Despite the critical importance of maintaining temperature-sensitive supply chains, many pharmaceutical companies continue to rely on outdated monitoring systems. This situation has created cracks in the system that are increasingly hard to ignore.
“Every year, one in five temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products are damaged in transit,” Francesco D’Ambrosio, Business Development Lead – Europe at SkyCell, explained. “This is primarily due to delayed or incomplete monitoring. Traditional systems often rely on disposable data loggers that provide insights only after delivery, making it too late to prevent losses.”
These disposable loggers — typically used in multiples per shipment — not only lack real-time capabilities, but also create a maze of disjointed data.
“Multiple devices within a single shipment, each with different data formats and timings, create visibility gaps and require manual reconciliation, increasing the risk of errors,” D’Ambrosio noted. “This fragmented setup not only causes blind spots, but also prevents timely action on critical data, jeopardising product integrity and patient safety.”
Manual data retrieval further compounds the problem. “Legacy systems often require physical retrieval and downloading of data post-delivery, delaying temperature report outcomes until after shipment completion,” he said. “Additionally, this data is frequently siloed, disconnected from quality management systems, hindering comprehensive data analysis.”
The consequence? Missed opportunities to prevent damage, optimise processes, and ensure compliance. “Without a centralised tracking system, each step is measured and validated separately, leading to inevitable blind spots,” D’Ambrosio stated. “Risk mitigation becomes reactive rather than proactive.”
And while integrating modern solutions into legacy infrastructure might seem like a logical next step, D’Ambrosio warned it’s not always straightforward.
“Large pharmaceutical companies often have siloed departments — commercial, clinical, diagnostic, vaccines — and this issue worsens with new acquisitions or partners,” he outlined. “Without a central platform, vendors struggle to integrate their tools and data into multiple ERP systems, leading to compatibility issues and inconsistent data formats.”
Proactive logistics
SkyCell’s Pharma Monitoring redefines real-time visibility in pharmaceutical logistics with AI-driven predictive analytics and hybrid technology. Unlike traditional methods that rely on fragmented data sources and manual tracking, SkyCell’s solution delivers a continuous, real-time stream of temperature and location data across the entire supply chain.
“By combining our innovative hybrid loggers with advanced analytics, we provide a dynamic timeline of shipment conditions — from origin to destination,” explained D’Ambrosio. “This system empowers stakeholders with actionable insights, reducing the reliance on spreadsheets, emails, and disjointed platforms.”
What sets Pharma Monitoring apart is its seamless integration and broad compatibility. The hybrid loggers function with any packaging solution and can be used independently of prior SkyCell services. This flexibility enables any pharma company to gain immediate access to intelligent monitoring — without overhauling existing systems.
“It’s not just about seeing what’s happening now; it’s about anticipating what could go wrong,” D’Ambrosio noted. “Our predictive technology identifies potential risks before they escalate, enabling timely intervention and ensuring critical therapies arrive safely and on schedule.”
By merging smart hardware, intuitive software, and expert support, SkyCell’s Pharma Monitoring ensures that life-saving medicines are protected every step of the way — driving both efficiency and patient safety.
Predict and prevent
With real-time visibility being a critical advancement, SkyCell’s SkyMind platform, powered by AI, pushes pharmaceutical supply chains from real-time reaction into predictive prevention.
“SkyMind uses big data to continuously monitor shipments, analysing sensor inputs, weather forecasts, location data, and route conditions to predict potential temperature excursions before they occur,” D’Ambrosio highlighted.
What makes SkyMind especially powerful is its ability to convert risk detection into orchestrated action. “When risks are detected or forecast, SkyMind triggers alerts and K.AI, SkyCell’s intelligent assistant, uses AI to turn those alerts into coordinated action — pulling up SOPs, recommending next steps, and connecting the right people without endless email chains or delays.”
This predictive capability is bolstered by SkyCell’s 24/7 control tower support, bridging the gap between data and decisions. “Combining live visibility with intelligence allows pharma teams to anticipate and act on potential issues, enabling smarter decision-making, faster interventions, and ensuring medicines arrive safely, protecting both the product and the patient.”
From a business standpoint, the benefits are equally transformative. “Enhanced visibility and data integrity are vital in meeting regulatory standards,” D’Ambrosio continued. “Visibility across the whole supply chain allows stakeholders to produce accurate data and documentation… This ensures fewer inspections and errors, resulting in a faster product release — from days to minutes — and shorter time-to-cash.”
