Enabling Transparent Logistics in the Critical Pharma Industry

Rising demand for global pharma shipments

‍

In response to the increasing demand for personalised healthcare, driven by an continuously aging global population - where by 2050, the number of people aged 60 years and older will double from 12% to 22%¹ - the importance of a robust cold chain for transporting temperature-sensitive drugs has become more pronounced. This demand highlights the challenges of maintaining product efficacy while navigating diverse regulatory environments, where transparency and reliability in pharmaceutical logistics are paramount for ensuring safe delivery and compliance.

To meet these critical needs, our customer, a leader in cold chain logistics, has developed advanced cooling box solutions, integrating state-of-the-art IoT infrastructure. These innovative boxes are utilised across global routes for the secure transport of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals and life science shipments. Furthermore, end-customers have the convenience of accessing real-time shipment data through a dedicated external platform.

‍

Operational challenges of current customer solution

‍
The customer recognised the necessity for a more sophisticated approach to ensure seamless and efficient service delivery. Because of an increasingly complex logistics landscape, following challenges were identified:

‍

• ‍Significant Information Gaps: The complexity in the logistics network was profound, arising from diverse transportation modes—including air, rail, and road—and a wide array of carriers across international borders. On top of that, in the contemporary market landscape, the expectation for real-time shipment visibility has shifted from being a mere value-add to a critical necessity.
• ‍Handling Inefficiencies: A significant portion of the workflow involved labor-intensive tasks related to the handling of cooling boxes. Each box required manual opening upon arrival at service stations; completion and status checks were also conducted manually, with findings reported back through a rudimentary fleet manager portal. This manual approach to box management was not only time-consuming but also prone to human error.
• ‍Poor Fleet Management Transparency: The customer faced considerable challenges in managing the extensive fleet of 500 boxes deployed globally. There was a distinct lack of transparency regarding the availability and status of these, leading to issues of underutilisation and diminished returns on investment.

Significant increase in box utilisation and customer satisfaction

‍

pyliot equipped the customer's cooling box solution with cutting-edge IoT intelligence, integrating TrackMini Industrial and BLE sensors. This upgrade introduced real-time tracking and improved temperature monitoring capabilities, crucial for the secure transportation of temperature-sensitive goods. The data collected is seamlessly transmitted to pyliot App, where it is stored, analysed, and visualised, providing vital insights into fleet operations.
‍

• ‍Single Data Source: Enhanced coordination across the supply chain by generating and sharing real-time data points along shipping routes. Information is seamlessly fed into pyliot App and the end-customer portal, ensuring all parties have up-to-date information on shipment status, location, and condition.
• ‍Global Versatility: The integrated solution is engineered to meet the diverse needs of different markets worldwide. Its versatility allows for automated real-time monitoring of shipments, ensuring compliance with regulations, and maintaining the highest quality of care for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals.
• ‍Optimised Fleet Management: The customer gains unparalleled control over their fleet of boxes. This capability allows for efficient coordination, significantly improving the utilisation rate of each box and enabling more shipments per box annually. This optimisation leads not only to enhanced operational efficiency but also to increased profitability and environmental sustainability by reducing the need for additional resources.
  ‍
  ‍

About customer:
The customer stands at the forefront of cold chain logistics, offering advanced cooling box solutions for the international transport of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals and life science materials. The company is based in Bremen, Germany.

‍
About pyliot:

pyliot is an asset tracking solutions provider for logistics use-cases offering cutting-edge devices, platform and tailored services to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. The company offer solutions for verticals incl. General Transport, Pharma & Life Science, Food & Beverages and Healthcare. Based in Munich, Germany, the company is backed by iDTRONIC GmbH a renown RFID brand.

References:

[1] World Health Organisation (2022). Ageing and health. Available under: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health