Revolutionising life sciences with AI and automation: An enterprise modernisation journey

The life sciences industry is embracing the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, leveraging its unmatched advancements in speed, accuracy, and efficiency to revolutionise output across the enterprise, including critical areas of operation such as research, supply chain, and regulatory compliance.

Most life sciences organisations grapple with multiple disjointed software solutions, hindering integration and efficiency. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) emerges as a key solution, replacing manual efforts with timely and precise workflow automation, to ultimately help reduce costs, enhance productivity, and elevate quality control for life sciences companies. Combining RPA with AI, capable of processing massive datasets in an instant, further opens the door to boundless possibilities. This powerful synergy of the two technologies drives innovation, fosters sustainable growth, and streamlines processes to achieve faster, impactful outcomes.

Modernising life sciences through automation

Automation can serve as an excellent starting point for life sciences transformation, simplifying repetitive tasks that consume valuable time and resources. Through the strategic implementation of RPA, organisations can yield solid ROI, particularly for high-volume, stable, and repeatable processes. 

RPA has been a go-to solution across industries, as it can augment productivity across different organisational stakeholders, from users, to customers, to employees. The life sciences industry, too, can greatly benefit from RPA and its ability to improve flexibility, agility, and cost efficiency on a scalable level, while simultaneously enhancing service levels with tangible benefits such as reduced manual processes, enhanced accuracy and consistency, enriched business analytics, standardised workflows, frictionless task delivery, comprehensive audit trails for compliance, and lowered costs.

Elevating automation with AI-powered technology

Intelligent Automation (IA) emerges when RPA combines with other technologies like AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP), which is extremely beneficial for automation of document management and real-time decision-making. In life sciences, AI applications capture and interpret data, manipulate information, trigger responses, and seamlessly communicate with other technology platforms. For instance, in research, AI-powered algorithms empower scientists to process vast amounts of data, uncover insights, and fuel the development of new drugs and therapies. Augmenting human work with AI-driven analysis enhances the identification of patterns and accurate prediction of future outcomes, leading to previously unattainable breakthroughs.

Forging a new path for life sciences

From automating data processing workflows to streamlining the analysis of complex biological data, AI and automation revolutionise every stage of the life cycle, from custom medical device production, to personalised treatment plans based on individual patient characteristics. Pharmaceutical and biotechnical research and development are only a couple of areas where AI-powered automation can play a critical role. By embracing these transformative tools, life sciences companies can lead the industry and make a meaningful impact on global health.

Choosing the right partner to kickstart your enterprise modernisation journey

As AI and automation catalyse digital transformation across life sciences, there will be tremendous growth opportunities. Collaborating with an experienced life sciences partner who understands the technology and how it works for the industry will become essential to driving that innovation and staying competitive. Whether optimising supply networks, implementing process manufacturing, managing clinical trials, rolling out new products and geographies, addressing regulatory requirements, or coordinating foreign currency financial reporting, an industry partner with a deep understanding of the ecosystem can help navigate challenges and drive success. 

About the authors

Fran Daly is senior director of life sciences at Apps Associates. He is a seasoned life sciences technology executive with extensive experience in senior IT management consulting. Daly possesses a blend of business acumen and technical expertise, particularly in ERP systems like Oracle, SAP, and AS400 and navigates well complex compliance frameworks, such as GxP, FDA 21 CFR Part 11, CSA, Sarbanes-Oxley, EU Data Privacy, and PCI, ensuring adherence to the highest regulatory standards. Daly holds an MBA in Finance from Fairleigh-Dickinson, and is both a CPA and CMA.

Preeti Lobo is senior director of business integration and automation at Apps Associates, She has a proven track record of delivering complex technology integrations and solutions by establishing trusted client relationships, building high performing teams, and practicing excellence in programme and project management and technology integration. Lobo has a growth-oriented focus through building business via pre-sales, sales, and proposal development and delivery.