By Mary Morales, Pathfinder Community Program Manager 

In March, I had the privilege of hosting our first Life Sciences Industry User Group session, where we explored how automation is transforming pharmaceutical supply chains. The discussion was incredibly rich, with attendees sharing their experiences implementing automation at scale across global operations. 

What struck me most was the ambitious vision shared during our main presentation - a journey to reduce order-to-delivery times by 50 days annually across operations spanning more than 80 countries. As we discussed the transformation, it became clear how a greenfield automation program can quickly evolve into an enterprise-scale initiative with the right approach and vision. 

"We knew we needed to fundamentally change how we approached order processing," one of our attendees shared. This resonated with many in the group who nodded in agreement about the challenges of manual handoffs between departments and the opportunities that intelligent automation presents. 

During our discussion, we explored how an AI-powered copilot was developed to: 

• Coordinate workflows across multiple departments 

• Handle exceptions intelligently 

• Reduce manual intervention in routine processes 

• Accelerate order-to-delivery timelines 

What I found particularly valuable was hearing about the real-world implementation. The team shared how their solution has moved from concept to full production, managing complex order processing workflows while handling various exceptions that naturally occur in pharmaceutical supply chains. They continue to enhance capabilities through regular releases, with an impressive backlog of planned improvements. 

The group was especially interested in the next phase of the program, which focuses on expanding AI capabilities to provide better insights to end users - from subject matter experts to process specialists. It's exciting to see how automation programs can evolve from basic process automation to truly intelligent operations that augment human decision-making. 

Several success factors emerged from our discussion: 

• Iterative development approach allowing for continuous improvement 

• Strong focus on exception handling and edge cases 

• Clear metrics for measuring impact 

• Regular stakeholder engagement and feedback 

• Balance of quick wins and strategic capabilities 

Looking ahead, the group discussed identifying new opportunities for automation across supply chain operations, with particular interest in deeper integration of AI capabilities to enhance decision-making and process optimization. 

Join the Life Science Community Group 

What made this session particularly special was the open, collaborative environment where peers could share real-world experiences, challenges, and successes in automation implementation. Our Life Sciences Industry User Group is designed to be a safe space for sharing practical insights from automation professionals who understand the unique challenges of life sciences automation. 

If you're interested in joining future discussions like this one, I'd love to have you as part of our community group. By joining this group, you’ll get invited to quarterly user group meetings. These meetings are private and focused, allowing for candid conversations and meaningful networking with peers in your industry. 

To learn more about joining future sessions, reach out to your Automation Anywhere representative for details about the Life Sciences Industry User Group. I look forward to welcoming you to our next discussion!