Practice Management Solutions in Prostate Cancer Care: A Case Study in Streamlining Inventory Management with Innovative App Solutions by Asentech

Our client faced a challenging landscape as it launched its new androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for the treatment of adult patients with advanced prostate cancer. In an industry dominated by well-entrenched competitors, they aimed to carve out a niche by offering a unique advantage: a pre-filled syringe that eliminated the need for mixing.

This innovative preparation streamlines the administration process for healthcare providers, positioning the therapy as a cutting-edge treatment option for prostate cancer and, ideally, as the preferred ADT among targeted providers.

However, despite the time-saving benefits for HCPs and staff, they were up against strong incumbents that not only held significant market share but also had established comprehensive support structures, including inventory management systems.

Adding to this complexity was the client’s perception that implementing an inventory management solution was both costly and time-consuming due to the necessary hardware components. With less than three months before the launch, they needed to quickly strategize and execute their plan.

As the company prepared for launch, our team proposed a modern approach to tackle the perceived challenge of expensive and complex inventory management systems. Recognizing the ubiquitous presence of smartphones, we suggested HCPs could use them for scanning inventory through an app we would build for them.

This app would operate in kiosk mode on the phones, ensuring compliance with Sunshine laws by preventing any exchange for value. We then established a partnership with a reliable leasing partner to manage the cost and deployment associated with devices.

During the planning phase, the team focused on prioritizing high-value features for the initial launch, with a systematic roadmap to incorporate additional features post-launch. Simultaneously, we developed a detailed training program of instructional videos, a training sandbox, dedicated training devices, and a comprehensive certification course, all aimed at equipping sales representatives with the necessary skills and knowledge to promote and support the app.

Since its inception in May 2022, the app has shown promising adoption and performance metrics. With 74 total accounts registered and 33 active accounts, which represent 16% of total accounts buying the ADT product, the digital tool has shown its potential to streamline operations within practices. To date, 20,599 total units have been sold nationally, indicating strong utilization and a promising uptrend in product dispersion.

Our inventory management solution, with its barcode scanning technology and sophisticated tracking capabilities, has optimized the inventory handling of the product. Approximately 20% of total units were received through the app, with a remarkable 89% dispensed through the platform, showcasing the system's efficacy in simplifying the inventory process. Cross-platform engagement metrics are a testament to the system's user-friendly nature, with over 100 downloads on iOS devices and an additional 10+ downloads on Android devices. This is complemented by 10+ active web portal users.

Customers can now track inventory across various practice locations, ensure traceability between dispensed and billed doses, and allow practices to optimize inventory with Just In Time (JIT) electronic ordering. It also allows for seamless inventory replenishment through one-click order submissions, making it easy for practices to maintain adequate stock levels. Automatic notifications alert staff when inventory levels are low, providing timely reminders to reorder and avoiding treatment disruptions.

For the client, the platform delivers real-time insights into customers' ordering and dispensing patterns, helping them proactively assist with key performance indicators such as ideal order depletion rate and inventory stocking. Now they can intervene when ordering or inventory patterns change significantly, driving higher engagement and retention with the product by helping customers achieve efficiency and operational objectives.