Transparency as the Key for the Pharmaceutical Industry

06.05.2026 | Article in CHEManager 02/2026 | By Immanuel Müller, Miebach

When looking at the current challenges in the pharmaceutical industry, one might be slightly surprised: creating transparency in the supply chain, strengthening resilience, or the increasing shortage of skilled labor are not new topics, but have dominated headlines in recent years.

Let’s use the example of visibility: the ability to have access to relevant information on material flows, inventories, production steps, and transports available with the highest possible level of timeliness and accuracy enables pharmaceutical companies to respond quickly and appropriately to changing situations. This would allow pharmaceutical companies to identify bottlenecks earlier, better assess risks such as supplier failures or quality issues, and take targeted countermeasures. This is particularly relevant in the context of global crises, volatile markets, and increasing demands for supply security. Transparency also supports compliance with regulatory requirements, such as track & trace, serialization, and GDP, thereby increasing compliance security. In addition, it creates economic benefits: planning decisions improve, safety stocks can be optimized, and costs reduced. In the future, decisions will rely less on gut feeling and more on data and facts.

All of this brings us back to the opening statement. If the benefits are obvious and the problem is identified, why are these topics still so relevant but not yet implemented by all pharmaceutical companies? The reasons differ. First of all, companies need a clear target vision that defines which information is actually relevant for decision-making and at what level of detail. This is combined with a step-by-step implementation along prioritized use cases. Equally important are standardized data structures, clear responsibilities, and the early involvement of all relevant internal and external stakeholders. This ensures acceptance, data quality, and the sustainability of the solution.

So, when will you get started?