Connectivity is no longer a nice-to-have feature for life sciences localization. To stay competitive, especially for high-volume localization programs with clients who manage continuous content pipelines, connected life sciences translation workflows are vital. Organizations that implement connected life sciences localization workflows can reduce their turnaround times by up to 50%. They’ll also see gains compounding across every subsequent program running on the same connection. The highest-value life sciences translation solutions connectors cluster in four areas of high file volume, repeatable document types, and strict submission deadlines:

• Pharma clinical operations
• Regulatory Affairs
• Pharmacovigilance
• Medical device technical publishing

Read our blog for four key steps to implementing connective (sometimes referred to as integrated) life sciences content translation workflows.

Life Sciences Localization Connectivity Step 1: Involve InfoSec Early

The foundation for achieving connected life sciences localization is involving the IT or cybersecurity department early. Some pharmaceutical or medical device companies try looping their IT department in at the end of workflow setup, right before going live. This approach frequently creates a huge bottleneck because security review should be conducted throughout this workflow setup. Life sciences translation services providers like Lionbridge have full Trust teams who are prepared to assist with this process. They will work closely with your organization’s IT team, complete audit processes with them, and provide any necessary assurance about IT controls. Overall, these benefits will also ensure workflows go live faster.

Life Sciences Localization Connectivity Step 2: Choose a Provider Who Supports Your Platform

Veeva Vault (RIM, Clinical, QualityDocs, PromoMats/MedComms, and others) is the most commonly adopted content system among pharmaceutical and medical device companies. The typical life sciences translation company is prepared to work with Veeva to build connected life sciences localization workflows. Mature LSPs are also able to connect to the broader ecosystem of:

• Other regulated content platforms
• CCMS/DITA authoring environments for technical publishing teams
• Document management and collaboration systems
• Standard file-transfer and API-based exchange methods (such as AEM and sitecore)

Whatever platform a pharmaceutical or medical device company has, their life sciences language services provider should be able to offer connective workflows. Even if the content lives in a system with an API or supported exchange layer, it’s still possible to build a connected workflow around it.

Life Sciences Localization Connectivity Step 3: Work With Your LSP to Create Workflow Customization

Integrated life sciences localization workflows aren’t one-size-fits-all. In fact, they work optimally when they’re configured to your specific risk tolerance, audiences, and regulatory exposure. Pharmaceutical and medical device companies can prepare to help their LSP customize workflows by:

• Documenting their target workflow
• Defining user rights and permissions matrix
• Structuring commercials like PO limits and exhaustion reporting
• Engaging IT and information security for the required view or audit

Once they’ve shared this information with the provider, these are a few ways their integrated workflows can be customized:

• Applying AI when it’s appropriate. This allows lower-risk, high-volume content to move faster. Meanwhile, submission-critical content that demands low risk tolerance can be processed on a fully human-powered path.

• Building in-country reviews directly into a connected flow, providing affiliate reviewers with a structured task queue instead of an untracked email-and-attachment loop. Review comments and version history will be captured for audit.

• Ensuring localization approvals align with existing SOPs (rather than running parallel to them. Mirror multi-level approval chains inside the workflow: Medical, Legal, and Regulatory (MLR) review, internal SMEs, or a final QA process).