In a standards-based industry that is not so standardized...
Everyone involved in Global Market Access (GMA) knows how complex it can be to handle regulations, clients, test labs, certification suppliers, and local authorities in a fragile balance. Multiple channels of communication, countless certification applications, and a reserved space in our brains to keep track of all the moving parts.
As a GMA expert for over 10 years, that space in my brain was constantly overloaded. Thankfully, I’ve always been driven by a passion for processes and identifying inefficiencies in outdated systems to implement digital solutions. This instinct for process improvement was evident from my first job, where I transformed the manual, time-consuming system of updating call center information into an efficient digitized process. Frustrated by the wasted time flipping through outdated folders, I led the charge creating a single digital manual with the help of IT, not only improving service times, but also employee efficiency and morale.
This was the start of a mindset, no... actually, a way of life, in process improvement for me.
The right technology can completely change the way we work, enabling us to be more efficient, more creative, more accurate, and—last but not least—less stressed. In the 24 years that passed from “paper manual to Publisher” to this day, the examples in which technology has allowed me to improve processes and times are countless, but none as evident as what I’ve experienced at Global Validity.
The Challenges of Global Market Access
When I began my career in Global Market Access over a decade ago, I realized the dire need for technological processes. Keeping track of projects requires an elaborate combination of word documents, spreadsheets, task alerts, carefully structured folders, and a long history of emails. To be somewhat efficient I was faced with creating manual lists of required documents to support country applications, using excel formulas to calculate project deadlines, adding calendar alerts to track certification expiration dates, and organizing technical file documents on my local drive. Not to mention, updating and sending all weekly status reports alone would take half a day of work at least.
We manage compliance in a constant race against the clock, with three screens, at least five open browser tabs, outdated status reports, and countless hours searching for documents or conversation records to find a detail or two that could make or break an approval. We’ve all felt it and thought, “there has to be a better way”. The good news: well there is. It’s called Access Manager.
The Future of GMA with Access Manager
I know what you are thinking, because I thought it too; “there’s no way to integrate everything efficiently.” After years of attempting to develop processes, programs, and ways to organize the GMA process for myself and clients, I had all but given up on the hope and even my enjoyment of the job. So, when I was presented with the idea of Access Manager, I thought it would be just another repository of information that just cannot adapt to our multifaceted industry. I was so happy to be wrong, and it was a great feeling to be surprised by what this platform can do. I believe my colleagues at Global Validity also enjoyed the astonishment on my face as they went through the details. The technology is here, integration is possible, and it works seamlessly.
Every aspect of the business successfully integrated into one platform
- Need a quote? Access Manager.
- Need a real-time status update directly from the lab or agency? Access Manager.
- Need to check on country labels? Access Manager.
- Need to know sample requirements and testing details? Access Manager.
- What is pending from the document checklist? Access Manager.
- Need to find a technical file? Access Manager.
- Want to track the validity of a certificate? Access Manager.
A single portal with all the information, all the tools, all the answers at the click of a button. No details slipping through the cracks, no missed deadlines, no relying solely on your memory to keep track of all the variables. Just a complete overview of where you are and what you need in a matter of minutes.
The difference with the old way of doing things is abysmal. Not only can I handle four times the work that I used to, but I can also do it with a relaxed and clear mind to stay sharp and find creative solutions or workarounds to possible obstacles. I can’t imagine any other way of managing GMA now (nor do I want to), and I can’t wait to show everyone there is a better way!