MIXMOVE’s Approach to Optimising Cold Chain Management for Pharma Deliveries

While most medications aren’t temperature sensitive, some – such as vaccines, insulin, hormones, and certain antibiotics require strict temperature control. Without it, they can degrade, lose effectiveness, or even become harmful.

Cold chain logistics ensure that these products remain within a safe temperature range throughout their journey, minimising spoilage, reducing financial losses, and, most importantly, protecting patient safety.

The Critical Importance of Cold Chain Management in Pharma

When we think of cold chain transportation, we picture large, refrigerated trucks transporting food to the supermarkets. And while it’s true that much of cold chain logistics revolves around food, it’s just as critical in the pharmaceutical industry.

Many medications are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations and must be stored and transported within strict temperature ranges to remain safe and effective. These include:

• Vaccines – e.g., flu, COVID-19, and HPV vaccines (often require 2°C to 8°C storage)
• Insulin – sensitive to both heat and freezing
• Biologics and biosimilars – such as monoclonal antibodies
• Hormones – like human growth hormone and some contraceptives
• Certain antibiotics – such as ampicillin
• Eye drops and some injectable medications

Temperature-controlled packaging, like insulated containers and gel packs, is often used to maintain product integrity. However, consistent temperature monitoring is essential for longer or more complex journeys. Exposure to temperatures outside the recommended range can degrade the medication, making it ineffective or even harmful.

In the UK, the transport of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals is tightly regulated. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) enforces Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines, which set the standard for safe and compliant distribution. Companies involved in pharmaceutical logistics must be GDP-certified to operate legally and safely.

MIXMOVE’s Innovative Approach to Cold Chain Optimisation

So, how does MIXMOVE facilitate cold chain logistics? We offer several software solutions that allow logistics companies to monitor products closely during transportation.

Our capabilities include:

• End-to-End Visibility. Using GPS systems, we track delivery trucks at every stage in their journey. From manufacturer to delivery, you can see that the product is transported in full compliance with GDP guidelines.
• Real-Time Temperature Monitoring. In some cases, it’s possible to monitor the precise temperature inside the truck. Often, this is managed by the drivers themselves. However, the information can be verified to ensure complete patient safety.
• Automated Alerts. You need to know if there’s an irregular fluctuation in temperature. That gives you a greater chance of saving the products with quick corrective actions.

With our systems (X-Deliver, X-Dock, and X-Track), you’ll have a bird’s-eye view of the entire cold chain supply chain. You can anticipate problems, find solutions, and ensure that the medicines get to where they’re needed.

Integration with Existing Supply Chain Systems

One of the biggest challenges logistics companies face when introducing a new system is integrating it with their existing digital architecture. That could be enterprising resource planning (ERP) or a warehouse management system (WMS). Pharmaceutical companies often rely on industry-specific software.

MIXMOVE specifically designed our platform to integrate seamlessly with your current software. The system automatically pulls data from one source, giving you access to real-time data.

Of course, integrating MIXMOVE with your existing supply chain systems doesn’t happen overnight. A full setup can take several days. MIXMOVE is committed to helping you every step of the way. We offer a detailed project roadmap with clear tasks and timelines covering MIXMOVE setup, third-party integrations, and any specific customisations. Plus, our team is always available to discuss any issues.

Route Optimisation for Temperature-Sensitive Shipments

Temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals often cannot be shipped en masse. That means that patients downstream are reliant on each shipment to secure their medicine. Drugs like insulin or vaccination dosages must be delivered on time, minimising delays that could affect patient health and public health.

So, how does MIXMOVE help? Well, our system is optimised for cold chain transportation. X-Deliver, in particular, is designed to provide an end-to-end delivery system. As soon as a drug leaves the manufacturer, you can track it at every stage in its journey. The system provides route optimisation to avoid potential traffic congestion and slower routes and shorten journey times.

Often, this leads to reduced logistics costs, greater driver capacity, and improved patient satisfaction and safety.

Real-Time Monitoring and Reporting

Even if things go wrong, such as an unexpected traffic jam or vehicle collision, it’s crucial that you have access to all the data in real-time. Your team can then make an informed decision to correct any issues. That could mean ordering a second shipment, redirecting a truck, or finding another cold chain logistics solution.

Going forward, dashboards for performance tracking let you review your cold chain supply chain from start to finish. You can identify issues and find corrective measures. They also give stakeholders visibility of delivery performance and temperature compliance – which is critical under GDP guidelines.

Final Thoughts

Cold chain logistics adds another layer of complexity to modern supply chains. Unlike just-in-time supply chains, there’s not just an emphasis on getting between A and B as quickly as possible. The journey itself must be carefully controlled in compliance with GDP guidelines.

MIXMOVE’s diverse software platform includes monitoring temperature regulation, optimising delivering routes, and evaluating logistics performance. We even integrate seamlessly with your existing cold chain supply chain systems, and our team is always on hand if you need extra support.

Want to learn more? Request a free demo to see the MIXMOVE platform in action and learn how it can transform your cold chain transportation.