Five Technology Trends Modernizing Life Sciences
Delve into five technology trends that empower pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies to modernize how things get done. This white paper examines automation technologies, data collaboration platforms, cloud landing zones, augmented and virtual reality, and the Internet of Things—and how each helps Quality and IT leaders innovate while maintaining regulatory compliance.
What's Inside
- Automation technologies that simplify, scale, and maintain compliance using cloud, low-code/no-code platforms, and AI.
- Data collaboration platforms that centralize insights and enable compliant data submission and exchange.
- Landing zones for deploying enterprise workloads in a secure, modular, and scalable cloud environment.
- Augmented and virtual reality applications that transform manufacturing processes, monitor quality, and enhance training.
- Internet of Things (IoT) use cases that improve healthcare, patient support, and real-time device diagnostics.
Automation Technologies: Make Manual Testing a Thing of the Past
Process automation helps your organization simplify, scale, and maintain regulatory compliance. Cloud technologies, low-code or no-code development platforms, and artificial intelligence (AI) are driving innovation and efficiency to help you exceed product quality and patient safety standards.
Automate and maintain validation and testing with USDM Cloud Assurance and ProcessX. The compliance and AI capabilities of ProcessX help Quality and IT leaders gain greater insight into the product lifecycle. Cloud Assurance delivers continuous validation and meets global regulatory requirements beyond 21 CFR Part 11. As automation increasingly relies on AI, a clear approach to AI governance and compliance keeps these systems validated and auditable.
Data Collaboration Platforms: Facilitate Communication and Collaboration
Enable your teams to share insights and make critical business decisions using a centralized online repository. It makes data accessible to authorized team members while adhering to security measures and complying with regulatory requirements. Strong data integrity practices keep that shared data accurate, attributable, and audit-ready throughout its lifecycle.
To deliver industry-leading data collaboration and compliant data submission solutions to the life sciences industry, USDM partners with Accumulus Synergy and atrify. The transformative data exchange platform from Accumulus streamlines interactions from health authority to health authority, and between biopharma companies and health authorities. Atrify’s data capture service ensures a smooth exchange of high-quality product information that meets the legal requirements and specifications of your trading partner.
Landing Zones: Deploy Enterprise Workloads in a Secure Cloud Environment
As your organization implements additional cloud-based workloads, the modular and scalable configuration of a landing zone grows to meet your needs. Using a landing zone, you’re able to authenticate users, establish a resource hierarchy for your business needs, specify security controls that include compliance requirements, and centralize or decentralize your network design. Building cybersecurity into the landing zone from the start helps protect regulated workloads and the patient data they handle.
To automate implementation and qualification for new GxP-compliant cloud environments, USDM created the GxP Landing Zone for Google Cloud as an easy-to-deploy, well-architected framework. Purpose-built for life sciences, the GxP Landing Zone with Cloud Assurance enhances security and governance and achieves continuous cloud compliance. Use case examples include data analysis for drug development and data management for clinical trials.
Augmented and Virtual Reality: Transform Processes and Enhance Training
Virtual reality (VR) creates artificial environments experienced through headsets, while augmented reality (AR) combines computer-generated content with real-world activities. AR and VR applications range from visualization and instruction to interaction and simulation of complex virtual environments.
In manufacturing environments, AR devices like headsets and smart glasses are being used to transform processes, monitor quality, and enhance training. USDM Cloud Assurance can help your company assess high- and low-risk changes made by your vendors and perform automated testing on core functionality.
Internet of Things (IoT)
In the life sciences industry, IoT improves healthcare and patient support. IoT devices enable access to real-time device diagnostics and data sharing to help healthcare providers understand device performance. Patient diagnostics are obtained from personal healthcare records and devices like fitness apps and remote monitors. Because connected devices often come from outside vendors, disciplined third-party risk management is essential to keep the IoT ecosystem secure and compliant.
USDM partner PTC offers a maintenance platform powered by IoT: Thingworx for product development and quality management. Together with USDM’s Cloud Assurance and proprietary Compliance Matrix, validation solutions are delivered and relevant global regulations are identified for your organization.
The USDM point of view: Technology only creates value in life sciences when it ships with compliance built in. Each of these trends—automation, data collaboration, landing zones, AR/VR, and IoT—introduces new systems, vendors, and data flows that must stay validated and audit-ready. USDM pairs these innovations with Cloud Assurance and a proprietary Compliance Matrix so you can modernize, speed time to market, and drive innovation without trading away product quality or patient safety.
FAQ: 2023 Technology Trends in Life Sciences
Which technology trends does this white paper cover?
The paper examines five trends impacting life sciences: automation technologies, data collaboration platforms, cloud landing zones, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), and the Internet of Things (IoT).
How does automation help with regulatory compliance?
Process automation—built on cloud technologies, low-code/no-code platforms, and AI—helps organizations simplify, scale, and maintain compliance. USDM Cloud Assurance and ProcessX automate validation and testing, delivering continuous validation that meets global regulatory requirements beyond 21 CFR Part 11.
What is a GxP landing zone and why does it matter?
A landing zone is a modular, scalable cloud configuration for deploying enterprise workloads securely. USDM's GxP Landing Zone for Google Cloud automates implementation and qualification of new GxP-compliant cloud environments, enhancing security and governance while achieving continuous cloud compliance.
How are AR/VR and IoT being applied in life sciences?
In manufacturing, AR devices like headsets and smart glasses transform processes, monitor quality, and enhance training. IoT improves healthcare and patient support by enabling real-time device diagnostics and data sharing from personal healthcare records and remote monitors.
How does USDM keep these new technologies compliant?
USDM pairs each technology with Cloud Assurance and its proprietary Compliance Matrix to deliver validation solutions, assess vendor changes, perform automated testing, and identify the relevant global regulations for your organization.
The future of life-improving drugs, devices, and therapies relies on modernizing, strategizing, and recontextualizing. Let USDM help you implement these technology trends to speed your time to market, create operational capabilities, and drive radical innovation. Download the white paper above, or contact us today to get started.