Tips For Implementing e-pedigree And Serialization

By James Bisaha, Managing Partner of Logistics and IT Consulting

The clock is ticking on e-pedigree and serialization. The state of California has mandated that 50% of a manufacturer's products by 2015 require an e-pedigree with the remaining 50% of the manufacturer's products by 2016. Wholesalers and repackagers must accept and forward products with an e-pedigree by July 1, 2016 and pharmacy and pharmacy warehouses must accept and pass e-pedigrees by July 1, 2017. This may seem like a long ways off. However, the time is the now to start planning and developing an e-pedigree strategy and roadmap. Organizations that are proactive will be in a better position to leverage their investment in e-pedigree and serialization and gain additional business value from their investment. Organizations that wait to the last minute will be forced into making decisions that may not be optimal or the most cost-effective.

An e-pedigree roadmap is an effective tool that allows an organization to lay out its direction for implementing an e-pedigree and serialization strategy. It is critical to start laying the groundwork now. The e-pedigree and serialization roadmap is a visual tool that outlines events and deliverables on a quarterly basis. It tracks, at a high level, the major milestones and events that need to occur to implement epedigree and serialization. Implementation costs and cost savings need to be estimated, tracked, and refined through the process.