Overview
This case study highlights how Excelra partnered with a leading European pharmaceutical company to accelerate vaccine R&D through FAIR data principles in pharma, ELN LIMS consulting, and scientific informatics-driven digital transformation. The engagement focused on assessing workflow gaps, selecting the right digital platform (Benchling vs. Genedata Biologics), and implementing standardized data management practices. By aligning scientific workflows with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data strategies, Excelra helped the client achieve greater efficiency, traceability, and compliance across global research teams.
Our client
Our client is a renowned biopharmaceutical organization specializing in vaccine research and development, with major operations in Europe and the United States. The company focuses on advancing public health through data-driven discovery and innovation. Despite its scientific expertise, the client faced challenges in managing complex, siloed R&D data systems. To overcome these barriers, they sought Excelra’s expertise in scientific data management, digitalization in drug discovery, and scientific application services to enable a seamless, collaborative, and future-ready research environment.
Client’s challenge
A leading European pharmaceutical company specializing in vaccine development, with research hubs in the US and France, was facing mounting pressure to accelerate its R&D timelines while maintaining data integrity and regulatory compliance. Despite its reputation for scientific excellence and global health impact, the organization struggled with fragmented workflows, manual data entry, and siloed systems.
These inefficiencies resulted in:
- 30–40% delays in data retrieval and analysis
- ~25% error rates due to manual processes
- Limited cross-functional visibility
- Redundant efforts and increased operational costs
The client’s goal was to modernize its vaccine R&D workflows through pharma digital transformation, by conducting a comprehensive gap assessment and selecting a digital platform—Benchling or Genedata Biologics—that could support standardized, automated, and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data practices.
The initiative aimed to establish scientific data management excellence and align R&D workflows with FAIR data principles in pharma, enabling end-to-end traceability, reproducibility, and compliance.
Client’s goals
Biopharmaceutical segment | Europe, United States, France Focused on vaccine R&D with a mission to deliver safe and effective vaccines through cutting-edge science, data-driven drug discovery, and robust decision-making powered by scientific informatics.
Our solution
The engagement resulted in a transformational shift in how the client managed vaccine R&D data and workflows.
Enhanced workflow efficiency
- Streamlined 7 R&D workflows
- Reduced manual interventions by 40%
- Achieved 30% increase in operational efficiency
This allowed scientists to focus more on bioinformatics analysis, experimental design, and interpretation rather than administrative tasks.
FAIR data enablement
- Standardized data capture templates
- Metadata tagging and version control
- Integrated governance protocols
The client’s data became Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable, aligning with global FAIR data principles in pharma and Scientific Data Management
standards.
Error reduction and automation
- Automated data entry and validation
- Reduced human error by 25%
- Improved reproducibility in high-throughput workflows
This significantly lowered the risk of inconsistencies, especially in high-throughput bioinformatics workflows such as protein characterization and monoclonal antibody discovery.
Real-Time data access
- Instant access to experimental data across geographies
- Improved collaboration between US and France teams
- Faster decision-making during reviews and submissions
The integration of cloud enablement and data curation services enhanced scalability and compliance across research sites.
Related case study: Seamless Data Migration to Benchling: A Case Study in Biotech Innovation
Bonus outcome: platform adoption and cultural shift
The client reported high user satisfaction with the selected platform (Benchling), citing its intuitive UI and collaborative features. The project fostered a culture of data stewardship and scientific accountability, supported by continuous data fairification and governance best practices.
Customer’s feedback
“Excelra’s deep understanding of life sciences workflows and data governance was instrumental in our transformation. Their structured approach and platform expertise helped us achieve measurable improvements in speed, accuracy, and collaboration. We now have a scalable foundation for future innovation.”
Conclusion
This project was a success because Excelra understands how to bridge scientific workflows with digital transformation. Our expertise in FAIR data strategy, ELN LIMS consulting, scientific informatics, and life sciences R&D positioned us uniquely to deliver impactful results.
Excelra offers a suite of services aligned with this engagement:
- R&D Acceleration: Achieved a 30% increase in operational efficiency and a 40% reduction in manual data tasks, accelerating discovery timelines.
- Error Elimination: Reduced human error by 25% through automated data validation, ensuring high-quality, reproducible scientific data.
- Global Collaboration: Enabled real-time access to experimental data across US and France teams, streamlining decision-making.
- FAIR Data Foundation: Established a FAIR data strategy and governance model, future-proofing R&D for scalability and compliance.
To learn more about how Excelra can support your R&D transformation journey, visit Excelra Scientific Informatics or contact us at solutions@excelra.com.
