Alcon and Veeva MedTech

This video features Ken Sullivan discussing the strategic decision by Alcon, a medical devices company, to select Veeva as its primary technology partner and the subsequent operational advantages derived from implementing the Veeva MedTech platform. The selection process was based on two core criteria: the comprehensive nature of Veeva’s product offerings and the quality of Veeva as a company and partner, particularly emphasizing their focus on customer service. Alcon sought a unified, cloud-based, multi-tenant platform to replace the disparate systems inherited from its previous structure as a division of Novartis, a period that lasted eight to ten years.

The implementation of Veeva solutions has fundamentally transformed Alcon's operational capabilities, leading to significant gains in agility, efficiency, and internal self-reliance. The speaker notes that the unified nature of the Veeva platform across all implemented applications is a critical advantage, allowing for seamless integration and consistency across commercial and clinical operations. This unification has enabled Alcon to streamline processes and maximize the utilization of its internal resources, moving away from previous dependency models.

A specific, powerful example of this transformation is Alcon's enhanced ability to build and customize databases internally. The flexibility of the Veeva platform allows Alcon to tailor data structures precisely to the needs of specific studies, ranging from small-scale feasibility studies to extensive, large-scale regulatory studies. This self-service capability ensures that data management aligns perfectly with regulatory and clinical requirements, accelerating the data lifecycle.

Ultimately, the partnership with Veeva is viewed as a strategic enabler that supports Alcon’s core business objective: bringing innovative products to its customers faster and more efficiently. The ability to easily adopt new features and solutions as they are rolled out by Veeva ensures that Alcon maintains a technologically advanced and optimized operational environment, reinforcing the value of a strong, collaborative vendor relationship in the highly regulated medical device sector.

Key Takeaways: • Dual Criteria for Vendor Selection: Alcon’s decision to adopt Veeva was based equally on the technical breadth of the unified, cloud-based, multi-tenant application suite and the perceived quality of Veeva’s partnership approach, specifically highlighting superior customer service compared to previous vendor relationships. • Strategic Platform Consolidation: The primary driver for the implementation was the need to move away from legacy systems inherited during the company’s time as a division of Novartis, underscoring the necessity for life sciences companies to adopt a single, unified platform for operational efficiency and data consistency. • Operational Transformation: The Veeva implementation has directly resulted in Alcon becoming a more agile and efficient company, allowing for quicker adaptation to market demands and internal process improvements, which is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in the medical device industry. • Empowerment and Self-Reliance: A key benefit cited is the increased self-reliance of Alcon’s internal teams, enabling them to manage and configure systems, such as building databases, without constant reliance on external consultants or vendor support. • Flexible Database Management for Regulatory Studies: The platform provides the necessary flexibility for Alcon to build customized databases tailored to the specific needs of various study types, ensuring compliance and data integrity across the spectrum from small feasibility studies to large regulatory submissions. • Value of Unified Solutions: The unified nature of the Veeva offerings across the organization ensures that data and processes are consistent, minimizing integration challenges and maximizing the value derived from the technology stack. • Continuous Feature Adoption: The architecture of the Veeva solutions allows Alcon to seamlessly integrate new features and updates as they are released by the vendor, ensuring the company’s technology remains current without disruptive overhaul projects. • Partnership Quality is Critical: The speaker emphasizes that the quality of the partnership and the focus on customer service were non-negotiable requirements, indicating that in regulated industries, vendor support and collaboration are as important as the software functionality itself. • Technology as an Innovation Accelerator: The entire technology investment is framed not just as a cost center, but as a strategic asset that directly enables the business goal of accelerating the delivery of innovative products to customers.

Tools/Resources Mentioned:

• Veeva MedTech (Platform)
• Veeva Applications (Broad range of applications)

Key Concepts:

• Unified Platform: The concept of using a single, integrated technology stack (Veeva) across different functional areas (e.g., clinical, regulatory, commercial) to ensure data consistency and streamline workflows.
• Multi-tenant Cloud: A software architecture where a single instance of the software serves multiple customers (tenants), providing cost efficiency and automatic updates, which was a key requirement for Alcon.
• Agility and Efficiency: Operational metrics improved by the platform implementation, allowing the medical device company to adapt quickly and operate with fewer resources relative to output.

Examples/Case Studies:

• Alcon’s Transition: The case study involves Alcon moving away from systems inherited from its previous status as a division of Novartis, highlighting the challenge of integrating legacy systems and the solution provided by Veeva.
• Database Customization: Alcon’s ability to build databases for both small feasibility studies and large regulatory studies demonstrates the platform’s flexibility in meeting diverse clinical data management needs.