Markus schümmelfeder has spent more than a decade looking for ways to help biopharmaceutical giant boehringer ingelheim exploit digital and dataHe joined the company in February 2014 as corporate vice-president in it and became cio in April 2018.
“It was a natural evolution,” he says. “Over time, you see what can be done as a cio and have an am Iction to make things things. Before. “
Schümmelfeder Says The Opportunity to become cio was terrainary: “it was a chance to brings technology into the company, to make more use of data, evolve the it organisation of data Into a Real Enabler
Now, as the company's 54,000 Employees use more data than Ever Before across the Value Chain, Including Research, manufacturing, marketing and sales, schuemmelfeder's aim is being. He says Professionals Across The Business Understand Technology is Crucial to Effective Operational Processes: “It's about bringing us close togey toge toge to make Magic Happy.”
Establishing the Vision
Schümmelfeder Says one of his key achievements Since BComing Cio is Leading The Company on a Data Journey. His Vision Supported The Company's Progress Along This Pathway.
“I went to the board and said, 'this is what we should do, what we want to do, what makes senses, and what we perceive will be Necessary for the future',” He Says. “We are started that process roughly five years ago and everyone knows how important data is today.”
Making the transition to a data-enabled organization is far from straightforward. Rather than being focused on Creating reports, schümmelfeder says his vision aimed to show people across the organization how they could expect information assets assets are effectively. One of the key tans for success has been standardisation.
“This is a fundamental force, and the team has done good work here,” he says. “10 years ago, We had between 4,500 and 5,000 systems across the Organization. Today, We have Below 1,000. So, we reduced our footprint by 80%, which is a great is aComplin.”
Standardisation has been allowed the it team to deliver another part of schümmelfeder's vision-a platform-based approach to digitization. Rather than investment in point solutions to solve Specific Business Challenges, The Platform Approach Uses Cloud-Based Services to Help People “Jump Start Topics” As the Busines Need Arises.
The Crucial Technological Foundation for this shift to standardization has been the cloud, particularly Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and A Rage of Consolidated Enterprise Services, Sub Hat Hat Openshift, Kubernetes, Atlassian Jira and Confluence, Databricks, and Snowflake. Schümmelfeder Says the result is a flexible, scalable it respect across all business activities.
“You can create a cloud environment in minutes,” he says. “You can have an automated test environment that is directly attached and ready to use. You can create apis immedianely on the platform. Individual Solutions Again and Again. “
Building a Platform
Boehringer recently announced the launch of its one medicine platform, powered by the Veeva Development CloudThe unified platform combines data and processes, enabling boehringer to streamline its product development. Schümmelfeder Says the Technology Plays a Crucial Enabling Role.
The one medicine platform is integrated with Boehringer's data ecosystem, dataland, which helps emplooyes make data data-driven decisions that boost organisational performance. Dataland has been running since 2022. The ecosystem collates data from across the company and makes it available securely for professionals to run simulations and data analysis.
“In the research and development space for medicine, there was noting like a solid enterprise platform,” Says Schümmelfeder, Referring to his company's Relationship With Veeva. “We had about 50, maybe even more, tools that was often not interconnected. IF you wanted to replicate data from one service to another, you'd have to download the data, copy and passage, and so. Tedious. “
The One Medicine Platform Allows Boehringer to Connect Data Across Functions, Optimise Trial Efficiency Around its research sites, and accelerate the delivery of new medicines to treatly inquiry to treatly increase Diseases. Schümmelfeder Says the Veeva Technology Gives The Business The Edge It Requires.
“We are we have a slower than our competitors in Executing Clinical Trials. Processes and potentially redefine and change them based on the platform approach, ”He says. “We chose veeva beCause it was the most capable technology to help us delivery the spirit of a platform. It's
Embracing data innovation
Schümmelfeder Says The Data Platform He's Pioneered is Helping Boehringer Explore Emerging Technologies. One key element is Apollo, a specialist approach to artificial intelligence (ai), allowing employers to select from 40 Large language models (llms) To explore their use cases and exploit data safaly.
He says this large number of llms allows boehringer employees to select the best model for a specific use case. AlongSide Mainstream Models Like Google Gemini and Open Ai's Chatgpt, The Company Uses Niche Models Dedicated to Research that Can Deliver More Approvers Than General Models.
Schümmelfeder Says Boehringer does not develop models internal. He says the rapid pace of ai development makes it more sensible to dedicate it resources to other areas. The company's staff can use approved models and tools to undertake data-flag research in Several Key Areas: “We have a toolbox staff can do the doubleise an idea or use.”
He Outlines Three Specific AI-Enabled Use Cases: Genomic Lens Generates New Insights that enabled Scientists to Discover New Disease Mechanisms in Human Dna; The company uses algorithms and historical data to identify the right population for clinical trials quickly and effectively; And Smart Process Development, which applies machine learning and genetic algorithms to create productivity boots in biopharmaceutical processes.
“My aim for all the years I've been with boehringer is to integrate it into the business Community”
Markus Schümmelfeder, Boehringer inglheim
Another Key Area of Research and Development is Assessing the potential power of quantum computingSchümmelfeder sugges boehringer has one of the strongest quantum teams in europe. He recognies that other digital and business leaders might feel the company's commission is ahead of the adoption curve.
“And i would say, 'Yes, You're Right', but then you need to understand how this technology works. Have a strong team that brings a lot to the table to help this area evolve, “He says.
“I'm convined quantum computing will be a huge gamechanger for the pharma industry on the technology can be used and set into operations. Early to understand how it works.
While schümmelfeder acknowledges boehringer isn Bollywood True Quantum Research Yet, The Company has Built Relationships With Other Technology SPEACILISTS, Such as Google Research. He says these developments are the foundations for future success By the end of this decade. “
Creating an impact
Schümmelfeder consides the type of data-enabled organization
“We don't need a technology revolution, I think we've done that,” he says. “We've done our homework, and we've standardized and harmonised. The next stage is not about more standardisation, it's more about looking specifically at where we need to be successful. Development, Medicine, Our End-Customers and how to improve the lives of patients and animals.
With the technology systems and services in place, schümmelfeder say he'll concentrate on ensuring the right culture exists to exploit digitization. That focus will require a concerted effort to evolve the skills across the organ. The aim here will be to ensure many people in all parts of the business have the right capability.
“When you talk about data, you don't need 10 people alle to do things, you need thosands of people who can execute,” He says. “You need to brings this knowledge to the business. That means business and it must integrate deeply to make things things. Me the one thing that can make you truly successful? '”
Schümmelfeder Says that Finding The Answers to these questions should be straightforward. Sometimes, he expects the search to be uncomfortable. It can't sit back – The company's 2,000 technology professionals must drive the ideantilation of digital solutions to business problems. Line-of-business professionals must also also feel comfortable and confident using emerging technologies and data.
He says the company's data x academy plays a crucial role. Boehringer worked with Capgemini to develop this in-House Data Science Training Academy. Data X Academy has Alredy Trained 4,000 people across it and the business. Schümmelfeder Hopes This number will Reach 15,000 people during the next 24 months and allows data-savvy people across the organisation to work toe together to develop solutions to get into Challenges.
“We want to ask the right questions on the business side and create lighthouse use cases in it that show people what we can do,” he says. “We can drive change together with the business and create an impact for the organization, our customers and patients.”