Digital transformation is advancing, and companies in the pharmaceutical industry are facing unique challenges in managing their processes and delivering high-quality services. This case study highlights the transformative partnership between STADA, a leading European manufacturer of high-value pharmaceuticals, and INKUBIT, an expert in digital solutions and transformation.
STADA and business intelligence: a pioneer in the pharmaceutical industry
STADA, short for "Standardarzneimittel Deutscher Apotheker", is a renowned company with a long history in the German pharmacy industry and is known for its efficiency in business intelligence. The company is known for the production and distribution of generic and over-the-counter medicines. With a clear focus on quality and affordability, STADA offers healthcare products that improve people's well-being. The company has earned a firm place in the European pharmaceutical industry and plays a crucial role in the healthcare sector.
The challenge for business intelligence: increasing efficiency and integration
STADA has supported its customers to date with expertise, high-quality pharmaceuticals and innovative business intelligence solutions. The project focused on modernizing STADA and INKUBIT 's business intelligence infrastructure and migrating from existing Tableau reports to Microsoft Power BI. STADA needed a Solution to streamline its reporting processes and ensure comprehensive data integration.
Aims of the project:
- Migration of over 120 Tableau reports to Power BI
- Improvement and expansion of reports in the areas of supply chain management, finance, sales, market analysis, production and HR
- Implementation of best-practice reporting transformation methods
- Ensuring seamless integration and data transparency
- Training of the STADA team in the use of Power BI
SolutionTailor-made digital infrastructure
INKUBIT developed a customized business Solution solution for STADA based on the following technologies:
Power BI: Power BI is a powerful Solution analytics solution from Microsoft that enables companies to visualize data from various sources and create interactive reports and dashboards. The user-friendliness and the ability to analyze data in real time were decisive factors in choosing this Solution.
Data Vault 2.0: This framework supports the integration and modeling of data from different sources. It provides a robust and flexible method for managing data that is easily scalable and customizable.
Azure Data Lake: A cloud-based data platform that stores and manages large amounts of data. Azure Data Lake offered STADA the ability to store data securely and cost-effectively while ensuring fast access for analysis and reporting.
Azure Integration Services: These services enable the seamless integration of different systems and processes, resulting in better data consistency and efficiency.
Implementation and results
The project lasted 18 months, during which INKUBIT worked closely with STADA's development team to analyze the existing data sources and transform the backend. The migration of reports from Tableau to Power BI was done gradually to ensure a smooth transition.
Advantages of implementation:
Sales growth: Thanks to the improved analysis options, STADA was able to make strategic decisions faster and more precisely, which led to significant sales growth.
Cost reduction: The migration to Power BI and the automation of reporting processes led to a significant reduction in operating costs. By using the Microsoft Cloud, STADA was also able to reduce its IT infrastructure costs.
Transformation: The digital transformation of the BI infrastructure enabled STADA to react more flexibly and agilely to market changes. The expanded reporting landscape helped to gain better insights into business processes and to continuously optimize them.
Risk minimization: With the new reporting functions, STADA was able to identify potential risks at an early stage and take appropriate measures. The improved data transparency and accuracy helped to minimize errors and ensure compliance with legal regulations.
Training measures
INKUBIT conducted regular monthly training sessions to train the STADA team in the use of Power BI. This training covered both basic and advanced features of Power BI, enabling employees to create and manage reports independently.
Business-Intelligence STADA: Success story in figures
A prime example of unprecedented innovation and digital transformation in the pharmaceutical sector. The results in figures:
- 120+ reports migrated: Successfully migrated over 120 Tableau reports to Power BI, resulting in a consistent and centralized reporting platform.
- Improved reports in several areas: Reports in the areas of supply chain management, finance, sales, market analysis, production and HR have been improved and expanded.
- Increased efficiency: The use of Power BI has significantly increased efficiency in the creation and analysis of reports.
- Training and self-service: Regular training and the introduction of self-service reporting functions enabled end users to carry out analyses and create reports independently.
Project results: Efficiency and transparency at a new level
The implementation of these solutions led to impressive results:
- Standardized reports: The migration to Power BI has standardized reporting processes and improved data quality.
- Data integration and transparency: The use of Data Vault 2.0 and Azure Data Lake enabled seamless integration and transparency of data.
- Scalable infrastructure: Azure Integration Services provided a scalable and flexible IT infrastructure that supports future requirements.
- Increased efficiency and reduced costs: The automation of reporting processes and the use of cloud-based solutions led to a significant increase in efficiency and a reduction in costs.
Foundation for sustainable success: STADA business intelligence
STADA was able to transform its company in four different business pillars:
Sales growth: Improved sales and marketing efficiency led to a significant increase in turnover.
Cost reduction: By automating core processes and integrating Azure DevOps, STADA was able to achieve significant cost savings.
Transformation: STADA's digital transformation not only optimized internal processes, but also created new opportunities for future innovations.
Risk minimization: The implementation of Dynamics 365 and Azure DevOps improved the accuracy and consistency of process execution, minimizing operational risks.
Project duration and implementation
The project was completed in an impressive 18 months. INKUBIT 's expertise in requirements engineering, process design and project management as well as advanced programming and low-code development contributed significantly to the success of the project. INKUBIT 's power user training ensured that STADA's employees were well prepared to use the new systems.
Future prospects: Sustainable growth and innovation
The partnership between STADA and INKUBIT has not only overcome current challenges, but has also created a solid basis for future growth and innovation. Sustainable competitive advantages have been achieved through the use of state-of-the-art technologies and close cooperation.
The collaboration with INKUBIT was a decisive turning point for our digital transformation. Thanks to their expertise in business intelligence solutions, we were able to completely modernize our reporting processes and significantly increase our efficiency. By implementing these solutions, we were not only able to reduce our operating costs, but also boost our revenue growth. The new reporting capabilities enabled us to make faster and more accurate decisions, which had a direct positive impact on our bottom line.
The success story of STADA and INKUBIT is a shining example of how digital transformation can revolutionize companies in the pharmaceutical industry. Through the implementation of innovative technologies and strategic collaboration, STADA was able to strengthen its market position and create a future-proof basis for further growth and innovation.