German-based software developer SAP released a blockchain network designed to make collaboration easier for pharmaceutical supply chain trading partners.
The SAP Information Collaboration Hub for Life Sciences is a public cloud network aimed at reducing drug counterfeiting. By following directives issued by governments worldwide, the blockchain network requires the serialization of drugs and commiserates compliant reporting.
SAP designed the cloud network to reduce the cost and risk of implementing required collaboration capabilities. The hub evolved from the company's former pharmaceutical network. It uses a digital network built on SAP's cloud and enables trading partners to exchange large amounts of serialization and associated traceability data.
Initially, the hub will focus on traceability scenarios. However, it will expand to include a broad range of pharmaceutical supply chain processes.
"SAP Information Collaboration Hub for Life Sciences, formerly known as the Pharma Network, turned out to be the right solution at the right time for Boehringer Ingelheim," said Mary Mercado, head of global information technology operations services at Boehringer Ingelheim. "Connection to SAP Cloud Platform enables us to integrate third parties much more quickly into serialization processes in an agile supply chain and to vastly improve drug traceability."