PHARMATRACK

PHARMATRACK

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Pharmatrack

Pharmatrack

Pharmatrack is a dynamic dashboard empowering Medical Representatives to optimize pharmaceutical sales and distribution processes.

Pharmatrack is a dynamic dashboard empowering Medical Representatives to optimize pharmaceutical sales and distribution processes.

Duration

9 months

Client

LaRenon Pharmaceuticals

Team

Product design & management team,

Gorilla Graphics and Advertisement

Prototype link

nboarding

Medical representatives are unsung orchestrators in building healthy and fruitful relationships between pharma companies, chemists and health practitioners.

Medical representatives are unsung orchestrators in building healthy and fruitful relationships between pharma companies, chemists and health practitioners.

Most of us view technology as something that makes things easier but what if it's not designed for your needs. The same technology can be a double-edged sword, poised to either streamline or hinder their crucial role.

This is my story of designing ‘PharmaTrack’ a dashboard that empowers Pharma Representative to build better relations and generate sales.

Most of us view technology as something that makes things easier but what if it's not designed for your needs. The same technology can be a double-edged sword, poised to either streamline or hinder their crucial role.

This is my story of designing ‘PharmaTrack’ a dashboard that empowers Pharma Representative to build better relations and generate sales.

Background

The pharmacy market is highly competitive in India, with over 3,000 companies. LarRenon, a growing pharmaceutical company, serves in 29 states by providing generic and specialty drugs. The company has a vision to reach 550,000 pharmacies and 65,000 stockists in India.

Project Brief

LaRenon approached us to design and develop a dashboard that would allow their field  SalesRep - who visit Hospitals, clinics, local pharmacies and stores to schedule visits, demonstrate products and record their discussion.

Currently they are using a third party application but have seen slow decline in their business and a lot of complaints regarding GPS and Product feed. Company wants to build an inhouse product to fulfil their needs and requirements.

My Role

I led the design on this project, especially during the design phase.

This also included me conducting any insight and research gathering and distilling that into actionable recommendations.

In addition, I worked alongside LaRenon stakeholders - Regional Manager, Area Manager and 5 Sales Representatives and represented the pitch team of my agency in meetings.

Highlights

a sneak peak of what we delivered to keep you hooked

Business Constraint

Time Constraint

Time Constraint

Due to the impending closure of the third-party contract in 9 months, we were allocated a 6-month timeframe to ship the product with full functionality.

Due to the impending closure of the third-party contract in 9 months, we were allocated a 6-month timeframe to ship the product with full functionality.

Data relocation:

Data relocation:

For data relocation, it's imperative to embed all information from the existing application into the new system.

For data relocation, it's imperative to embed all information from the existing application into the new system.

THE CHALLANGE

Create
better relationship

Create better relationship

Create better
relationship

with doctors and pharmacist

The company identified two major challenges, building a web app to overcome the shortcomings of third party applications and supporting Pharma Reps to improve their relations with doctors and pharmacists.

This involved conducting research, designing a new application, and envisioning how we could use the application to build and improve relationships between multiple stakeholders. With 6 months at hand, we focused on building an MVP product that could support Pharma Representatives.

The company identified two major challenges, building a web app to overcome the shortcomings of third party applications and supporting Pharma Reps to improve their relations with doctors and pharmacists.

This involved conducting research, designing a new application, and envisioning how we could use the application to build and improve relationships between multiple stakeholders. With 6 months at hand, we focused on building an MVP product that could support Pharma Representatives.

The company identified two major challenges, building a web app to overcome the shortcomings of third party applications and supporting Pharma Reps to improve their relations with doctors and pharmacists.

This involved conducting research, designing a new application, and envisioning how we could use the application to build and improve relationships between multiple stakeholders. With 6 months at hand, we focused on building an MVP product that could support Pharma Representatives.

THE APPROACH

LaRenon Immersion

Our lack of domain knowledge in Pharma Sales meant we needed to understand the nature of service and touchpoints thoroughly and quickly. With so many touchpoints for marketing teams to consider, it's not a surprise that some experiences suffer from lack of precision.We approached all aspects of the project collaboratively and spent most of our time working on‑site alongside the Pharma reps and managers.

The company identified two major challenges, building a web app to overcome the shortcomings of third party applications and supporting Pharma Reps to improve their relations with doctors and pharmacists.

This involved conducting research, designing a new application, and envisioning how we could use the application to build and improve relationships between multiple stakeholders. With 6 months at hand, we focused on building an MVP product that could support Pharma Representatives.

The company identified two major challenges, building a web app to overcome the shortcomings of third party applications and supporting Pharma Reps to improve their relations with doctors and pharmacists.

This involved conducting research, designing a new application, and envisioning how we could use the application to build and improve relationships between multiple stakeholders. With 6 months at hand, we focused on building an MVP product that could support Pharma Representatives.

What were the research methods used?

7 In-Person Shadowing Sessions

To deeply understand the workflow and challenges faced by SalesRep during their interactions with doctors and pharmacists, seven in-person shadowing sessions were conducted. This method likely involved observing SalesRep in action, accompanying them during their visits to hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. By immersing in their environment, researchers could witness firsthand the context in which the dashboard would be used, identifying pain points and areas for improvement.

7 In-Person Shadowing Sessions

To deeply understand the workflow and challenges faced by SalesRep during their interactions with doctors and pharmacists, seven in-person shadowing sessions were conducted. This method likely involved observing SalesRep in action, accompanying them during their visits to hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. By immersing in their environment, researchers could witness firsthand the context in which the dashboard would be used, identifying pain points and areas for improvement.

3 Moderated + In-Person Usability Testing
3 Moderated + In-Person Usability Testing
Auditing Existing Survey and Feedback Channels
Auditing Existing Survey and Feedback Channels
4 Stakeholder interview
4 Stakeholder interview

Collaborative culture with lean UX

We adopted a lean UX approach focused on rapid sketching, prototyping, and user feedback. This encouraged early team alignment, generated innovative ideas, and promoted ownership across disciplines in our organization.

Collaborative culture with lean UX

We adopted a lean UX approach focused on rapid sketching, prototyping, and user feedback. This encouraged early team alignment, generated innovative ideas, and promoted ownership across disciplines in our organization.

Collaborative culture with lean UX

We adopted a lean UX approach focused on rapid sketching, prototyping, and user feedback. This encouraged early team alignment, generated innovative ideas, and promoted ownership across disciplines in our organization.

Establishing Alignment with Stakeholders

Engaging with key stakeholders helped us understand their business challenges. Together, we identified risks, aligned expectations, and developed a shared project vision. I then crafted an experience strategy outlining our phased approach and app direction.

Establishing Alignment with Stakeholders

Engaging with key stakeholders helped us understand their business challenges. Together, we identified risks, aligned expectations, and developed a shared project vision. I then crafted an experience strategy outlining our phased approach and app direction.

Establishing Alignment with Stakeholders

Engaging with key stakeholders helped us understand their business challenges. Together, we identified risks, aligned expectations, and developed a shared project vision. I then crafted an experience strategy outlining our phased approach and app direction.

Fostering Trust and Transparency

Sharing our methods and thinking upfront strengthened client relationships. Encouraging input at every stage nurtured trust and fostered a supportive environment for idea exchange, establishing a partnership that promises lasting value.

Fostering Trust and Transparency

Sharing our methods and thinking upfront strengthened client relationships. Encouraging input at every stage nurtured trust and fostered a supportive environment for idea exchange, establishing a partnership that promises lasting value.

Fostering Trust and Transparency

Sharing our methods and thinking upfront strengthened client relationships. Encouraging input at every stage nurtured trust and fostered a supportive environment for idea exchange, establishing a partnership that promises lasting value.

THE KICKOFF

Early insights from
the field

We conducted multiple user testing sessions of the existing application with 7 participants in the most crowded medical complex and government hospital areas. Our goals were to understand the challenges SalesRep faced during their Repcall with pharmacists and physicians.

Frustating Meeting Initiation in Crowded Zones

Frustating Meeting Initiation in Crowded Zones

SalesRep were annoyed when they visited the crowded area like hospital and clinic as multiple doctors and multiple pins on the same location made it difficult to select to confirm and start the meeting. They expected the application to detect and start meeting in one click.

SalesRep were annoyed when they visited the crowded area like hospital and clinic as multiple doctors and multiple pins on the same location made it difficult to select to confirm and start the meeting. They expected the application to detect and start meeting in one click.

Inadequate Meeting Metadata Capture

Inadequate Meeting Metadata Capture

Sales reps utilize diaries to handle promises, activities, and metadata, a valuable resource. However, leadership lacks access and updates to this crucial information, making searching and filtering in the diary logbook challenging.

Sales reps utilize diaries to handle promises, activities, and metadata, a valuable resource. However, leadership lacks access and updates to this crucial information, making searching and filtering in the diary logbook challenging.

Slow Schedule Approvals:

Slow Schedule Approvals:

Sales reps frequently encounter schedule changes, which require manager approval and involve cumbersome email processes, leading to time loss.

Sales reps frequently encounter schedule changes, which require manager approval and involve cumbersome email processes, leading to time loss.

Poor Data Visualization for Sales Decisions

Poor Data Visualization for Sales Decisions

The app's data visualization lacked efficiency for quick decision-making during daily shop visits, necessitating the use of external Excel sheets for secondary sales calculations. Moreover, essential sales type comparisons had to be conducted manually, resulting in errors and delays in decision-making.

The app's data visualization lacked efficiency for quick decision-making during daily shop visits, necessitating the use of external Excel sheets for secondary sales calculations. Moreover, essential sales type comparisons had to be conducted manually, resulting in errors and delays in decision-making.

DEEPER INSIGHTS

Insights from sales representatives

Insights from sales representatives

  1. Physicians are incredibly busy, with most sales calls lasting about two minutes—a brief interaction often squeezed into a distracted lunch break if representatives are fortunate. Despite the brevity, meeting content typically consists of 2 to 3-minute videos showcasing the product.

  2. As we interviewed more sales reps, it became increasingly evident that administrative tasks were not a priority; they expressed little interest in additional tools and referred to such tasks as "busy work".

  3. Large waiting time which is wasted and can be utilized.

  4. Repetitive data entry of similar data at multiple venues frustrated the most. 

  5. Multiple Products, memorizing everything is difficult.

Understanding the Problem

Tools designed to
do the wrong job

Our research revealed that the ideal Recall represented something different to LaRenon Sales rep but the application provides a generic sales scheme. Sales rep' motivations for visiting physicians and pharmacists misaligned and provided multiple opportunities to improve interaction between them.

Throughout the project, personas were consistently employed to steer design choices, prioritize tasks, and foster empathy among both the client and our team.

Visualizing the end‐to‐end experience

We utilized experience mapping to visualize user journeys across touchpoints, collaborating with Area Managers. This highlighted pain points and set aspirational emotional states aligning client expectations.

Enhanced Data Visualization for Pharmaceutical Sales

We revamped the existing data visualization to better support pharmaceutical sales by applying the principles of editorial thinking, inspired by Andy Kirk's model. This approach focuses on angle framing and visual emphasis to design a visualization that is quick to interpret and meets the specific needs of sales representatives.

The new data visualization prioritizes primary, secondary, and tertiary sales data, providing sales reps with essential insights during their visits. This streamlined approach enhances data comprehension and supports informed decision-making in real-time, optimizing sales effectiveness in the field.

Crafting narratives about optimal experiences.

Understanding my target audience allowed me to envision ideal user experiences, focusing on empathy with personas' behaviors rather than technical details or business goals. By keeping scenarios high-level, collaboration flowed smoothly, exploring resonant concepts with both the team and the client.

These scenarios formed the basis of requirements, enabling expressions from both functional and emotional perspectives, deepening the user connection and emphasizing seamless app integration into their lives.

Extracting Requirements with Mental Models

Analyzing SalesRep behavior during pre-, during, and post- phases enabled quick identification of tasks. Grouping tasks by behavioral affinities clarified existing functionality's usefulness, identified necessary support, and pinpointed innovation opportunities while streamlining features. 

I cataloged all ideas into a spreadsheet and ranked them based on our personas' requirements, technological feasibility, and business goals. Prioritization against personas' needs, tech feasibility, and business objectives informed application phasing and feature roadmaps

THE FRAMEWORK

Establishing the Design Direction.

Create better relationship

Create better
relationship

Adopting a top‐down approach, we outlined the overarching structure of the experience through sketching and storyboarding. Generating numerous ideas regarding the arrangement of UI, functional and data elements, and interactive behaviors, we initiated the process broadly, witnessing our vision transform into a tangible form. As we progressed, a high‐level design language, interactions, and the app's anatomy gradually came together.

DETAILED DESIGN

Introducing PharmaTrack

The third-party sales dashboard previously used by LarRenon's pharmaceutical representatives was not well-suited to their specific sales and meeting needs. Its traditional flip book format with a hidden menu made navigation inefficient and cumbersome, requiring users to sift through an extensive amount of content.

To overcome these challenges, PharmaTrack was developed as a tailored solution. PharmaTrack streamlines navigation, provides quick access to essential information, and supports efficient engagement strategies in pharmaceutical sales. This new application empowers representatives with tools to enhance productivity and effectiveness during critical sales interactions, ultimately fostering stronger relationships and driving business growth.

Seamless Meetings, Stress-Free Experience

Seamless Meetings,
Stress-Free Experience

PharmaTrack incorporates a smart location-based feature that allows Sales Representatives to select and initiate meetings with doctors or pharmacists within a 100-meter range with just one click. This streamlines the engagement process and prioritizes relevant contacts based on the representative's schedule and location. 

Additionally, PharmaTrack provides easy access to required presentations and materials, enabling representatives to optimize productivity during meetings and facilitate meaningful discussions with healthcare providers. These innovative features enhance sales effectiveness and strengthen relationships in the pharmaceutical industry.

Unlocking Sales Potential With Seamless Sales Decisions

PharmaTrack's data visualization prioritizes primary, secondary, and tertiary sales data, offering sales representatives essential insights during their visits. This streamlined approach enhances data comprehension and supports informed decision-making in real-time, optimizing sales effectiveness in the field.

This feature empowers sales reps to quickly analyze critical data and make informed decisions during shop visits. Additionally, PharmaTrack provides product recommendations tailored to specific shopkeepers, enabling representatives to suggest relevant products and enhance sales opportunities effectively.

Intuitive Data Capture, Insightful Timeline

Intuitive Data Capture,
Insightful Timeline

PharmaTrack revolutionizes data capture during meetings with doctors and pharmacists, focusing on crucial metadata categories such as promises, requests, and doubts to strengthen provider relationships. This feature includes real-time notifications to managers and regional managers, ensuring immediate updates and streamlined communication. 

The intuitive timeline presentation within PharmaTrack allows sales reps to connect the dots between past meetings, facilitating deeper insights and fostering stronger relationships with healthcare providers. This user-centric approach enhances data management and promotes more effective engagement strategies within the sales team.

Categorized Data Capture

Categorized Data Capture

Organize crucial metadata — like promises, requests, and doubts— into distinct categories during meetings, facilitating efficient data management and strategic follow-ups.

Intuitive Timeline Feature

Intuitive Timeline Feature

Effortlessly recall past conversations and engagements with healthcare providers through a visual timeline interface, aiding deeper insights and relationship building.

Real-time Notifications to Managers

Real-time Notifications to Managers

Enable instant communication by notifying managers and regional leads about critical updates and requirements during meetings with healthcare providers.

On-the-Go Document Upload

On-the-Go Document Upload

Upload and store documents directly within PharmaTrack, eliminating delays and enhancing backend searchability and validation processes.

Enhancing Product Knowledge: Pre-Meeting Quiz

Enhancing Product Knowledge:
Pre-Meeting Quiz

PharmaTrack introduces a quiz before each doctor meeting to enhance product knowledge and presentation skills. This quiz covers medicines across different medical divisions through multiple-choice questions, ensuring representatives have a comprehensive understanding of the products they present.

By integrating product learning into the meeting preparation process, PharmaTrack enhances sales effectiveness and boosts confidence. This innovative approach fosters greater credibility among sales representatives during engagements with healthcare providers.

Results acquired

40%

faster decision-making during shop visits, enhancing sales efficiency calculated through inhouse survey feedback.

105%

quicker average meeting initiation in crowded zones, streamlining the engagement process.

63%

increase in product knowledge retention among sales reps has been achieved through the implementation of weekly quizzes.

What did I learn

Embracing Domain Complexity

One of the most significant challenges of the Pharmatrack project was the necessity to quickly absorb and understand the intricacies of pharmaceutical sales processes and the unique challenges faced by medical representatives.

This experience reinforced the importance of immersive research methods, such as shadowing and in-person observations, which allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the users' environment, needs, and frustrations. The necessity to learn the domain language and understand the stakeholders' perspectives was crucial for designing an effective solution.

Balancing Business Goals and User Needs

One of the central challenges was balancing the business objectives of LaRenon Pharmaceuticals with the practical needs of the users. Often, business goals can overshadow user needs, leading to a product that may meet strategic objectives but fails at user adoption.

This project reinforced the necessity of aligning these two facets through a clear understanding and articulation of both, ensuring the final product is not only business-viable but also user-centric.

One of the central challenges was balancing the business objectives of LaRenon Pharmaceuticals with the practical needs of the users. Often, business goals can overshadow user needs, leading to a product that may meet strategic objectives but fails at user adoption.

This project reinforced the necessity of aligning these two facets through a clear understanding and articulation of both, ensuring the final xxxxx is not only business-viable but also user-centric.

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Design thinking is the art of turning
'what if' into 'why not' and 'I wish' into 'I will'.

-Vinit Pandey

© 2024 Vinit Pandey. All Rights Reserved.

Made with love and Chai (50% sugar, extra ginger).

vinitdoesux@gmail.com

Ready for the next thrilling chapter? Dive into my next case study.

How can COREPDS ensure 

quick, equitable and reliable

food distribution while

fostering trust especially

to those in need?

How can Pharmatrack empower medical representatives to boost

sales and cultivate stronger

client relationships?

Design thinking is the art of turning
'what if' into 'why not' and 'I wish' into 'I will'.

-Vinit Pandey

© 2024 Vinit Pandey. All Rights Reserved.

Made with love and Chai (50% sugar, extra ginger).

vinitdoesux@gmail.com

Ready for the next thrilling chapter? Dive into my next case study.

How can COREPDS ensure 

quick, equitable and reliable

food distribution while

fostering trust especially

to those in need?

Read More

How can Pharmatrack empower medical representatives to boost

sales and cultivate stronger

client relationships?

Read More

Design thinking is the art of turning
'what if' into 'why not' and 'I wish' into 'I will'.

-Vinit Pandey

© 2024 Vinit Pandey. All Rights Reserved.

Made with love and Chai (50% sugar, extra ginger).

vinitdoesux@gmail.com