Data is key to compliance, clinical trial success, and a competitive edge in an industry as highly regulated and calibrated as life sciences. Firms require efficient data management systems to support diverse operations, from analytical instrumentation to clinical development and diagnostic services. Effective data utilization catalyzes scientific discovery and is a critical driver for business growth and operational excellence.
For a leading scientific instrumentation company, fragmented data saved across 80 different enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, including SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft Dynamics NAV, created roadblocks that were starting to have a business impact. Operating in more than 50 countries with a workforce exceeding 125,000, the client had a large data estate to manage and operate successfully.
Lack of insights and missed market opportunities
The data silos, exacerbated by data sprawl, hindered the client from accessing vital insights that could have streamlined operational efficiency. For instance, limited data access resulted in shipment delays that impacted clinical trials or stalled the procurement of essential materials. This inefficiency was starting to impact operational costs and leading to missed market opportunities.
A lack of centralized data governance also hampered financial reporting accuracy, creating compliance risks and potential penalties. The inability to access and leverage data effectively could also stifle innovation. Researchers struggled to identify patterns and trends in experimental data, delaying the development of new technologies and solutions. Additionally, the absence of integrated data impeded supply chain optimization efforts, leading to stockouts or overstock situations that disrupted service delivery.
Lastly, as the client executives lacked a holistic view of the data assets, it was challenging to identify growth opportunities, respond swiftly to market changes, and implement sustainability initiatives. Without a unified data landscape, the organization risked losing its competitive edge, stifling strategic growth and innovation.
Breaking away from silos toward democratized data access
Recognizing the urgency to overcome these challenges, the client partnered with Persistent to build a next-generation Enterprise Data Platform (EDP).
Powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Databricks, Persistent designed a modern data platform to simplify data management. The platform can source, parse, cleanse, and maintain data from various sources into a ready-for-analysis schema. With this, the client was able to democratize access to data, breaking away from the silos that earlier kept data in unconnected systems. The advanced analytics that followed gave internal executives and decision-makers a holistic view of the business, enabling them to make strategic bets that further bolstered the client’s business moat.
The platform featured a user-friendly interface, allowing teams to manage and analyze data without deep technical expertise. Persistent ensured reliable, scalable data operations with automated processes and industry best practices. A centralized governance framework provided consistent oversight of the enterprise data, and Persistent developed use cases to support business initiatives such as spend analytics, financial reporting, supply chain optimization, and sustainability metrics.
With each initiative integrated within a single data ecosystem tailored to the client’s diverse needs, the client could finally monetize data to power business growth and innovation.
Defending the business moat with a unified data ecosystem
By connecting over 80 systems and integrating more than 1,000 data sources into the platform, the client can use the data to streamline operations, serve customers better, and maintain its market leadership.
Persistent ensured the teams adopt standardized practices and processes across projects, eliminating inconsistencies and simplifying data operations. The client gained the agility to onboard new systems rapidly, responding quickly to evolving business demands.
The most significant outcome was comprehensive, organization-wide access to actionable insights, empowering teams to make smarter decisions in critical situations. A unified data platform resolved longstanding data fragmentation issues and fully positioned the client to leverage advanced analytics and insights.
