By Luke Sisley, Senior Business Intelligence Analyst, CSL
Data Excellence in Pharma BI
Data drives strategic decisions and operational excellence in today’s pharma market. At CSL, we empower teams by providing data consultancy tailored to the unique needs of our clients in the healthcare industry.
Recently, one of our clients reached out for support within their Commercial Excellence team and I jumped at the opportunity of a secondment. While working within our client’s business, I achieved far more than delivering on successful projects. The experience provided me with valuable insights, some of which I will share below.
Supporting Data Culture and Reporting Excellence
The secondment was centred on two primary objectives: to enhance our client’s data culture and to relaunch their existing data reporting.
The secondment allowed me to work more closely than usual with internal stakeholders and so it was faster for me to understand the challenge we had been given. For example, before we could make inroads into the data culture, we quickly recognised the need for a standardised approach to data management, beginning with the development of a comprehensive data dictionary.
Dedicating three full days a week to our client made it easy to run the second objective in tandem. Through a series of requirements-gathering sessions with senior stakeholders, key areas for improvement were identified. This led to the development and refinement of data reports, primarily using Power BI.
Integration and Collaboration
Beyond the primary objectives outlined above, being integrated into our client’s business allowed me to engage in additional ad hoc projects. Additional tasks ranged from strategic opportunity analyses to dashboard developments. These smaller projects added value to the client’s operations, while demonstrating both CSL’s flexibility and my responsiveness to their evolving needs.
The hands-on approach, combined with working in-person in the office, allowed solid connections to form between myself and the team. Additionally, attending the company conference strengthened these relationships, as I gained a deeper understanding of the client’s challenges and opportunities.
Impact and Client Value
Notably, we developed multiple new dashboards and made critical edits to existing ones used across the business. Our reporting relaunch plan, presented to senior leadership, was well-received and ultimately led to the team winning an award for reporting developments at the company conference.
Initially planned as a seven-month secondment, the partnership was extended due to the positive impact made. By helping implement continuous improvement initiatives, such as BI feedback processes and training, I felt proud to raise the profile of the team while increasing their capacity to provide additional support across the organisation.
Closing Thoughts
Reflecting on the secondment, it’s clear that the experience has expanded my existing technical skills, particularly in Power BI and Excel. In addition, it has deepened my understanding of the internal culture and data landscape within the pharmaceutical industry.
This secondment with a leading pharma company is a testament to CSL’s ability to deliver value to our partners. The exposure to new projects and challenges, alongside CSL’s flexible and collaborative approach, will no doubt be beneficial to both our existing and future clients.
CSL are committed to helping clients achieve their business goals by providing expert consultancy and tailored BI solutions. As we continue to expand our knowledge and capabilities, we remain dedicated to driving innovation and excellence in the industry.
If you would like to explore external expert support within your own team, reach out to us at info@csl-uk.com, or drop us a message through our LinkedIn.