Massimo Crudeli
New tools are helping drug and medical device manufacturers benefit from Artificial Intelligence across the development value chain.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is all everyone seems to talk about these days, with ChatGPT dominating the headlines and business conversations since it was introduced in November 2022. While the open-source, large language model (LLM) leaves a lot to be desired, it definitely got people’s wheels turning when it comes to applying AI in a variety of personal and professional situations.
A year before the introduction of ChatGPT, its developer—OpenAI—worked with GitHub to launch GitHub Copilot, an AI-powered tool designed to help developers create software more efficiently. Thousands of engineers, at companies like Coca-Cola, Duolingo, GM, Shopify, and Stripe, are using this innovative tool on a daily basis.
GitHub’s move started a trend, and now several copilots are available to help a variety of businesses. The one we’re most excited about is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Copilot, the world’s first AI copilot designed for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) applications like supply chain management, warehouse management, and quality management.
ERP systems have long been the central nervous system of modern businesses, centralizing data for insights that can improve efficiency and resolve issues before they become major problems.
Being able to extract value from data is even more important as we enter a new era defined by next-generation AI. As a Microsoft partner dedicated to providing ERP solutions that are purpose-built for life sciences organizations, STAEDEAN will be at the forefront of making AI a reality for pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and medical device manufacturers.
Many life sciences organizations are using outdated ERP systems.
Talk to STAEDEAN about digitalizing your company today for
greater efficiency and cost savings.
What Does AI Mean for Drug and Device Manufacturers?
While pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms have started to use data-driven AI to accelerate clinical research and identify safety signals, these organizations are just starting to think about applying AI to their manufacturing, distribution, and quality management efforts.
Here are just some of the possibilities that the new Microsoft Copilot will help facilitate:
-
Supply chain managers will use AI to proactively predict disruptions and generate intelligent contingency plans
-
Procurement managers will use AI to efficiently handle changes to purchase orders at scale and assess the impact and risk to help optimize decisions
-
Warehouse managers will use AI to better forecast demand and optimize bin locations, eliminating the need to have workers manually move items into prime picking areas
-
Warehouse managers will also rely on AI to automatically regulate controlled environments for maximum efficiency
-
Quality managers will use AI to analyze data and trends, discover patterns, and improve product quality overall
Across the life sciences manufacturing and distribution value chain, AI can automate many recurring decision touchpoints, freeing people up to focus on higher-level productive tasks that require creativity, judgment, and complex problem-solving skills.
And, as the name “Copilot” suggests, humans are critical for maximizing the effectiveness of AI. It’s critical, particularly in life sciences and healthcare, for data experts to provide AI oversight and guidance by understanding the data used to train algorithms, ensuring the accuracy of AI results and recommendations, and being mindful of risks as new innovations and use cases are discovered.
AI can automate many recurring decision touchpoints, freeing
people up to focus on higher-level productive tasks that require
creativity, judgment, and complex problem-solving skills
Microsoft and STAEDEAN Can bring AI to the GMP table
AI has the potential to revolutionize Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) in life sciences organizations, offering new possibilities for improved efficiency, cost savings, and customer satisfaction. To fully harness these benefits, you must invest in the right technology and infrastructure to unify your processes and data—while considering critical aspects like security, accessibility, and company values.
With the introduction of Dynamics 365 Copilot, Microsoft has taken a huge step towards helping businesses automate tedious tasks, unlock workforce creativity, and accelerate business outcomes. By embracing these new AI solutions, your organization can gain a competitive advantage and stay ahead of the curve in the ever-changing business and regulatory landscape.
Start Your AI Journey with a Fully Compliant ERP System
The foundational elements for using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Copilot in life sciences are the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, combined with STAEDEAN's purpose-built modules for life sciences, including STAEDEAN Life Sciences Supply Chain Management, STAEDEAN Life Sciences Warehouse Management, and STAEDEAN Life Sciences Quality Management.
With these solutions in place, you’ll maintain full compliance while creating a single source of data that your AI tools can analyze, interpret, and use to generate valuable insights and recommendations.
Julian Etheridge, Technical Sales at Microsoft, tells us that AI is top of mind in the C-suite, with most organizations devoting at least one full-time person to incorporate AI and LLM into their organizations. “Clients are very interested in the possibilities of AI,” he says. “Their curiosity outweighs any fears or negative feelings about the technology, and the CEOs don’t want their companies to miss out on this.”
AI in life sciences manufacturing will be status quo before you know it, so now is the time to start unlocking its potential for speed, efficiency, and innovation.
Our configurable solution is easy to implement and validate and has been proven effective with leading pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and medical device manufacturers in the U.S., Europe, and Australia.
Do you want to start your AI journey and prepare your life sciences business for the future?
Massimo Crudeli