Supporting Life Science Start-ups and Upscaling with SAP S/4HANA on RISE

Life Science startups face a unique challenge in bringing their products and platforms to market. While they need to maintain a laser focus on getting new therapies through discovery, trials and approvals and into commercialisation, it is equally critical they have the right businesses systems and processes in place at the right time, to build and manage complex supply chains, track products and trials, and meet regulatory requirements. It can be hard to justify systems investment early in the lifecycle, but leaving it too long risks losing control and endangering compliance.

This challenge is heightened in the current life sciences environment, where investment can be hard to come by.  A June 2023 Pharmaphorum.com blog highlights how investment in pharma startups is being constrained by a number of factors, from geopolitical upheavals, to a lull in R&D investment after the exceptional effort of creating and rolling out COVID-19 vaccines. In this environment, the blog argues, startups need to build investor confidence in their business model as well as in their product. A robust, scalable systems and processes infrastructure is an essential part of creating a strong business model.

In this blog, we explore the systems challenges that lifecycle startups face, and how SAP S/4HANA on RISE can rapidly deliver a robust, flexible business systems platform that covers all the complex functional requirements a startup faces as it scales, without the need for upfront capital investment.

Why Life Science Startups Need a Solid Business Systems Foundation    

One of the key challenges for Life Science startups is managing the exponential growth in data and process requirements through the commercialisation lifecycle – creating and managing increasingly complex supply chains across a growing number of suppliers and stakeholders, tracking trials, products and patient journeys, and achieving and maintaining compliance.

Managing this across an assortment of spreadsheets and point solutions such as standalone LIMS creates a growing resource overhead and increases the risk of critical data or process steps ‘falling through the gaps’, leading to rework and delays at best, and compliance failures at worst.

Having a scalable, integrated ERP solution in place from day one enables the seamless, uninterrupted scaling of processes and data that frees a life sciences startup to focus on the therapy they are developing.

How SAP S/4HANA on RISE Delivers the System Capability That Startups Need 

SAP S/4HANA on RISE delivers

• The ability for Life Science startups to create or modernise their ERP backbone and reap all the benefits of cloud computing.
• A ready-made GxP compliant platform with specific capabilities designed for the Life Sciences environment and pre-configured best practices.
• A subscription-based model removing the need for upfront CAPEX.
• Scalability to meet the needs of the business as it grows.

How NTT DATA Business Solutions Can Help 

NTT DATA Business Solutions adds unique value for life science startups moving to SAP S/4HANA with RISE

• Proven SAP certified solution for the deployment of S/4HANA in a Life Science business.
• Life Science experienced consultants.
• Life Science specific IP, delivering Life Science specific solutions.

What Next? 

SAP S/4HANA with RISE offers Life Science startups the capability to create the systems foundation they need to scale seamlessly through the commercialisation cycle. NTT DATA Business Solutions has the capabilities and commitment to guide and support its customers on that journey.

To find out more, reach out to us on LinkedIn

Chris Paddison

Ruud Nieuweboer

or visit us here