Medicines for Orion product information management from IT Mill
In recent years the pharmaceuticals industry has undergone major changes, and these changes will continue for the foreseeable future: generic substitution, where a pharmaceutical is exchanged at the chemist for a less expensive version, was just the prelude. These changes will also put pressure on company information systems. Not even Orion Pharma, which is one of Finland's leading pharmaceutical companies, has been immune to this pressure.
"Generic substitution is being followed by the reference pricing system, which will be launched next year. Electronic prescriptions are also expected to begin next year. Orion is Finland's number one in pharmaceutical sales, and we plan on keeping our generic products competition. The constantly changing playing field requires that we are able to make fast changes. The effective management of product information is part of this ability," explains Jukka Aho, Development Manager for Orion Pharma.
Will an information system complicate things?
Orion has not been caught on its heels under pressure. The company actively set out to find solutions to information system challenges at the turn of the millennium.
"Our co-operation with IT Mill started in 2000, when we sought a provider for our B2B bidding system. IT Mill convinced us during the bidding, and we haven't regretted our decision one bit. The bidding system we put together back then is still in use and still meets today's challenges," says Aho.
Aho describes Orion Pharma as an "information-intensive company". According to Aho, one of the cornerstones of the company's business is to provide interest groups with archived information at the right time and in the right way.
"IT Mill's streamlined electronic publication system helps us do this. In practice the system has proven itself reliable and one that saves on resources: we avoid the repetitive maintenance of product information for publication and get that information on the Internet fresh," explains Aho.
A changing industry requires flexible tools
It is not at all unusual that the short lifespan of systems is a stumbling block between application providers and client companies. This, however, was not the case in the co-operation between IT Mill and Orion Pharma.
"In our case the lifespan of products supplied by IT Mill is based on good user support and the maintenance service offered by IT Mill. The supplier is committed to a long-term co-operation, systems maintenance and development," states Aho.
The paradigm shift in information that has occurred over the past few decades has significantly changed the pharmaceuticals industry. Aho sees the electronification of business and transition to information networks first and foremost as an opportunity, not a threat. At any rate, such a tightly regulated industry sets its own special demands.
"We consider the electronification of business operations at Orion an opportunity to enhance our cost-effectiveness. Technology also allows us to further improve our customer service. However, in this case industry regulation places constraints on us which we absolutely respect," emphasises Aho.