Why API-first design is the only solution to Gen-Next pharmaceutical supply chain?

The pharmaceutical supply chain is a myriad of complex functionalities that require precision and tact; Tact, not in terms of human intervention but with the usage of advanced machinery that can save both time and money, while ensuring that all the guidelines of DSCSA are followed.

Indeed, pharmaceutical tracking is turning toward technology heavily to be able to cope with the race against time (especially during the time of COVID), while keeping an eye on the DSCSA law compliance deadline in 2023. Good that the VRS compliance was pushed back till that time, dispensers and warehouse distributors, especially the ones dealing with the COVID medicine to address both the situations.

Coming back to the contribution of API technology and how it has or how it will continue to govern the pharmaceutical supply chain in the future too, it is first important to understand what it is and how it has been influencing our daily lives. The few examples that I will discuss here would help you understand the mechanism better.

So, What is API?

API or Application Programming Interfaces are basically the mechanisms that connect data, services and apps to people who use them. For instance, you must have noticed if you search for a clothing type on an online retail platform, you get similar pop-ups for other platforms too even if you have never been there. Basically, a lot of things go hand in hand to make that possible- a lot of communications between different software, interfaces, electronic transitions and then finally you get the product you are looking for. Imagine manually performing all of that? 

The same holds for the pharmaceutical tracking industry. Any drug supply chain has multiple layers, each comprising of different stakeholders-Manufacturers, Wholesale distributors, dispensers, repackages and re-distributors. Each of them connected to shippers and logistic companies. Each of the stakeholders uses different systems and software. So, how do they communicate?

Quite naturally, there would be disruptions, broken communications, or lack of data-sharing due to system incompatibility, finally leading to an oblique chain that would require back and forth information request and responses.

How does API help?

As the name suggests, it helps in seamless interfacing or patching between two completely different systems. An API provides a patch that connects vendors using different software and operational frameworks that are otherwise remotely compatible with one another.

An API-First way of building an application means that your APIs are treated as “first-class citizens.” That everything about a project revolves around the idea that the end product will be consumed by different systems. An API-first approach involves developing APIs that are consistent and reusable. This allows an external development team to look at a very structured documentation (like a swagger file). Also, other systems that don't take this approach, requires an external development team to look through long integration documentation and have multiple phone calls to understand the workflow. With a API-first system, the external development team can simply look at the user interface and immediately understand the communication workflow. Furthermore, the development team understands that the user interface is consuming an API. This approach saves "WEEKS", of back and forth trying to understand the workflow and data communication.

Using AR and VR-empowered multiscanners, stakeholders can track and trace medicines in the supply chain line and create centralized data repositories that are secured and easily accessible by others in the supply chain. So, that increases the transparency of products in the supply chain- both upstream and downstream. VRS processes, especially get easier when there is a ready database. This is because the API structure helps the VRS platform link up with the Look-up Directory (LD) associated with manufacturers and retrieve the required information for processing the saleable returns.

-Transparent communication

A lot depends on what is communicated across the drug supply chain- from retaining the efficacy of the medicine to ensuring that they reach the end-user on time, without crossing their expiry dates, also reducing the burden on the landfills.

Now, the main challenge of getting automated information in a T3 format across the supply chain would mean crossing gateways built by vendors different from one another. This becomes easier with a piece of software using the API-first approach, which functions amid an already- built framework, without having to dismantle it. This saves vendors both training time and money, apart from reducing the interference of the IT department.

This way, the work done is faster and more accurate, reducing the chances of human error.

-Accurate serialization

These days warehouse distributors use AR-enabled multiscanners that handle volumes of consignments within hours, reducing the load on employees in labour-intensive work as well as increasing the accuracy level of the GS1 detection. Gone are the days when warehouse managers had to deploy a battalion of people to manually go through the consignment to check their expiry dates, components and the manufacturing date. Now, AI-enabled systems or traceability suites can help in linking up with the original manufacturing directory and verify if the products are safe and usable.

-Logistics and transportation

API is an integral part of machine learning, which does wonders in reducing capital investment in a drug supply chain set up. Machine Learning is increasingly being used in transportation and logistics of drugs, especially the ones that require the right temperature control and packaging. Moreover, during the course of the journey, it helps in monitoring the temperature inside a cargo and troubleshoots without supervision when there’s a power failure.

So, why modern pharmaceutical supply chain uses the API?

It can be easily said that API tools are:

Secured: In a high-risk prone industry like the pharmaceutical supply chain, data security is a must; This is precisely why APIs are used expansively. Whenever a request for data is sent at any stage of the supply chain, you are not directly linked to the server. You send small amounts of information that is delivered by the API. This minimizes the risk of a breach or unprecedented hacking of the server.

Fast: For large drug warehouses and manufacturers, API is a blessing because whenever there is a data request, say during a VRS process, it can automatically find the relevant LDs linked with the concerned manufacturer, getting the data required in split seconds. This helps the distributor to handle volumes of consignments within 24 hours, which is also the benchmark set by the DSCSA FDA.

Scalable: API is flexible and therefore scalable. Use any software or framework, it will fit right in and connect seamlessly with any data point. So, during the VRS process, if multiple warehouses connect for the same information with the LD, it does not slow down the process of data retrieval but maintains the pace and the efficiency.

API has more role to play in the generation-next drug supply chain than what meets the eye. Research is still on to use the technology optimally in all the industries and pharmaceuticals are not far behind. API is and will continue to be the only way to connect with the authentic and eliminate the counterfeit in a drug supply chain.