Blog | Life Sciences
30th April,   2024
Ibrahim Khalid is a seasoned digital innovation and transformation leader specializing in the health ecosystem and value chain. He has held key leadership roles throughout his career to drive thought leadership at industry-leading consulting and technology companies. These positions have honed his ability to navigate complex digital landscapes and foster innovation within large-scale organizations. Currently, Ibrahim is a partner at Brillio, where he continues guiding life sciences companies through their digital transformation journeys. His strategic vision, a unique blend of business acumen and technological proficiency, and hands-on experience make him a pivotal figure in shaping the future of healthcare and life sciences through innovation and digital excellence.
We outline the considerations and actionable strategies for life sciences companies in the wake of the split between Veeva Systems and Salesforce in 2025.
Introduction
The separation of Veeva from Salesforce presents an opportunity for pharmaceutical companies to reassess their CRM strategies to maintain operational continuity and leverage technological advancements. The impending split will fundamentally alter the CRM solutions landscape. Life sciences services companies must reassess their strategies to ensure continuity, compliance, and competitive advantage in leveraging these technologies.
Key timelines and milestones
Announcement and initial planning (2022–2023): The split was publicly announced, and initial communications regarding the transition were shared with stakeholders.
Detailed transition planning (2023–2024): Companies should use this time to conduct in-depth assessments of their current systems. During this period, companies must assess their key technology platforms’ capabilities and innovation roadmaps or timelines.
Start of transition (2025): Formal separation where Veeva will stop renewing its Salesforce partnership is set for September 2025. This marks the beginning of the operational shift. Companies should solidify their architecture strategies and start defining migration and integration plans.
Migration phase (2025–2030): After the split, there will be a five-year wind-down period, during which companies can continue using Veeva CRM on Salesforce. This period is crucial for executing the migration strategies, including transferring data, testing the new environment, and training users.
Final cutover (2030): This is the final milestone where companies should have completed transitions and fully adopted the target platforms.
Post-transition optimization (Post-2030): Ongoing evaluations and optimizations of the new systems will be crucial to address emerging challenges, optimize processes, and ensure that the systems meet evolving business needs.
Industry landscape and recent developments
Veeva Systems: Continues to offer specialized CRM solutions with its Veeva Vault platform, enhancing life sciences-specific functionalities.
Salesforce and IQVIA: The recent announcement of their partnership enhances Salesforce’s Life Sciences Cloud, integrating advanced analytics to improve operational efficiencies and customer engagement.
Other Key Players: Oracle Health Sciences, Cerner, SAP, Microsoft, BioClinica, Medidata, Parexel, and other emerging companies continue to offer complementary technologies supporting CRM functions.
Strategic recommendations for de-risking transitions
Conclusion
By understanding the implications and preparing adequately, companies can turn these challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation. Navigate the complexities of CRM evolution in the life sciences sector, ensuring that companies are well-equipped to maintain their competitive edge and meet the changing needs of their customers.