Biotech Boosts Supply Chain Efficiency With AI Expertise Directory

The Challenge: Inefficient Knowledge Sharing

Before adopting Starmind, this multinational biotechnology giant struggled with a fragmented and inefficient knowledge-sharing system. Information was mostly stored in Word and PowerPoint documents in a large database, which made it hard for employees to find relevant data or know who to approach for specific knowledge. In a recent interview with our Starmind team, the Global SCM explained how this setup created significant problems, particularly for those in operational roles or newly onboarded employees who didn’t have an extensive network within the company.

The lack of peer-to-peer knowledge exchange was a critical issue. He highlighted how employees in different global locations, such as a production site in India and another in Argentina, had similar responsibilities but had no way to easily connect and share insights. The knowledge transfer process was mostly top-down, with information flowing from global to regional levels, making it hard for teams to collaborate and learn from each other.

The Discovery of Starmind

In response to this, the Global SCM initiated an innovation project aimed at creating a peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing platform. The initial effort involved collaborating with a startup, but the results fell short of expectations. After the project was halted, our client shifted focus and explored existing technologies. This was when they discovered that Starmind was already being used in another division of their company. Starmind, as their Global SCM recalled, was a perfect fit for their needs.

The tool allowed employees to post questions and receive answers from colleagues across the organization, facilitating the kind of peer-to-peer exchange that was sorely missing. He noted that this discovery was somewhat serendipitous but transformative for the organization. Once they realized the potential of Starmind, they expanded its use from the pharmaceutical division to their biotechnology division, leading to widespread success.

Streamlining Knowledge Sharing and Boosting Efficiency

The adoption of Starmind revolutionized the way this company handled knowledge sharing and immediately increased efficiencies across the supply chain. What’s more, our client was enthusiastic about how quickly the tool was implemented and how it immediately began delivering value. One key aspect of its success was the creation of an environment where questions could be asked, answered, and tracked in a structured manner.

One example he shared was a situation where an employee asked for help calculating inventory turnover to identify working capital reduction opportunities. Another user quickly pointed them to an existing report in the company’s business warehouse system, which saved the first employee from manually building a new tool. This exchange not only saved time but also provided insights that had a direct impact on the company's financial performance by improving inventory management.

“‘What can I do in order to improve the KPI?’ …’ How can I calculate the inventory turnover on on product levels?’, then somebody else replied to that question, ‘Actually there's already a fully-fledged report available in our business warehouse. You just need to download the query’”  - Global SCM, Biotech company on how asking one question in Starmind saved building a new from scratch.

This is just one of many examples where Starmind facilitated critical knowledge sharing. Another instance involved a user seeking guidance on tracking material flow in production, an essential process for regulatory reasons. A simple screenshot provided by another employee solved the issue quickly. These stories underscore how Starmind helped foster cross-functional collaboration and streamline problem-solving across the company.

“[Just] a screenshot, right? It was pretty straightforward, so it took me little time to submit my answer and on the other hand, it provided great value to the person who didn't know where to start.” - Global SCM, Biotech company on the simplicity of using Starmind.

Overcoming Initial Challenges in Rollout

While the senior management saw the immediate value in Starmind, our client acknowledged that the biggest challenge was ensuring user engagement—motivating employees to ask and answer questions. To address this, they implemented a service level agreement (SLA) that guaranteed timely responses to questions. An admin was assigned to monitor the platform, ensuring that if a question wasn’t answered within 48 hours, it would be manually routed to an expert. This approach was crucial in maintaining user trust and ensuring that the platform delivered tangible benefits.

“What is most important in anybody's job [is] that you have an impact with what you do with your time,...this cannot be taken for granted … and that's why I like [Starmind] so much. It's really fun [and] engaging, replying to answers.” - Global SCM, Biotech company using Starmind since 2014.

Motivating experts to contribute was another hurdle. The company created a key user community and leveraged gamification features within Starmind, such as badges, to encourage participation. Our client noted that some employees find personal satisfaction in helping others, and the platform gave them a way to share their expertise and see the direct impact of their contributions. For many, it became an enjoyable part of their job, offering a sense of accomplishment when they could quickly solve a problem for a colleague.

Tangible Business Impact and Continued Success

Beyond improving day-to-day operations, Starmind has had a significant impact on its business processes. Our client explained that by using Starmind to facilitate faster access to critical data, employees were able to improve supply chain efficiency, reduce working capital, and identify opportunities for improvement that might have otherwise been missed. The tool enabled the company to work smarter, not harder, by making it easier to leverage existing knowledge across the organization.

Looking ahead, the Global SCM remains enthusiastic about the platform’s potential. While there are new AI-driven tools constantly emerging, he expressed confidence that Starmind continues to meet their needs. The platform not only serves as a robust knowledge-sharing solution but also fosters a sense of community and collaboration, which has been a win-win for the company.

The Key Advantages of Starmind

This global company has seen significant benefits from implementing Starmind within their organization: increased documentation of tacit knowledge, easy user adoption, seamless onboarding of new employees and expertise sharing. 

Knowledge Sharing and Retention

One of the standout features the client appreciated was the ability to document tacit knowledge. Starmind allows employees to capture and share insights before leaving the company, making onboarding smoother for newcomers. This intuitive knowledge documentation process saves time by eliminating the need for extensive manual documentation.

Anonymity Fosters Participation 

Another key feature they found useful was the option to anonymously post questions. This encourages participation, particularly in more reserved cultures, new employees, or long-tenured employees who may fear asking basic questions publicly. This feature helps remove barriers to learning and ensures that everyone can contribute freely.

Conclusion

Our client’s experience with Starmind showcases the transformative power of effective knowledge-sharing tools. By addressing initial inefficiencies and fostering a culture of collaboration, Starmind has helped this enterprise improve operational efficiency, streamline decision-making, and boost employee engagement.

The platform's success highlights the importance of both technology and human interaction in creating a knowledge-sharing system that works.