Global Biopharma Preclinical R&D Procurement Case Study

This case study details the procurement transformation of a top 20 global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, which operates in approximately 70 countries. The organization faced challenges in preclinical R&D purchasing due to fragmented systems, with over 200 suppliers across five financial systems and seven global locations. The deployment of Science Exchange as a unified interface for preclinical R&D purchasing streamlined operations significantly. The study outlines the transition from a complex, disjointed procurement process to a standardized workflow that enhances supplier discovery, contracting, compliance, and payment processes. Key outcomes included an 80% reduction in order activation time, resulting in a shift from 30 days to just 6 days, and over $1.2 million in cost savings across approximately $50 million in preclinical spend. The implementation allowed for a consolidated supplier master data approach, reducing the number of suppliers to 10 vendor-master records while increasing access to specialized suppliers under a single standard agreement. This transformation has redefined the operational model for preclinical R&D purchasing, focusing on strategic supplier relationships and enabling researchers to concentrate on scientific innovation.