Augmented Reality Kits Deployed in the Wake of Travel Bans

Rapid deployment kits can facilitate tech transfer and allow for communication between operators onsite and experts offsite, despite travel bans and other limitations posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Global pharmaceutical companies depend on global collaboration with suppliers, consultants, and contract partners around the world. Emergency responses to the coronavirus pandemic, including the travel ban recently enacted between the United States and the European Union, as well as facility closures and meeting bans, have made such collaboration more challenging.

To help prevent gaps in communication and training that can lead to serious supply chain disruptions and drug shortages, the augmented reality technology vendor, Apprentice.io, has sent a number of “rapid deployment kits” loaded with its hands-free Tandem technology platform to pharmaceutical R&D and manufacturing sites around the world. The kits can be customized, a company senior management says, and include smart glasses and accessories.

Apprentice.io has seen a significant number of kit requests from pharma organizations, manufacturers, suppliers, and outsourcing partners, its executives say, noting that Tandem allows in-suite operators to connect with out-of-suite subject matter experts, contract research and contract development and manufacturing organizations, and equipment vendors without requiring that those external experts travel to the site and gown up.

The technology was designed to facilitate tech transfer of methods and processes between internal and outsourced sites, eliminating the need for travel. It also allows remote acceptance testing and safe facility tours to be conducted, which can help prevent delays in newly approved drugs moving from clinical to commercial manufacturing.

Source: Apprentice.io