Serialization Platform Not Working for Your Health System? You’re Not Alone

Experiencing Buyer’s Remorse With Your Serialization Platform? Many Other Health Systems Are Too

Many health systems are discovering the serialization and traceability platform they selected during earlier compliance phases is struggling to support real pharmacy operations across multiple facilities. LSPedia is here to help.

For large health systems and national pharmacy networks, serialization and track-and-trace systems are now part of everyday pharmacy operations. Transaction and verification processes run within pharmacy receiving, inventory management, and internal distribution workflows. The platforms supporting these processes must work reliably while allowing pharmacy operations to continue without disruption.

Many healthcare organizations selected their serialization or track-and-trace platforms during earlier compliance efforts, when the main goal was regulatory readiness. The focus was on enabling product serialization, establishing EPCIS data exchange with trading partners, and meeting traceability requirements.

As these programs mature within large health systems, those platforms are now operating in real-world conditions. Transaction volumes have increased, and integrations with pharmacy and inventory systems are being tested through daily operations. Serialization and traceability processes now support both inpatient and retail pharmacy workflows, often across multiple facilities.

As these systems move into everyday use, some organizations are discovering platform limitations that were not visible during deployment. Across the industry, several common challenges are starting to emerge.

Common Platform Challenges Reported by Health Systems

As serialization and traceability systems move deeper into daily pharmacy operations, many health systems are starting to report similar platform challenges. These issues often appear only after platforms are running across multiple facilities and supporting real operational workflows.

1. Post-implementation support drop-off

Many health systems report that vendor support is strong during initial implementation but becomes harder to access once the system is fully deployed. As organizations move into day-to-day operations, support response times may slow and access to experienced technical staff can become more limited. When problems arise during receiving, verification, or inventory processing, pharmacy and IT teams may struggle to get timely assistance.

2. Escalation and resolution challenges

When platform issues require escalation, some organizations find it difficult to move problems quickly through the vendor’s support structure. Escalation paths may be unclear, or support teams may lack deep knowledge of serialization and traceability operations. As a result, resolving transaction errors, EPCIS data issues, or system slowdowns can take longer than expected, which can disrupt pharmacy workflows.

3. Hidden support costs

Some health systems also discover that certain types of technical support require additional fees or higher service tiers. Access to faster response times, advanced troubleshooting, or dedicated support resources may come at an added cost. These unexpected expenses can make it harder for organizations to get timely help when operational issues occur.

4. Scalability limitations

Some serialization and traceability systems perform well during early implementation but struggle as transaction volumes increase. Large health systems process serialized products across multiple hospitals, clinics, and distribution points, and systems that cannot scale efficiently may experience slower transaction processing or delayed verification responses. These slowdowns can affect receiving and inventory workflows across multiple facilities.

5. Receiving and inventory workflow delays

Serialization platforms must process EPCIS data quickly enough to support normal pharmacy receiving activities. When transaction processing slows, pharmacy teams may experience delays verifying products and updating inventory systems. These delays can create operational friction, especially when large volumes of serialized products arrive across multiple locations.

6. Outbound EPCIS constraints

Health systems often move product between hospitals, clinics, and internal pharmacy locations. Not all platforms support outbound EPCIS transactions for these redistribution workflows. When outbound events cannot be generated reliably, organizations may need to rely on manual workarounds or other operational compromises.

7. Automation gaps

Without strong automation capabilities, serialization and traceability processes can require ongoing manual effort from pharmacy or IT teams. Tasks such as resolving exceptions, reconciling transaction discrepancies, or verifying serialized product data may become routine operational work instead of automated background processes.

Considering a Switch?

Switching serialization and traceability platforms may feel complicated, but many health care systems have discovered the transition to LSPedia is far easier than expected.

Visit our Switch to OneScan page to see how the process works.

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