Ahead of the game

In line with the globalisation of the pharmaceutical sector, which has seen regulatory levels rise accordingly, an opportunity has arisen for transportation and logistics providers. Leading the way, FedEx Express offers a range of shipping, packaging and monitoring services that are predicated on flexibility, visibility and reliability, as Carlo Novi, managing director - sales for healthcare solutions, explains.

When did FedEx Express first branch out into the healthcare sector? What prompted the move?
Carlo Novi: FedEx Express has actually been serving healthcare customers for over 30 years and is significantly active in the healthcare industry, designing specific, innovative and flexible solutions for our customers.

We recently launched some new solutions in this sector, creating a whole new approach to the business of supply chain management. In launching Priority Alert and SenseAware, we aim to provide customers with broader international availability. By offering enhanced visibility and insight into supply chains, you can gain near real-time information on your shipment's environmental conditions as it travels: its location, temperature and whether or not it has been opened or exposed to light. aspects which we note can be critical in this sector.

Helping to streamline the supply chain works hand-in-hand with FedEx Priority Alert, which combines around-the-clock support with enhanced shipment status tracking and operational recovery procedures. Customers can be confident that the utmost attention is being paid to critical package and freight shipments and, by designing flexible solutions to meet each customer's needs, we understand the importance of customised industry solutions.

FedEx Express offers specialised services to healthcare customers including:

packaging solutions and end-to-end temperature-controlled ground and air transport
special handling services for individual customer Requirements
a high degree of visibility with 24-hour monitoring through our FedEx Priority Alert service
a dedicated support team that works hand-in-hand with our healthcare customers
the addition of 777F aircraft to our fleet, offering later pick-up times for customers in key markets along with enhanced temperature control features in flight.

So it has proven to be successful for you thus far?
It has, specifically for the reason that it gives us the opportunity to continue investing in new solutions. It's a very dynamic industry, especially in light of increasing levels of globalisation and new drugs continually being introduced on the market. We recognise the need to collaborate, and be part of our customers' supply chains and design innovative solutions to fit their ever-changing needs; making sure we keep pace by developing alongside the evolution of the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.

FedEx currently serves 220 countries and territories worldwide.

Geographically, what markets do you predominantly serve?
We continue to take advantage of the global network that we have. We currently serve 220 countries and territories worldwide, so there aren't any borders to hinder our approach to the industry. Effectively, we serve the healthcare sector throughout every corner of the globe.

However, there is a strong focus on Europe, as it is one of the largest consumer markets and houses five of the principal pharma-manufacturing exporters' headquarters. We are following developments closely so we can remain one step ahead of demand.

Moving on to cold chain logistics, what solutions does FedEx Express offer?
Our customers want to strengthen their supply chains and this is what we consider when working on different cold chain solutions: from specific packaging to end-to-end visibility and monitoring activities.

In Europe, many of our customers approach us in order to have a more dynamic supply chain or faster deliveries, especially for clinical trials. We have set up specific solutions around our deep- frozen shipping and a service that guarantees priority boarding on our aircraft from the pick-up through to the delivery.

Cold chain for the healthcare industry is a key factor. Product integrity is a primary concern, together with globalisation and the need for an end-to-end controlled-temperature solution. Those were the three points we took into consideration when we first started to look at cold chain solutions for our customers, along with the regulatory point of view. With this in mind, we have designed specific cold chain solutions to meet our customers' requirements.

The FedEx Express range of temperature-controlled shipping solutions includes having one of the broadest dry ice capabilities in the world, with re-icing at major hubs and ramps in EMEA. These temperature-controlled solutions are further complemented by FedEx thermally mapped vehicles and aircraft. By additionally offering a wide range of temperature-controlled packaging solutions, parcel to airfreight and from traditional dry ice capabilities, we not only provide a good service, but also more innovative greener technologies, while making sure we meet strict regulatory control.

With SenseAware, we provide the customer with the possibility to check the status of the shipment in near real time; and track the temperature, barometric pressure and humidity of the package. We can provide them with a 360< service, which is vital also in the clinical trials field, as it is one of the most demanding and challenging sectors within the healthcare industry.

So it's all about a flexible and bespoke approach?
Yes. Our customers tell us that this is one of the reasons why they choose us. We take the time to sit down with them to understand what their current supply chain is and how it is designed, and offer consulting and engineering support, while working with them to develop the best solution to meet their needs.

The FedEx service offering for the healthcare industry covers all areas, from packaging to shipping and distribution. We help healthcare companies optimise their supply chains, starting by designing the best operating solution, then enabling them with the choice of the best packaging and ending with how fast the product has to be shipped. We see ourselves as the orchestrator of the healthcare industry supply chain, sitting at the centre of a complex web of packaging, transportation and distribution technologies which we employ to connect customers around the world, with a flexible and bespoke approach.

You mentioned the SenseAware service earlier - how does that work in allowing clients to monitor their shipments? SenseAware is a breakthrough innovation for our company that has been revolutionising logistics since it first introduced overnight delivery and automated tracking.

SenseAware was the first product we designed specifically for the healthcare industry. It is a multimodal device, integrated with easy views and a powerful web-based application that allows customers to monitor critical and high-value shipments. It is a perfect fit for the healthcare industry.

The SenseAware sensor can tell customers in near real-time the accurate temperature readings, or if the shipment has been opened or exposed to light. It also uses a GPS device, so we can immediately locate the shipment. This is very important, because when talking about clinical trials, you must be able to give your customer the ability to monitor and intervene when required, whether that is for changing the delivery at the last minute or implementing any required actions to the package content, at any stage of transportation.

We recognise the importance of creating an industry solution to support the evolving sensor-based information revolution.

Looking ahead, how will FedEx continue to develop in serving the pharma sector, specifically clinical trials? We want to be a leader in innovation and demonstrate to the industry that we still continue to enhance our healthcare solutions. Undoubtedly, the development of clinical trials represents complex challenges through ever-changing regulations and market developments and this means that we need to play the most proactive role possible.

We really want to understand our customers' requirements in terms of improving their supply chain, whilst providing knowledge and experience of the market, in order to design solutions together.

FedEx is aware that the supply chain is changing and that providers need greater efficiency - which means that they need to invest more in transportation logistics for new solutions that can streamline the supply chain, reduce the transit time and ensure the integrity of the shipment.

We are continuously looking to build innovative and flexible solutions.

SenseAware: an innovative information service
In November 2012, FedEx Express announced the expansion of its new SenseAware service. SenseAware 2000 offers customers greater international availability and even the ability to use the service on other carriers outside the group's network.

Key enhancements and upgrades include:

increased battery life
improved GPS technology
better cellular connectivity
designed to support a temperature probe with a temperature measurement range of -80°C to +60°C (-112°F to +140°F)
environmental data specification
route geo-fences
non-event geo-fence triggers.

Initially available for shipments only in the US, the service is now available to customers looking to monitor transit and inventory in Australia, Canada, Singapore and the UK, with further international expansion pencilled in for the near future.