Real-time tracking is the method where we find the location, movement, and condition of pharmaceutical shipments or assets with the help of GPS, IoT, and cloud-based systems.
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Real-Time Tracking: A Lifesaver for the Pharmaceutical Industry
- real-time tracking system
- 12 min read
- February 17, 2025
When we talk about the pharmaceutical industry, every second counts and a minimal delay in it can impose a life or death risk. As per the recent report published on GlobeNewswire, almost half of the pharmaceutical organizations’ use visibility technology to track field service employees, raw materials and plan their manufacturing accordingly. Also, it is reported that more than nine in ten executives plan to implement more robust digital supply chain visibility solutions over the next 12 months.
Many of you might be new to this term called visibility tracking. Don’t worry! It is not a hard nut to crack. Today in this blog, you will understand what real-time tracking is and how it can help in your pharma business. So without further ado, take your pen and start noting.
What is Visibility Technology?
Visibility technology is a term used for the tools, software, and systems that help you get real-time insights. It is software that helps you to get the status and location of assets, products, or resources throughout a supply chain. Talking about the pharma industry, visibility technology helps ensure that every step of the supply chain—from manufacturing to distribution—is connected, transparent, traceable, and efficient. You can also use it to track your employees. This means easy, quick, and handy employee productivity tracking.
Are Visibility Technology and Real-Time Tracking the Same?
Some internet users might get confused between visibility technology tracking and real-time tracking. But actually, they are not the same. Let’s understand how they differ.
What is Real-Time tracking?
Real-time tracking is a technology that consistently keeps track of the location, movement, and status of assets, shipments, or vehicles. It makes use of GPS, IoT devices, and cloud-based systems to give instant updates, taking care of complete visibility. It is majorly used in industries like pharmaceuticals to trace temperature-sensitive shipments, fleet management to monitor vehicles, and to locate family members or devices. Real-time tracker uplifts efficiency by optimizing routes, reducing delays, and improving security. By using features like live updates, alerts for disruptions, and condition monitoring, it helps businesses and individuals to make timely decisions and ensure reliability.
Difference Between Visibility Technology and Real-Time Tracking
Aspect | Visibility Technology | Real-Time Tracking |
---|---|---|
Definition | A broad system that provides end-to-end transparency across the supply chain. | A particular feature that concentrates on analyzing live location and movement. |
Scope | Vast; includes insights about inventory, operations, and overall supply chain processes. | Narrow; Merely focuses on tracking location and movement in real-time. |
Functionality | Observe multiple parameters, such as location, temperature, inventory levels, and compliance. | Tracks the live position of shipments, vehicles, or assets and provides live updates. |
Technology Used | Combines IoT devices, GPS, ERP systems, and analytics platforms. | Primarily depends on GPS and IoT devices for real-time updates. |
Purpose | Takes care of transparency, predictive analytics, and operational efficiency. | Provides instant location data to help make quick decisions and improve response times. |
Key Benefits | Supply chain optimization Compliance monitoring Predictive analytics |
Immediate alerts for disruptions Route optimization Reduced delays |
Use Case in Pharma | Tracks raw material availability, shipment conditions, and supply chain compliance. | Tracks the live location of a shipment to ensure timely delivery. |
Examples | Monitoring stock levels across warehouses Predicting delays in the supply chain |
Tracks delivery truck’s location in real-time Monitors temperature-sensitive shipments live |
7 Game-Changing Benefits of Real-Time Locating Systems in Pharma
1. Enhanced Supply Chain Visibility
It is important to keep track of every step in the supply chain. With real-time tracking, it is easier than ever. With the use of a real-time locating system, businesses can check exactly where their shipments are at any given moment. Imagine being able to use a map personally to pinpoint the current location of essential medications and eliminating delays with instant map updates. It helps companies to respond to issues on time, save costs, and optimize their operations. Whether it’s a temperature-sensitive vaccine or essential supplies, having an idea of their exact location takes care of timely and secure deliveries.
2. Improved Operational Efficiency
Planning to run operations smoothly without proper tools is like making food without ingredients. By adding real-time trackers, companies can reduce inefficiencies and concentrate on what matters most, i.e., delivering on time. By tracking shipments from production to delivery, you can save the time spent adding records manually and monitoring progress. Think of it as you are tracking the distance of a shipment, and the system suggests a faster route for your vehicle. It will make sure you don’t miss a deadline and will not waste resources. Pharma businesses can simplify operations, save money, and be competitive with this level of precision.
3. Enhanced Security and Compliance
Pharmaceutical products must be handled with care. Any lapse in that can cause significant issues. A real-time tracking system makes sure that shipments are secure and compliant throughout the process. Alerts make sure to inform you of temperature fluctuations, route deviations, or unexpected stops. For example, life-saving medication tracking in real-time makes sure that such medications remain in optimal condition. By using this technology, companies can control theft, maintain accurate compliance records, and avoid any hefty penalties. Think of it as a security blanket that helps you to keep your product safe and your reputation intact.
Ease your pharmaceutical operations with real-time tracking.
Optimize routes, ensure compliance, and boost customer trust with actionable insights.
4. Better Decision-Making with Real-Time Data
The right information helps you make smarter decisions. Real-time tracking systems track the data to highlight performance and inefficiencies and predict any potential delay. By having access to real-time data, you can access how your fleet performs or how much time can be saved with better planning. For instance, if a truck that carries the supplies is delayed, the system can update the route, which can help you reach your destination in less time and get things done without causing any delays. Using this, you can allocate your resources better, make better decisions, and communicate better without breaking the bank.
5. Enhanced Customer Satisfaction
If your customers are happy, you can retain them better. With a real-time locating system, you can be accurate about the delivery time and share the live location information with the customer. By tracking data on important medications, you can build trust and reduce unnecessary customer stress. It gives customers a realistic deadline. This transparency improves the relationship with customers and makes them repeat customers.
6. Cost Savings
Who doesn’t like to save money? Now saving money means decreased results. Right? But that’s not the case here. With real-time location, you can save money and also improve results. How? The real-time tracking feature finds the inefficiencies and fixes them before they become bigger and get expensive. Route suggestions, GPS monitoring reports, and smarter resource management directly reduce delays and save fuel wasted. For instance, you can track a delivery vehicle’s position and help companies determine how to optimize its schedule, reducing unnecessary trips and cutting down costs. With minimal errors and better planning, you don’t just save money—you invest in better business practices.
7. Versatility for Personal and Business Use
If you think real-time location tracking is just for business, you are wrong. Though it is best for field use, it can also aid you in personal use.
We all need peace of mind, but not keeping track of your loved ones or belongings can stress you. Thus, with real-time locators, you can always know where your favourite devices or humans are and what they are up to. For businesses, it makes supply chain management smoother, with instant deliveries and fewer hurdles. These real-time tracking systems are flexible, user-friendly, and incredibly helpful. The best part is that field force management software with real-tracking can easily be integrated with hrms & payroll software.
Wrapping Up
Real-time locating systems improve supply chain management, making sure field force management and operations run smoothly with live tracking and route optimization. From improving employee productivity tracking to reducing costs, they bring outstanding transparency, security, and efficiency for both personal and business needs. On top of that, being an all-in-one solution, it serves all business needs in a few clicks.
That’s all for this blog! Here we covered the basics of visibility technology, real-time tracking, and their differences. We also learned how field force management software using real-time tracking can transform the pharmaceutical industry by ensuring compliance, improving field service, and boosting customer satisfaction. Stay tuned for more insights.
FAQs
What is real-time tracking in the pharmaceutical industry?
How does visibility technology differ from real-time tracking?
Visibility technology gives end-to-end transparency during the entire supply chain, which includes inventory and operational insights. Real-time tracking stresses solely on live updates of location and movement.
Why is real-time tracking important for the pharmaceutical sector?
Real-time tracking is important as it aids in the secure and timely delivery of temperature-sensitive medications, which safeguards them from theft. It even helps in immediate action to disruptions, as a result improving compliance and customer satisfaction.
How can real-time tracking save costs in the pharmaceutical industry?
Real-time tracking saves costs by finding inefficiencies, optimizing routes, and reducing delays. It reduces fuel wastage, streamlines operations, and cuts down unnecessary expenses.
Can real-time tracking be integrated with other systems?
Yes, real-time tracking can easily be integrated with tools like field force management system, HRMS, and payroll systems to improve efficiency and simplify operations.