Evolution of Technology Platforms during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

As part of our "Managing through COVID-19 and Beyond" benchmark research series, Best Practices LLC conducted this study to track the rapid evolution in virtual infrastructure and digital engagement platforms within life sciences companies as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

This new report examines critical new system functionalities by assessing a wide range of digital communication and collaboration platforms, the frequency usage and effectiveness of various modes of technology, and evolving strategies and approaches for enhancing engagement through innovative operating models in the post-COVID-19 world.

Study Snapshot

Best Practices, LLC engaged 54 leaders at 40 life sciences organizations in this research. Nearly 70% of the participants are at the director/ head level.

Key topics covered in this report include:

• Technology implementation achievements and challenges
• Usage of digital communicative and collaborative platforms
• Technology used to support internal and external stakeholder communication
• Internal and external communication approach post-COVID-19
• Technology change duration

• Multifunctional support of technology platforms: Respondents regularly favor digital platforms that provide file sharing, collaboration and communication tools on a single platform. Almost 60% of Microsoft Teams users have increased their use of the platform since the pandemic, while 50% plan to make continue with how they already used Skype for Business. Zoom was the second most adopted platform behind MS Teams.

• Physician-focused online engagement still lags: Mandatory virtual outreach has necessitated streamlined discussion methods. Unfortunately, e-detailing and e-sampling lack effectiveness at this point.

Sr. No.	Topic	Slide No.
I.	Overview	pgs. 3-5
	Universe of Learning	pg. 4
	Key Actions	pg. 5
II.	Operational Achievements and Challenges	pgs. 6-9
III.	Digital Communicative and Collaborative Platforms	pgs. 10-14
IV.	External Stakeholder Communication	pgs. 15-22
V.	Internal Stakeholder Communication	pgs. 23-27
VI.	Technology Change Duration	pgs. 28-30
VII.	Participant Demographics	pgs. 31-32
VIII.	Appendix	pgs. 33-39
IX.	About Best Practices, LLC	pg. 40

• Improvement in efficiency of work flow operations due to technology implementation in light of current events
• Struggles and/or hindrances experienced or expected to experience by benchmark participants around the use of technology during the global pandemic

• Digital communicative and collaborative platforms currently being implemented by benchmark organizations to add tactical functionality due to the emergence of the global pandemic
• Changes in company’s operations in implementing technology platforms because of the COVID-19 crisis – Newly adopted digital communicative and collaborative platforms
• Changes in company’s operations in implementing technology platforms because of the COVID-19 crisis – Increased usage of digital communicative and collaborative platforms
• Changes in company’s operations in implementing technology platforms because of the COVID-19 crisis – Continued use as always of digital communicative and collaborative platforms

• Frequency and effectiveness of various modes of technology used to support external stakeholder communication
• External stakeholder communication before COVID-19, current implications and opportunities
• Use of any new technologies for external communication in the next 12 weeks
• Maximizing virtual ad boards
• Expected changes in streamlined virtual technology functionalities and platforms for external operations post COVID-19 pandemic

• Frequency and effectiveness of various modes of technology used to support internal stakeholder communication
• Use of any new technologies for internal communication in the next 12 weeks
• Expected changes in streamlined virtual technology functionalities and platforms for internal operations post COVID-19 pandemic

• Technology change duration
• Approach towards dealing with technology changes after the global pandemic is over for external stakeholder operations
• Approach towards dealing with technology changes after the global pandemic is over for internal stakeholder operations