Mid sized and large pharma and biotech companies are reorganizing to optimize business processes through increased adoption IT solutions. HCL is gearing up to maximize its presence in the segment.

The company has seen pharma companies grappling with disparate applications, redundant infrastructure and federated structure. There is a growing need to invest in technology solutions like ERP, CRM & SCM, DW/BI, enterprise application integration, lab automation tools and EDC. Companies can achieve control over processes, costs, efficiency, productivity as well as enable business to have better decision making capability, Pradeep Nair, global head, Life Sciences, Healthcare & Chemical Practice, HCL Technologies told Pharmabiz.

Current IT expenditure is estimated between three to five per cent and accounts for cost savings to the tune of 60 per cent. There are several US-based pharma companies which have deployed the evidence-based IT offered by HCL to reduce cycle time in process and manufacture by 25 per cent, he added.

The company's life sciences and healthcare vertical are one of the fast growing segments registering 36.4 per cent, ending March 31, 2009. HCL works with 10 of the top 15 pharmaceutical companies. It is recognized for its SAP Integration, and Remote Infrastructure Services. In addition, it also provides Global Delivery network beyond India with centres in Poland, Brazil, Malaysia, China and North Carolina. It supports 90 percent of ERP Apps, Human Health, Clinical & Pre clinical IT. It also focuses on reuse of applications and integration of disparate solutions.

The company has five value-added products. The 'Pharma Business Aligned IT' helps to reduce process time and enhance business performance. The 'Complex Transformational Projects' focuses not only on 'Run the Business' & 'Change the Business' but also 'Transform the Business'. The 'Pharma Reference and Technology Capability', 'Service Innovation' and Output/Outcome based Model help the users enable efficient migration of ERP and achieve seamless knowledge transitions.

In addition, the company also has many innovative solutions which enable pharma companies to improve productivity and efficiency. It is working on joint Intellectual Property (IP) creation with SAP for Clinical Trial Supply Chain & Manufacturing Domains. It has developed frameworks like eZ Migrate & Asset. It also offers utility-based pricing to customers, where the efficiency accrued is passed on to them as a cost benefit.
In an era of mergers and acquisitions, Nair is of the view that IT risk management is a multi-disciplinary undertaking that covers a variety of functional domains, ranging from data protection to change management. "It is also a multi-faceted and complex undertaking which entails consideration of a wide array of compliance requirements. As such, in a business environment with increasing emphasis on regulatory compliance, the role of IT risk management becomes more important as an enabler of the M&A strategy."
The present recessionary phase, which has left the pharma sector largely immune, has seen streamlining operations and restructuring. Pharma companies are looking for technology partners to save cost and provide enhanced development capability to bring innovation to the table. Creation of domain-focused solutions is a must to bring transformational value to customers. HCL addresses the dynamic trends in this industry through investments in solutions and Intellectual Properties through dedicated vertical solution group, informed Nair.