In our latest whitepaper, we discussed how pharmaceutical distribution is completely transforming via commerce innovation. We shared the critical capabilities enabling pharmaceutical organizations to disrupt their markets through composable and headless architectures. The result: streamlined operations, enhanced customer service, expanded reach, data-driven insights and more.
What comes next? What can the pharmaceutical industry expect after embracing commerce innovation?
This post will take a look at just that. We’ll dig into:
- Pharmaceutical distribution predictions and how B2B commerce will introduce multifold benefits;
- Potential challenges the industry will face with regard to regulatory compliance and technology;
- How commerce platform features can be leveraged to win the market;
- How these tools will enhance the pharmaceutical distribution experience across customers, sales, and marketing.
Pharmaceutical Distribution Predictions
As innovation picks up across the pharmaceutical industry as it pertains to technology adoption and operations overhaul, distribution models will be required to adapt — and quickly. Cost-savings, increased efficiencies, and improved customer service are some of many benefits of implementing a B2B commerce platform to streamline pharmaceutical distribution. With the tools in place, how will we see pharmaceutical evolve?
First, we predict a rise in direct-to-consumer model adoption. We expect that some pharmaceutical companies will experiment with D2C distribution, particularly for over-the-counter products. With a DTC model, pharmaceuticals gains full control over both brand presentation and the customer experience. This results in inconsistent messaging, better storytelling, and enhanced customer engagement. Moreover, this model allows pharma to gather valuable data and insights about customer preferences, behaviors, and buying patterns, which can be used to refine products, develop targeted marketing strategies, and improve overall business decision-making.
Second, we predict to see an emergence of new technologies — namely AI, machine learning, and blockchain. These tools have the potential to streamline distribution processes and increase transparency. The pharmaceutical supply chain is complex, involving multiple parties - manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and pharmacies. Blockchain can provide a transparent and traceable record of every step in the supply chain, ensuring that the provenance and authenticity of drugs can be verified at any point, improving patient safety.
B2B Commerce Challenges in a Pharmaceutical Environment
As with any change across all sectors, pharmaceutical companies adopting B2B commerce platforms will need to navigate new normals. This can bring about several challenges due to the complex nature of the industry and the critical importance of safety, regulations, and patient well-being.
The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated to ensure patient safety and drug efficacy. Introducing new technology requires aligning with existing regulations and gaining approvals from regulatory bodies. The approval process can be time-consuming and may need to be navigated carefully to avoid any disruptions in drug development and manufacturing.
Moreover, because pharmaceutical companies handle sensitive patient data, intellectual property, and proprietary research information, implementing new technology increases the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks, potentially exposing critical information and compromising patient privacy.
Unique to pharmaceutical is that some new technologies, such as advanced genetic engineering or AI-driven drug discovery, can raise ethical and societal concerns.
Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of implementing new technology in the pharmaceutical industry, like improved research capabilities, streamlined operations, enhanced patient care, and innovative drug development, make the efforts to overcome these challenges worthwhile. Effective planning, collaboration, and a focus on risk management are essential for successful technology adoption.
Using Technology to Disrupt Traditional Models
From personalized medicine to telehealth and decentralized clinical trials, we’re seeing pharmaceutical disrupt tradition across many areas of the business. With digital commerce platforms, we go one step further, and can see the path forward to how pharmaceutical companies will create new go-to-market strategies that utilize digital tools to reach different stakeholders more effectively.
Online pharmacies are reshaping how patients obtain prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs. This challenges the traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacy model and offers patients greater convenience and access. Digital pharmacies often offer a broader range of products, including medications, health supplements, personal care products, and even medical equipment. This extensive selection provides customers with more options to meet their healthcare needs.
What’s more is that online pharmacies often operate directly with pharmaceutical manufacturers or authorized distributors, cutting out intermediaries like wholesalers and retailers. This streamlined supply chain can lead to cost savings and a more direct flow of medications from manufacturers to patients. Digital systems monitor inventory levels in real time, making for better inventory management, reducing the risk of stockouts or overstock situations, and ensuring that medications are available when needed.
Creating a Unified Sales and Marketing Strategy
Overhauling former distribution and operations practices introduces the opportunity to re-evaluate sales and marketing strategies and ensure a consistent message across all stakeholder touchpoints. With a digital commerce platform in place, pharmaceutical companies can leverage:
- Sales Analytics
Pharmaceutical companies can gain insights into their sales performance, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to improve their sales strategies. - Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)
Product demonstrations and medical training and be enhanced with immersive technologies that reinvent the customer experience and offer unique selling propositions. - Omnichannel Strategies
An omnichannel strategy, which provides a seamless customer experience across multiple channels, can enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.
The pharmaceutical industry, known for its complexity and rigorous regulations, is currently at an inflection point. The traditional go-to-market strategies and distribution models are being reevaluated as pharmaceutical organizations seek more efficient, cost-effective, and scalable methods to reach healthcare providers and patients. In this context, the advent of technology — especially digital tools, B2B e-commerce, and composable or headless architectures – offers promising avenues for disruptive innovation.
Modern, technology-driven strategies can help pharmaceutical organizations overcome the limitations of traditional models, enhance their engagement with healthcare providers, and ultimately, improve patient outcomes. Digital tools offer new ways to interact with customers and market products, while composable architectures provide the flexibility and adaptability needed in a rapidly changing industry.
Zaelab is the premier B2B commerce consultancy. Talk to us about how your pharmaceutical organization can evolve its distribution methods by employing digital methods to streamline operations and enhance its experiences and touchpoints.
