The pharmaceutical industry faces a critical challenge: bringing life-saving treatments to market faster without compromising quality. Digital transformation powered by AI is reshaping how pharma companies operate, from clinical trials to quality control. For François Portier, Digital Transformation and Industrial Excellence Expert at ALTEN, the shift is clear: “Today, AI isn’t just an option; it’s the key to unlocking efficiency and innovation in pharma.“

But how can AI bridge the gap between data overload and actionable insights and what role does ALTEN play in this transition?

The pharma industry’s digital dilemma

Pharma’s traditional processes reliant on manual documentation, siloed data, and human monitoring are no longer sustainable. 75% of pharma companies are small enterprises, many still using pen-and-paper systems. Meanwhile, larger firms struggle to integrate AI into existing workflows.

Key pain points:

• Time-consuming compliance: Certification and deviation reports often start from scratch, delaying critical decisions.
• Inefficient quality control: Manual inspections (e.g., visual checks for bottle defects) are slow and prone to error.
• Data underutilization: Historically, 70% of pharma data went unused until AI made it actionable.

“Five years ago, we focused on automation, today, we’re deploying customized and flexible processes with AI solutions.“ notes François Portier.

ALTEN’s approach: AI as a Business accelerator

ALTEN collaborates with partners and customers to deploy AI where it matters most helping accelerate product delivery while maintaining compliance and quality.

Generative AI is reshaping how pharmaceutical engineers handle documentation. By auto-filling templates with historical data, it cuts report drafting time from two hours to just 20 minutes, while automating compliance checks and flagging regulatory gaps instantly.

“AI doesn’t replace expertise, it enhances it.” notes François Portier: engineers stay focused on high-value decisions while AI handles the rest.

On the production floor, computer vision detects defects in real time with greater accuracy than manual inspection. Predictive analytics then simulates clinical trial parameters to reduce failure risks before testing begins.

“With only 14% of trials reaching success, AI helps prioritize the most promising paths,” François Portier emphasizes.

ALTEN tailors its approach to each organization’s level of digital maturity. Smaller firms begin with data digitization using no-code tools, while larger enterprises deploy agentic AI to unify operational and IT data. There’s no one-size-fits-all model: the right solution depends on a company’s current level of digital maturity and where it needs to go.

The human-AI partnership: skills for the future

AI’s rise doesn’t diminish human roles—it redefines them. ALTEN emphasizes training teams to:

• Combine hard skills (e.g., IoT/robotics programming) with industry knowledge.
• Develop soft skills like problem-solving and project ownership. “The future engineer is strategic, not just technical,” François Portier asserts.

For pharma, the message is clear, AI isn’t a threat, it’s the tool to deliver treatments faster, safer and smarter, and more personalized for patients.