Written by: Andrea Salive, Business Development Manager
The Life Science industry is making groundbreaking advances now more than ever and although rapidly evolving, there’s something the industry isn’t fully caught up to speed on- automated digital processes.
Gone are the days of office spaces consumed with filing cabinets, manila folders and stacks of white papers collecting dust. So, what’s stopping you from making the upgrade and being one with the times? Perhaps your paper-based system is working “just fine,” implementing a new internal process isn’t within your financial budget or maybe the fear and automation anxiety is stopping you in your tracks. No matter what that reason may be, let’s look at what benefits an Electronic System can bring to your organization and why sticking to your “norm” may be hurting you.
We’ve all dealt with these types of situations in the workplace before; lost files, missing signatures, forgotten deadlines, misplaced documents, etc. Life Science organizations understand the criticality with following internal processes and how one simple mistake can result in significant setbacks. Paper-based processes allow for great probability for human error to occur in even the simplest tasks, for example, punching in the wrong number or misplacement of a decimal point which can all have a devastating impact. How can an Electronic System help reduce this? By implementing an Electronic System, an organization can define that same existing process electronically to ensure that all employees follow it while also eliminating the opportunity for employees to deviate from that process. Think of an Electronic System as train tracks. Train tracks enable a train to move from point A to point B by providing a dependable, streamlined path.
In addition to harmonizing internal processes, Electronic Systems can also save an organization a lot of time and money. When employees are responsible for lengthy, monotonous tasks such as updating documents via manual data entry, a lot of time is absorbed resulting in decreased productivity and you know what they say, “Time is Money.” When transitioning to an Electronic System, the amount of time now saved, leads to an increase in productivity and allows for bringing products to market faster, resulting in higher revenue. Other areas of savings an Electronic System can help to support are general hard costs and sustainability. Moving from a paper-based system allows an organization to save on the amount of paper they expend leading to a more sustainable workplace and environment.
Electronic Systems are being designed to meet the needs and standards of the Life Science industry which is another reason why transitioning to an automated process can increase effectiveness and efficiency. When operating a paper-based system, there’s potential for major risks associated with Data Integrity and confidentiality. Electronic Systems, such as PSC Software’s, ACE™, was created to meet industry standards by offering a system that is 21 CFR Part 11 compliant with electronic records and signatures. This also alleviates the stress of manually tracking documents as there are validated audit trails and system logs.
Another point to include here that makes an Electronic System more efficient within your organization is the accessibility factor. Software as a service (Saas), Electronic Systems are hosted within the cloud meaning you can access them from your phone, tablet, or desktop at any time. Rather than shuffling through files and outdated paperwork, one simple search within your electronic records and voila, how simple is that! No need for any more of those late nights at the office when you can access everything you need at the tips of your fingers in the comfort of your own home. Not only does this make you and your employees’ day to day easier, it again supports an increase in productivity and effectiveness. All in all, the accessibility factor is what can really give you an advantage and separate you from your competitors.
In conclusion, Electronic Systems are constantly emerging and aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. As scary as change may be, establishments like PSC Software™, for example, are here to assure your transition to an automated process is completed seamlessly. These systems are here to simplify your processes while growing and scaling as your organization does. So, what are you waiting for- click here to schedule a free demo or here to learn more!
