Seven Transformations Powered By ERP Software Built For CROs

In our experience, the technology lifecycle of CROs often follows a certain pattern. 

• At their inception, many CROs adopt spreadsheets and other standard business productivity software tools. These coexist with systems used to manage and report on research studies, such as electronic Clinical Outcome Assessment (eCOA), Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome (ePRO), or laboratory information management system (LIMS) solutions.
• As CROs grow, their technology landscape tends to become more fragmented and unmanageable as they introduce additional software tools.
• Many CROs adopt a software system like QuickBooks to support their finance management, but employees usually continue using their spreadsheets and other software as well. However, real growth and change almost always surpasses expectations, and they find themselves outgrowing these software tools much sooner than anticipated.
• Project managers responsible for one or a small number of research studies may have a way of determining the cost, performance, and percentage to completion of the trials they oversee. But, over time, it becomes more difficult for executives and decision-makers to review the company’s data and get a true sense of its profitability, performance, and sponsor relationships.
• Eventually, it becomes obvious that disparate software tools and data sources make it difficult for a growing CRO to chart its course. The company deploys an all-in-one, top-tier ERP system like SAP or Oracle as its system of record and migrates data from other business software tools into it. The specialized industry solutions for managing research studies may to a degree be integrated with the ERP software.