Three ways ACI Group can tackle your pharma distribution challenges

In the pharma supply chain, disruption is the new norm. Expecting the unexpected and finding order within the chaos is now a prerequisite for success in the industry. It’s a challenging environment for any stakeholder, particularly SMEs trying to chart a course through these choppy waters.

Luckily, at ACI Group, we’ve got the expertise and technology you need to point your business in the right direction – even when the future seems uncertain. There’s a very long list of reasons why partnering with ACI Group today is a phenomenal idea – but here are just three to get you started!

Kickstart your digital transformation

Unless you have the power of precognition, you’re highly likely to have been caught off guard by the pharma supply chain at some point in your career. Supply and demand of many key raw materials and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) are subject to peaks and troughs throughout the course of a year, which can be down to geopolitical issues, material availability, logistical bottlenecks, regulatory changes, or just natural market fluctuations (and often, a mixture of several of these factors at once). When you add customers and their data into the mix, things can become even more complex as you communicate material shortages and price rises to customers, while pairing them with the right alternative materials and suppliers if need be.

It's a lot to keep track of – but it is possible, and you don’t even need to become clairvoyant to do it. All you need is the right technology. A digital supply chain management tool can help you accurately forecast supply and demand throughout the year, removing the guesswork from your operations and making any problems much easier to prepare for.

You can also make use of CRM tools to help you deal with your customers and suppliers, such as our Oomph system. Oomph CRM is a customer workflow platform that improves data visibility, flexibility, and speed to market, nurturing existing and new customer relationships, while integrating with other software suites (such as MS Office) to ensure not even a single byte of data slips through the cracks. Again, this means you always have a complete picture of your global operations, avoiding those unpleasant surprises that the pharma industry often throws up.

Operational management

Of course, being aware of potential issues is one thing – overcoming them is another matter. Luckily, if you’re partnered with a distributor like ACI Group, we’ll tackle any issues head-on for you.

The last couple of years has really highlighted the value of the operational management experience of ACI. It’s been a time of near-constant supply chain headaches – including Brexit turmoil, the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, and inflation, to name just three. Covid is still an ongoing concern, with China’s zero-tolerance policy meaning supply chains across Asia are still plagued by uncertainty – while restrictions are currently easing at the time of writing, this could change in a matter of days. Meanwhile, both Europe and the US are having difficulties sourcing NSAIDs, leading to shortages of common drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin.

Connecting with a distributor like ACI can take these headaches off your plate. With our supply chain expertise and specialism in the pharma sector, we find the best route for your active ingredients and materials to enhance your speed to market. This may involve helping you source more local suppliers to alleviate supply chain issues, find suitable alternative materials, or whatever solution you require.


35 years and counting

We’ve been in business for 35 years – and we’ve learned a lot in that time. If you’re looking for a partner that understands the pharma market like the back of its hand, look no further. By partnering with us, you’ll get three decades of experience, a deep knowledge of pharma distribution, and the solutions to its many challenges placed at your fingertips.

But that’s not all. You’ll also get the best service in the business from our award-winning team. During our 35 years, we’ve built a reputation for excellence, which has recently seen us add a Thames Valley Business & Community Award to our trophy cabinet (for Male Entrepreneur of the Year, awarded to our CEO Karsten). Following on from this success, ACI Group and Karsten placed as runner-ups in the national Great British Business and Community Awards in May!

There are still many questions that the pharma industry must face over the coming years. Will Covid continue to disrupt the Asian market? Will the war in Ukraine end? What role will emerging AI and Industry 4.0 tech play? The answers to these questions remain to be seen, but if you partner with ACI Group, you’re sure to end up with the right ones.

Get in touch today and learn more about how we can help your business grow.