Drug Traceability: Are You Scanning the Right Way?

Serialization is the first solution that crosses one’s mind when we talk about eliminating counterfeit from the supply chain. While we have spoken enough about it, there’s little that we have shared on how to understand if the scanning process (an important element of serialization) one has adopted is going in the right direction! There’s much to consider before you set out to choose the right scanning solution provider to bring your serialization process to a successful culmination.

This article will talk about all the things you have to consider before investing in a scanning machine for serialization. It is not easy as it may sound because a lot of factors are included in determining how well your scanning machine is performing. Some of them being:

How much does it cost to implement?  How much does the scanner cost you? Is it difficult to install and operate? Does it work with the serialization software you have chosen? How fast does it scan? Can it handle bulk consignments? While these are some recurrent questions that come across a warehouse manager’s mind, it often gets ignored if the scanner is able to read the outdated serial numbers or not. Right now, the biggest issue that is riddling the drug supply chain is negative returns, which is often caused by the inability of single scanners to decode the old 2D and Datamatrix coding formats; Thus returning consignments that can easily be used, leading to further loss of capital investment.

Still need resources? Once your scanning solution is in place, you have to check if it still requires manual intervention to store data. If it does, this is probably not you might be proud to own 10 years down the lane. This is because the pharmaceutical industry is transforming toward digitization and automation. Few years down the lane, stakeholders have to have fully automated interoperable platforms that would store information automatically once the scanner gathers data from the packages. The data gathered must be error-free and should be stored in a highly secured data repository that is centrally operated and accessible to all the stakeholders of the supply chain for reference purposes. Now, if you still require manual help to tally and update information on the computer, your system will soon become redundant.

Is your scanning process automated? It’s time that you think twice before investing in man-hour because they can be a redundant investment as well as full of errors. You need a scanner that can grab and identify information available in barcode formats on top of the drug packages. It should be able to automatically store information in a secured manner to a data repository which is inaccessible to cyber threats. It must do its part well in managing and exchanging data with the central repository well, without any information leakages.

Is your scanning solution flexible? The regulatory environment in the United States is always shifting, depending on the requirement of the pharma supply chain. While it is important to cope with that, it is equally important to cope with the shifting requirements of the global pharma supply chain. The pharmaceutical industry is turning global, no doubt. So, the serialization processes have to be flexible to accommodate the varying scanning requirements of the world, which certainly cannot be achieved by single scanning solutions.

So, what’s the solution?

TrackTraceRX- the one-stop scanning solution

The mobile-edge scanning solutions that we boast of have been tested for long-term results. Whatever be the pharmaceutical ecology be, the TTRX solutions are extremely flexible, secured and reliable. Covering all the factors mentioned above and more, serialization with TTRX is 6X times faster and cost-effective. For instance:

The AR-enabled multiscanner: This is probably a path-breaking innovation in the serialization domain because it handles bulk consignments within hours, without any error or security breaches. Easy to use, scanning can be done with a smartphone, which only requires the TTRX app. It takes seconds for multiscanners to grab information from packages and store them in the central repository of master data. The AR-enabled RapidRX technology is complete in itself when it comes to capturing data real-time, without any necessity for human interference to open each package for verification. It is time and cost-saving, ensuring higher return-on-investment.

API-first technology: Our scanners are fit to work in any operational environment. You just need to download the software and plug-in the scanner for a seamless service. No requirement of any IT infrastructure or following complicated operational flow of information to get started with the scanner.

RapidRX technology: As the name suggests, the technology helps our multiscanners to work faster and more efficiently than any other scanner in the industry. For instance, you can finish scanning up to 30,000 packages in just 7 hours, leaving you enough time to concentrate on more important paperwork such as auditing and reporting.

Centralized data inventory: Our scanning solutions are not just restricted to the demands of serialization, but also ensure that your supply chain gets the information it wants at any point in time. After all, that is a key determinant of effective drug visibility. The scanners, once they have grabbed information real-time, automatically store them to the centralized cloud-based repository that is extremely secured and flexible. Moreover, it is connected with close to 4000 stakeholders who can easily exchange information during the VRS process.

The drug traceability requirements of the times are different. Serialization, which is an important element of drug track and trace, has moved beyond its very own purview of merely locating a drug; It is now also concerned about the business goals and the costs a business incurs at the end of the supply chain. Scan-ability is all about scalability now, which has taken track and trace to a different dimension of technological innovation coupled with DSCSA compliance standards. The solutions we have discussed, therefore, are time-bound and here to last. So, think again if your vendor is providing you with the right direction.