Automation joins AI and cybersecurity as digital priorities for Indian pharma

The Indian pharma sector has an increasing number of technological priorities underpinning its digital transformation plans, but those ambitions have only partially been realised.

That’s according to a new report by Archimedis Digital, which outlines companies’ emerging technology priorities, identifying automation, AI, cybersecurity, data analytics and cloud computing as critical enablers of efficiency and quality excellence.

Duraisamy Rajan Palani, Founder and CEO at Archimedis Digital, said: “As life sciences companies confront increasingly complex regulatory environments, rising customer expectations and rapid technological change, digital transformation is no longer optional – it’s foundational for growth, resilience and competitive differentiation.”

Archimedis Digital’s report found that only a third of companies assessed had achieved significant or full digital transformation within their quality functions, with more than half (55.6 percent) having only reached partial implementation of their plans.

Nevertheless, the Chennai, India-based consultancy did note that few pharma firms have made little or no progress on their digital journey – with just 2.2 percent having not started and 8.9 percent only having made it to the planning phase.

The Indian pharma sector makes a vital contribution to the production and supply of generic medicines and, increasingly, is also important as a hub for novel drug research.

However, Archimedis Digital notes that companies are being pushed to move beyond traditional paper-based systems and adopt integrated, data-driven digital quality ecosystems in response to rising regulatory scrutiny, growing product and process complexity, and intensifying global competition.

“This transition, while still fragmented, signals the industry’s readiness to build a robust digital data foundation required for AI and ML-led quality transformation,” the company noted.

One of the areas highlighted by Archimedis Digital where digital technology could add value was in managing rising product and process complexity – particularly as newer modalities move further into the pharma mainstream.

“As drug development increasingly involves complex biologics, combination products, and stringent GMP requirements, legacy system limitations and integration challenges remain key barriers. Technologies such as electronic batch manufacturing records (eBMRs) and lab automation are emerging as foundational tools for managing complexity with greater precision and control,” the company said.