation, electronic batch records, ERP, and warehouse management systems (WMS) have been made their mark to address these concerns, with varying degrees of success.

Each thing in the IoT system entitled as a node or junction in the virtual network – continually broadcasting data pertaining to such things as environmental and equipment conditions. These capabilities are altering peoples’ lives and building upon the competitive forces that drive business. Consider the automotive industry’s focus on connected cars and health care providers’ enthusiastic adoption of wearable devices, patient data centers, mapping the clinical trials.

Connected Equipment

Manufacturing in general performed in batch units and equipment is usually self-sufficient. But, readily accessible data to make an informed decision for improving OEE (overall equipment effectiveness) in the area such as scheduling batches, cleansing, and maintenance, etc are still a few shortcomings for current industry solutions.

Suitably managed connected devices often offer significant value to businesses, from improved decision-making using robust and accurate data, bottom-line savings via greater efficiencies in energy consumption and other costs, to improved safety and security through real-time tracking and monitoring. In this case, through connected equipment and data center health system can make help predict major health risks and condition before it happens,

Internet of Things in Pharmaceutical manufacturing

Companies integrate the most advanced technology and IT systems, the process is scanned by predefined multiple dedicated systems. Companies utilize the most advanced technology and information systems. The process is monitored by multiple dedicated IT systems, some of which are centralized. Whereas, some systems are local systems that do not always cover everything needed for quality manufacturing in a heavily regulated industry.

IoT- PM has the power to radically change how pharmaceutical manufacturing plant operates. Itgives access to the manufacturing activities to be monitored from any remote location at any given point in time. Thus the real-time monitoring enables minimizing waste, increasing equipment utilization, and lowering production costs.

Added Perks

IoT added perks are immense and use the power of data and computation prowess. This generates valuable insights into the plant workflow, keeps track, and manages the equipment performance much ahead of breakdown. IoT steers the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector towards a  paperless environment with lesser manpower, and even the introduction of new trends such as e-prescription.

IoT implementation would make a fundamental shift towards outcome-based targeted therapies which to be performed by individualized production methods. Thirty percent of the top 20 pharma companies have adopted IoT technologies in their manufacturing process wherever possible.

Conclusion

Looking Ahead In virtually every industry, advances in digital technologies are redefining how enterprises conduct business – internally, with external stakeholders, and in the marketplace. The ubiquity of mobile computing, the dominance of social media, and a growing portfolio of smart products and capabilities provide real-time, actionable intelligence at a pace that continues to increase. Enterprises must constantly innovate and utilize emerging technologies to remain relevant, competitive, and profitable.

For pharmaceuticals companies, the Internet of Things extends visibility in virtually every area of the business – from development to manufacturing, transport, distribution, dispensing, and consumption. Real-time information, when coupled with advanced analytics engines, can become the basis for making faster, more accurate decisions; heightening efficiencies, verifying product quality, and assuring regulatory compliance.

By Amit Singh, CEO, Teliolabs