Actual - Business

Red and pink have taken over retail displays and online promotions, as we hurdle toward February and Valentine’s Day. No shortage of choices to ex

According to USFDA, a combination product is one composed of any combination of a drug and device; biological product and device; drug and biological product

press our feelings about that special someone: jewelry, candy, flowers, or maybe an electronic-something with headphones, along with a memorable g

; or drug, device, and biological product and fixed dose combination would include two or more combinations of drug.

Examples of combination products may in

reeting card. When it comes to purchasing those gifts, food items, and e-somethings, seems like there could be more LOVE built into the process. W

lude drug-coated devices, drugs packaged with delivery devices in medical kits, and drugs and devices packaged separately but intended to be used together.

en we swipe our plastic or fill in the order form, what do we get besides a printed receipt?

Where’s the love?

Are there any co

here is enormous increase in the number of combination products entering the market in the recent years. Combination products have proven advantages but fixe

mpanies that consistently treat their customers as if they love to serve them, love to have their business, and would love to see them return agai

d dose combinations are still in the process of convincing regulatory authority on their advantages over the single ingredient formulations.

Combination pro

and again? Not many these days. A few, but not many.

Did you know that there are actually stores out there that do NOT expect their staff to ass

ucts have become life saving products for the pharmaceutical companies who doesn’t have many innovative molecules in their product pipeline and have been inc

ist customers unless ASKED? The concept is called self-service. For customers who like being frustrated and walking in circles to find a staff mem

easingly used in the product life cycle management. Even the companies having product patents are trying to extend their product life cycle through the combi

er, then those stores are fine. But many customers want to human experience when they shop. Those customers will go out of their way to spend mon

nation products and maximize the revenues. But the companies involved in this practice are overlooking that they are burdening the patients both economically

ey where people greet them, assist them, and thank them for their business. Those are the little things that bring customers back again and again,

and physically. They need to rightly judge the benefits of the combination products and they have to even look at the risks involved when combining the produ

leaving a warm, satisfying feeling, like a cup of hot chocolate.

Even customers clicking away in their PJ’s expect to be welcomed, want to find h

ts. Some of the combination products were well accepted by physicians while others suffered. Companies involved in development of combination products are fi

elp when needed, and deserve to be thanked for every purchase, large or small. If the brick and mortar or online experience is cold and unfeeling,

ding difficulty in defining their combination products and facing various challenges from selecting a combination to marketing it.

Following aspects would a

chances are good that customers will go elsewhere.

Where’s the LOVE in your business?

What could you do to warm up the customer experie

dd to the challenges in developing combination products:

Which markets to tap where the combination products can do fairly well?
Which combination prod

ce?

1. Establish new policies

Write new guidelines and distribute them to staff. Begin with the basics, such as how to answer te

cts are meaningful and rational?
Which therapeutic categories to select?
Which Combinations can address unmet needs of the patients?
Do combin

lephone inquiries (return calls within 24 hours!) and how to route letters or emails. Keep it simple. Let employees know you care about responding

tions increase the patient compliance?
What would be the developing cost?
How to tackle the risks encountered during combination product developmen

to customer concerns.

2. Engage your customers

Ask customers how they would like to be treated. Provide an easy method for them to offer

t?

As combination products don't fit into the traditional categories of drugs, medical devices, or biological products, the USFDA is in the process of devel

feedback (anonymously is OK) and spread the word that feedback is welcome and will be acted upon. Use voicemail, email, or a comment card. Use wha

ping new procedures for reviewing their safety, efficacy and quality.

Professional from academic institutions, pharmaceutical industries, health care indust

is readily available. See #1 about responding!

3. Empower your employees

Send a clear message to employees to think in terms of keeping

y and representatives from various regulatory agencies are working out to design the regulatory requirements for manufacture and sale of combination products

customers and making them happy. Give employees the power to make things right or to make things better. Afterwards, ask them how it felt to solv

.

As there is an increasing trend of the combination products companies manufacturing such products should be able to tackle the problems involved in the de

a problem.

These are simple ideas that don't need to be time-consuming, costly, or complicated.

Just begin.

Set a tone that you care about you

elopment. They need to be wiser in analyzing the market trends and the regulatory requirements.

Companies that provide selfless information through particip

r customers, take steps to make a difference, and change will happen gradually. Customers and employees alike will feel the love.

tion in industry events and feedback to regulatory authorities would be able to face the challenges and will be successful in developing combination products

Tags

Links

Actual - Where is the Love in Business Today?

Related Articles: