The Pharmaceutical Industry
The pharmaceutical industry is a crucial sector that drives innovation in healthcare, research, and the development of life-saving medications. This industry is responsible for discovering, producing, and distributing medicines that improve the quality of life for billions of people worldwide. The industry’s impact extends beyond individual health; it plays a pivotal role in addressing global healthcare challenges such as pandemics, chronic diseases, and emerging health threats.
Pharmaceuticals have transformed global healthcare systems, making previously fatal diseases treatable and improving longevity and overall public health. The sector also drives economic growth, contributing to research and development (R&D), job creation, and advancements in medical technologies. With global demand for drugs increasing, especially during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, the pharmaceutical industry has become one of the most vital pillars of modern society.
The Logistics
The logistics behind the pharmaceutical industry is highly complex and critical, as it directly affects the timely availability and quality of medicines. Pharmaceuticals, including vaccines, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications, require stringent handling, storage, and transportation conditions to maintain efficacy. In many cases, medicines need to be transported under specific temperature controls and within defined timeframes, making logistics a crucial component of the supply chain.
The complexity of pharmaceutical logistics intensifies across different countries, especially in Asia, including Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong and South Korea. Each country has its unique challenges, such as varying infrastructure quality, differing regulations, and complex road conditions.
Given the life-saving nature of the pharmaceutical products being transported, any delays or mishandling could have significant consequences, such as expired medicines, lack of availability during critical healthcare needs, or compromised quality of the drugs.
Transport Management System (TMS)
A Transport Management System (TMS) is a logistics solution that helps businesses plan, execute, and optimize the physical movement of goods. In the pharmaceutical industry, TMS plays an essential role in ensuring the safe and timely delivery of medical products. A TMS software can help streamline logistics processes by offering real-time tracking, route optimization, and seamless coordination between different stakeholders in the supply chain.
Lost, Fraudulent, or Erroneous Documents: Inaccurate or missing documents can cause delays, financial losses, and compliance issues in pharmaceutical logistics. Zyllem’s ePOD (Electronic Proof of Delivery) system ensures that all documentation is digitized, traceable, and secure, reducing the risk of errors and fraud while preserving records for compliance purposes.
Increased Costs Due to Delays and Poor Planning: Delays in pharmaceutical deliveries can lead to increased costs, wasted resources, and stockouts. Zyllem helps to maximize asset utilization by optimizing truck capacity and reducing the number of trips required. This results in lower transportation costs and better operational efficiency.
Immediate Healthcare Needs: During emergencies or healthcare crises, the timely delivery of medicines is critical. Zyllem’s Dynamic Planning selects the most optimal routes by analyzing real-time traffic and road conditions, ensuring that deliveries are expedited and healthcare needs are met efficiently.
Preserving the Quality of Pharmaceutical Goods: Medicines, particularly vaccines and biologics, need to be stored and delivered under strict temperature conditions. Zyllem’s live tracking and driver monitoring capabilities ensure that the condition of these medicines is monitored in real-time, preserving their efficacy and safety.
Common Challenges vs. ZYLLEM
Case Study
A major pharmaceutical company operating across Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea and Hong Kong, selected Zyllem as its logistics platform to streamline its distribution network. This company faced significant logistical challenges, including navigating complex traffic rules and ensuring the preservation of medicinal quality during transit. In countries with congested urban centers and varying traffic laws, such as the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia, route planning became a critical factor in delivering medicines on time.
Zyllem’s Dynamic Route Planning not only considered traffic rules but also allowed the company to maintain the quality of temperature-sensitive goods by selecting the fastest and most optimal routes. The platform’s real-time tracking capability gave the pharmaceutical company full visibility over its supply chain, ensuring that products were delivered safely and efficiently. Moreover, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for speed and visibility was paramount, and Zyllem’s platform proved instrumental in ensuring on-time deliveries for critical healthcare products.
By implementing Zyllem’s TMS solution, this pharmaceutical giant was able to enhance its logistics operations, reduce delays, cut down on transportation costs, and ensure compliance with regional traffic regulations. The platform’s ePOD system helped the company digitize its paperwork, eliminating manual errors and providing full traceability of deliveries, which further streamlined its supply chain operations.
