Chip maker Intel is now looking to provide technology platform solutions in the pharmaceutical supply chain management. In this regard, it has made maiden efforts to sensitize the small and medium scale enterprises(SMEs) on the advantages of using Information Technology in their business.

The company has defined a strategy ‘Technology for the next billion users’ to help companies in the pharma supply chain management to transform their operations from basic applications of information technology to a more broad based business intelligence tool.

“Indian pharma supply chain management in the small and medium enterprises space requires to maximize the use of technology to be able to achieve efficiency and economies-of-scale. My understanding of the pharma supply chain segment is that they need to maximize use of technology platforms”, Frank Martinez, Worldwide Director, Digital Inclusion and Government PC programs, Intel Corporation, told Pharmabiz in an interaction.

“We are the technology enabler and partner  with the entire gamut of experts covering software vendors, telecommunication experts, architecture specialists to work with pharmacy trade associations to use the technology,” he added.

Currently, the technology adoption in the pharma supply chain  is a  necessity to move from a phase of chaos to control.  It would help small and medium enterprises achieve economies-of-scale, higher productivity, efficiency in time management and ability to increase the speed of time-to-market in an environment which is fiercely competitive.  Companies which are agile and forward looking are looking to adopt technology, he said.

Therefore, India offers a huge growth opportunity for a technology enabler , going by businesses finding ways to adopt IT.  The small and medium enterprises are looking for mobility to reach the customer faster, handle large processes, reduce errors, increase accuracy and drive throughputs in an environment of strong  security offering, pointed out Martinez who is also the General Manager, Accessibility & SME Programs, Intel – World Ahead Program.
 
This is where Intel’s  offer on ‘technology to the next billion users’  with its  processor  Atom powered on notebooks and Intel  Xeon processor powered on servers would help small and medium scale business in the area of supply chain management to ramp up speed and dependability.

Going by the 60,000 pharma distributors in India  technology needs to be adopted to ensure automation process of supply chain and compliance to regulatory needs which would only ensure positive impact on business operations, stated Martinez who was here in India to at Bangalore to address the role of new  technologies  and its adaptability for SMEs during an interaction with the pharmacy trade at a Tech Update driven series jointly organized by Intel India and C Square Info Solutions Pvt Ltd.