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Why pharma & life sciences companies should migrate from nintex to power automate

Why pharma & life sciences companies should migrate from nintex to power automate In pharma and life sciences industries, there’s constant pressure to do more with less. Whether you are working on compliance documentation, managing clinical trials, or focusing on quality assurance workflows, automation is the key. This is the time to ask yourself a question: is your existing system delivering the scalability and agility that you need? Nintex and Power Automate both offer low-code workflow automation, customizable forms, and integration with third-party systems, but Power Automate stands out with deeper native integration into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, including Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, and Azure services.As demands are increasing in the highly regulated industries and digital transformation is accelerating, organizations are reevaluating their decision on automation platform. If you have been thinking about migrating from your current platform or Nintex to Power Automation and are confused about making the right choice, we’re to help you out. Read on to understand how Power Automate aligns with the evolving needs of the pharma and life sciences industries and why now is the right time to make the switch.Reasons to Migrate from Nintex to Power AutomateWhen we discuss pharma workflow automation tools, it’s a must to understand control, compliance, and cost. Power Automate can be a great investment for organizations who want to modernize their operations, let’s check a few strategic reasons.Simplified integrationPower Automate has the capability to reduce the use of custom connectors and additional maintenance. Teams, Outlook, Excel, SharePoint, Dynamics 365, and other systems can be deeply integrated. It reduces manual API setups and expensive custom connectors, leading to faster deployment cycles and improved maintainability. The integration minimizes dependency on third-party middleware and external scripts, making it easy to maintain the tech space. ScalabilityWith Power Automate, you can manage a simple approval process as well as a multi-stage workflow. You don’t have to juggle between different systems for varied processes. Also, this lets you excel in fast-changing research and R&D environments. As your company grows and experiences digital transformation, Power Automate helps to support multi-site clinical operations and documentation processing. Cost efficiencyWhen you have Nintex, you might be using different licenses and even add-ons. However, Power Automate can be a cost-effective upgrade as it is included in Office 365. It means your current and upfront automation costs are coming down. Many organizations have reported a reduction in maintenance and licensing costs with Power Automate when used in conjunction with their existing Microsoft environment. Market momentumMore than 150,000 global organizations are already gaining benefits with Power Automate, making it an advanced and safe investment. Such wide adoption helps pharma organizations to have active and solid support from Microsoft. It is fostering a strong community and creating a blueprint aligned with regulated industries. Security and regulatory alignmentPower Automate has support for FDA 21 CFR Part 11, HIPAA, and GxP compliance, making it meet the documentation and high security standards in the life sciences industrial space. It means all the electronic signatures, audit trials, and digital records meet the documentation requirements. Its access controls, audit trials, and built-in logging simplify quality inspections and compliance audits. RPA CapabilitiesYou might not need complex integrations or extra tools since Robotic Process Automation is included in Power Automate. It bridges the gap between paper-based and digital processes without the need for third-party tools. It means that you can automate paper-based tasks, redundant procedures, and legacy systems. AI integrationsPower Automate delivers similar capabilities like process mining, document automation, and RPA within the broader Power Platform, often at lower incremental cost for Microsoft 365 users. Additionally, Power Automate benefits from continuous innovation, AI integration (via Copilot and AI Builder), and centralized governance through Microsoft’s security and compliance stack, making it a more unified and scalable option for organizations already invested in the Microsoft environment.You might have understood by now that Power Automate is not just an alternative to Nintex, but a smart strategic way to deal with pharma operations. Now let’s learn how to migrate to Power Automate so you get all the benefits. Practical Tips to Convert Nintex Workflows to Power AutomateThe transition doesn’t mean that you have to start over completely. We have a roadmap here to help pharma companies move confidently and efficiently. Prioritize current workflowsAudit all the existing Nintex workflows and figure out which ones are outdated, redundant, and critical. You need not have to migrate everything, instead, a few can be retired. The step prevents unnecessary shifting of traditional processes, thus saving effort and time and letting you focus on what drives value to the business. Optimize workflowsBoth systems have trigger-based licensing, which means you’ll experience more efficiency with fewer triggers. So, engage your stakeholders in optimizing workflows before you move them. It also eliminates duplicate procedures, leading to a more effective and leaner environment. Select licensing modelYou can come across multiple licensing options with Power Automate. Even Office 365 license covers a set of required features. So, read through them and select the right model as per your needs. Do consider per-flow and per-user plans based on the automation of individuals or departments. Use templatesYou can go through a collection of templates for simple workflows. These cover varied scenarios, including document approval, lab request workflows, and CAPA management, which are common in the life science and pharma industries. There are even pre-built components that can be leveraged to reduce the development time and accelerate deployment. These templates serve as blueprints for complicated workflows and speed up deployment times. Manage complex workflowsYou may employ developments to understand complex and highly regulated flows, including CAPA processes or clinical trials. This step helps to maintain auditability standards and industry protocols. Implement migrationPlan migration in multiple phases so that continuity is not cut. You can seek help from experienced consultants or IT teams for a smoother transition. Rollouts in phases even give you feedback from users to fine-tune before deployment. Test and validate The last step is to test every workflow and document it. Check all the document changes and ensure compliance needs are met before going live. It helps to avoid any post-launch errors and smoothens the rest of the processes. You can even include change control logs and validation scripts to ensure audits evenSwitching to Power Automate doesn’t mean you have to disrupt the ongoing operations. Using the right approach is needed so you can streamline the processes. Benefits of Power Automate in Life Sciences & Pharma IndustryThe life sciences and pharma industry cannot compromise on compliance and flexibility. Companies need a platform that not only saves time but also works on intelligent automation. That’s where Power Automate offers immense help. Compliance-first architectureAs already mentioned, Power Automate meets all the compliance requirements, including those related to audit trials, data protection, and electronic signatures. These automation processes will not become a liability for you during inspections or audits. In-built templatesThe platform includes ready-to-use case templates for lab request handling, document routing, SOP reviews, trial enrolment tracking, and many more. This saves a great amount of time and lets you focus on tasks that are of more value. Smooth collaborationPower Automate helps you with task routing between QA, R&D, commercial, and manufacturing regulatory teams, thus automating communication and streamlining workflows. It reduces compliance delays and follow-ups and brings transparency to the workflow. AI-Powered workflowsThe platform has an AI builder that lets you train models, automate decision-making, and extract important titbits from the most comprehensive documents. You do not have to learn or write the code, as Power Automate does everything required. Data capturing and reportingNo more manual updating tasks and the risks of errors as Power Automate pulls data (both structured and unstructured) from ERP systems, LIMS, CRMs, and Excel sheets, and does most of your manual tasks in no time. It also supports Power BI integrations and dynamic dashboards for compliance insights in real-time. Mobile accessIn the life sciences and pharma industry, there is always an ongoing requirement for approvals in real time from different places. This is sorted, and you need not spend time waiting, as Power Automate enables workflows on mobiles, efficient for remote labs and field teams. Actions related to batch release and SOP reviews can be approved in time, thereby saving time. So, whether you need to manage pharmacovigilance workflows or speed up SOP approvals, Power Automate has the required tools that improve your accuracy and speed in the pharma world. Power Automate is a regulation-ready, scalable, and modern solution customized as per the changing requirements of the life sciences and pharma industry. From collaboration to compliance, you can find everything in one place to reduce complexities and costs that are otherwise associated with other systems. With the migration to Power Automate, you can ensure smarter automation, agile workflows, and future-proof procedures across departments. Ready to migrate but unsure about it?Connect with our expert team so we can craft a customized roadmap and ensure you have a seamless transition to Power Automate. Sources:https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/compliance/offerings/offering-gxp

Is there a need for digital innovation for SMB pharma?

In recent years, the pharma industry has witnessed a noticeable rise in the number of small and medium-sized pharma companies (SMBs) in drug development. However, many SMBs face operational issues and competitive pressures which are major roadblocks to showcasing their full potential. Digitalization innovation in SMB pharma could be the answer to some of these issues, as it can help SMBs to achieve not only operational efficiencies but also assist in making informed decisions, better data management, and cost-cutting. In this blog, we will tell you about the various areas where digital innovation in SMB pharma can happen. Drug discovery Drug discovery is a complex process that involves numerous time-consuming steps. It is also one of the major undertakings for pharmaceutical companies which has a low success rate. Technology can help companies to accelerate certain mundane tasks in the drug discovery process, thus helping them to focus on other core activities. So, what are the possibilities for digitalization in the drug discovery process? Deep learning algorithms to predict the molecular properties of chemical compounds. Machine learning helps in decreasing drug failure rates during clinical developmental stages.Neural networks can automate challenging tasks like distinguishing diseased cells from healthy ones.Neural networks are also helpful in predicting the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of molecular compounds.Algorithms can also predict new ideas for molecules that can be useful to treat new diseases. This helps the drugs to reach clinical trials much quicker.Clinical trials The clinical trials process is crucial for a drug to reach the consumer, however, the average dropout rate of a drug from a clinical trial is almost 30%. SMBs can minimize this dropout rate by including technology in the various aspects of clinical trials. Data science and natural language processing can be used to scan huge medical databases and extract useful information to optimize the clinical trial process.Electronic health records (EHRs) have become the new standard that can reduce errors, enhance workflow efficiency, and refine healthcare coordination.Digitalization of the patient's health records made it easy to screen and select accurate patients for the clinical trials.A combination of cloud software and wearable devices helped monitor patient vitals and alert the medical professionals about any anomalies.Specialized applications can decentralize the clinical trial process, which may help in improving patient satisfaction and engagement.Drug Manufacturing Small and medium-sized pharma companies often battle with operational issues such as lower capacity utilization, quality control, and breakdown issues in the plant. Technology can help organizations bridge the gaps and achieve operational excellence in drug manufacturing. Here is how you can do it Internet of Things (IoT) helps in connecting all the stake holders in real-time. This will help SMBs to make sure the high demanded drugs are manufactured at the right time.IoT sensors embedded in the manufacturing units can pave way for predictive analytics.Data analytical tools enable real-time monitoring of critical variables of the production line.Getting real-time data from all the manufacturing equipments provide valuable data for making data-driven decisions to achieve superior quality control.Commercialization Effective commercialization process ensures the drug reaches the right consumers at the right time. The traditional drug marketing process is time taking and is not based on real-time information. Multi-channel marketing automation can provide many consumer touchpoints and deliver personalized marketing messages. You can market your drugs better using technology as below. AI-powered analytical solutions can predict consumer behaviours, this might help the customer representatives to schedule the meeting with the right doctor at the right time and place.Digitalization helps to consolidate all the pharma marketing workflows into one system, which allows anyone in the sales channel to get the full picture.Using analytics, sales representatives can segment doctors and send customized marketing messages.Digital solutions can also help sort, clean, and tabulate the huge marketing data making it easy to get actionable insights.IT Requirements One of the major hindrances for pharma SMBs to adopt digitalization is the lack of IT skills and knowledge. Pharma companies need not spend time and effort learning IT skills, they can partner with IT consulting companies to do the work for them. This way the SMBs can focus more on their core business activities. Here are some IT services that can help. IT service partners can help set up the cloud infrastructure and integrate your legacy systems into it.They would implement some of the best practices of IT when it comes to data management and security.From employee onboarding to exit, the IT services partner can handle all the requirements related to technology.They would also provide support, maintenance, and would also guide you through all your IT requirements. Going forward digital transformation in the pharma industry is going to be the norm. The companies that can adapt to these changing circumstances will have an edge over others on the market. With new diseases coming up, the pharma industry is under a lot of pressure to create affordable drugs with a quick turnaround time. However, the pharma industry is also one of the few industries that is governed by stringent rules and regulations. Digitalization can also help SMBs to stay compliant with the regulations while achieving operational excellence and a good turnover rate. 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Data Security Matters: Safeguarding Pharma Information in SharePoint Implementation

The sensitive nature of the data involved, and the complexity of operations in the life sciences sector makes governance and data security vital. Moreover, to stay competitive in the face of growing competition, changing consumer needs and emerging markets, businesses must make their operations robust while adhering to the worldwide data-protection and privacy challenges in a cost-effective manner. The use of SharePoint for information management might be crucial in addressing these issues. Secure SharePoint solutions can facilitate collaboration, foster effective communication, while providing security, and assistance in safeguarding data. Understanding SharePoint in Pharma SharePoint becomes an indispensable tool for information management, collaboration, and security in the ever-changing life science industry. As a fundamental component of the digital infrastructure, Secure SharePoint has strong permission management and access control features, which protect the validity, confidentiality, and integrity of electronic documents. In addition to improving online collaboration, this platform offers a haven for data storage, all the while simplifying communication and collaboration inside vital functions such as project portfolio management, IT operations, and sales and marketing. Key features of SharePoint relevant to data security in the life science and pharmaceutical sector include: Document management: SharePoint offers a flexible platform for managing, collaborating, and storing documents. This is crucial to promote collaboration and communications in operations pertaining to manufacturing processes, project resource management, and sales and marketing.Security and compliance: To preserve compliance and guarantee data security in the pharmaceutical industry, SharePoint solutions provides capabilities such as access control, audit trails, and data loss prevention.Customizable permissions: Custome permission levels for data security are also provided by SharePoint to enable the management of data access, guaranteeing that only authorized individuals may see and alter vital information.Integration with active directory: Active Directory and SharePoint work together to restrict system access to authorized accounts exclusively, preventing unauthorized users from entering areas used for the creation and upkeep of electronic documents.Collaboration and information Sharing: For cross-functional teams, SharePoint makes safe information exchange and cooperation easier.Zero trust security model: Microsoft advises using a Zero Trust security approach for SharePoint. This is especially important in highly regulated and protected settings like the pharmaceutical and life science industries. These features make SharePoint a valuable platform for managing, securing, and collaborating in the life science and pharmaceutical sector. SharePoint Advantages for Lifesciences Pre-designed templates: SharePoint has ready-made templates, lists, and parts for performing usual life science operations. This saves the organizations a lot of time and effort when setting up document and process management systems without requiring costly bespoke development.Document review cycle: Life sciences companies have stringent regulations when it comes to document approvals and access. SharePoint provides a secure space to manage end-to-end documents review cycle with capabilities like collaboration, and version controls. You can also build custom solutions which can automate document approvals, thus saving valuable time for the Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).E-signatures: To avoid paper-based procedures and maintain compliance in life sciences organizations, SharePoint is integrated with e-signature software to provide the simple electronic signing of documents.Cost-effectiveness: SharePoint readily integrates with current infrastructure to provide business document workflows that, by improving organization, lower the expenses associated with paper and compliance. It is part of the Microsoft O365 suite, so no additional cost is incurred to run a document management system, or a collaboration portal. SharePoint with Microsoft Power Apps: Another great advantage of SharePoint is the Microsoft Power Platform. The Power apps enable quick creation of unique forms, automate mundane tasks, and create virtual chatbots which can efficiently handle stakeholder queries. Field workers can now access straightforward data inputs and streamlined document flows on any device thanks to the combined power of SharePoint and the Power Platform.Auto-archive: Documents stored in SharePoint can be automatically archived after a predetermined amount of time, transferring them from production systems into compliant records management systems. This supports the management of document retention rules by life science firms. Security precautions: SharePoint connects with Active Directory and offers fine-grained permission restrictions. Furthermore, features like Information Rights Management (IRM) make it possible to restrict access even while it is not within the network, which helps the highly regulated life sciences sector satisfy its security and compliance requirements. Best Practices for Data Security in SharePoint Implementation for Life Sciences Adherence to certain data security best practices is necessary when using SharePoint data security in life science firms to safeguard sensitive data. The following are some guidelines for enhancing data security in life science firms using SharePoint: Enable encryption: To guarantee safe connection between SharePoint servers and clients, use SSL/TLS certificates. If you want to further safeguard sensitive data kept on servers, think about encrypting disks at the disk level.Access control: Put strong access control measures in place to guarantee that only those with permission may access private information, preventing both illegal access and data breaches with SharePoint security.Data loss prevention: To defend against data leaks, take proactive steps to prevent sensitive data from being shared, whether consciously or unconsciously while using SharePoint monitoring best practice.External sharing and permissions management: Handle permissions and external sharing carefully to limit access to private information and shield it from prying eyes.Comprehensive disaster recovery protocols: Designing and testing recovery protocols for restoring SharePoint access and resuming normal operations minimizes disruption from outages, power failures or natural disasters.Regular updates and patch management: Maintain a patch management procedure to guarantee timely upgrades on all servers and stay current with the most recent security patches and updates for SharePoint compliance solutions for pharma. Life science organizations can make sure that their SharePoint deployment is safe, complies with industry laws, and successfully shields sensitive data from threats and vulnerabilities by adhering to these best practices. Conclusion Conclusively, a thoughtful and secure SharePoint installation is essential, and the importance of data security in the pharmaceutical industry cannot be emphasized. Retaining confidence and adhering to regulations require the protection of sensitive data. Maintaining the integrity of the pharmaceutical sector and future-proofing processes requires a proactive approach, which can be done using SharePoint. Enhance your life science and pharma operations with i2e’s expert SharePoint implementation. Elevate data security, streamline collaboration, and achieve compliance seamlessly. Contact us today for a secure transformation.