Reducing cost and complexity through vendor consolidation
Client situation
The client was a mid-sized pharmaceutical company with a recurring need for consultants across several functions and geographies. Over time, the client had built up a broad supplier base with many different vendors providing individual consultants for separate assignments. This created flexibility, but also increased administrative workload, fragmented governance and made it difficult to manage quality, pricing and long-term resource planning in a consistent way.
Client challenge
The client wanted to reduce the total cost and complexity of managing consultant assignments without losing access to specialized life science expertise. Multiple vendors meant multiple contracts, price lists, onboarding processes, points of contact and follow-up routines. This created unnecessary management time for procurement, HR and line managers, while also limiting the client’s ability to gain an overview of consultant spending, competence needs and future capacity requirements.
PharmaRelations’ solution
PharmaRelations proposed a vendor consolidation model where PharmaRelations became the client’s preferred partner for consultant assignments within defined life science functions. Instead of engaging many separate vendors, the client could channel new and existing consultant needs through one coordinated agreement, one commercial framework and one accountable partner.
The model gave the client access to PharmaRelations’ Nordic consultant base, specialist networks and cross-functional expertise. PharmaRelations also took responsibility for coordinating assignments, identifying suitable consultants, managing replacements when needed and supporting the client with resource planning.
Implementation approach
The implementation started with mapping the client’s existing consultant assignments, vendor landscape, competence needs and upcoming resource gaps. Based on this overview, PharmaRelations and the client agreed which assignment categories should be included in the consolidated model and how transition from existing vendors should be handled. A governance structure was established with one key account contact, regular follow-up meetings, clear escalation routes and transparent reporting on assignments, costs and future needs.
Outcome for the client
The client reduced the number of vendors involved in consultant assignments and gained a simpler, more cost-efficient operating model. Procurement and line managers spent less time managing separate supplier relationships, contracts and onboarding processes. The consolidated model also improved visibility of consultant spend, enabled more consistent pricing and made it easier to plan future resource needs across functions.
By working with one partner with broad Nordic life science expertise, the client maintained access to specialized consultants while reducing administrative burden, supplier fragmentation and total coordination cost. Over time, the relationship also enabled more proactive workforce planning and faster matching of consultants to new assignments.
• Cost reduction
• Lower administrative burden
• Improved cost transparency
• Faster consultant matching
Key success factors
• One preferred partner and one commercial framework for consultant assignments.
• Reduced number of vendors, contracts, contact points and onboarding processes.
• Improved cost transparency and more consistent pricing across assignments.
• Access to a broad Nordic life science consultant base and specialist networks.
• Stronger governance, reporting and forward-looking resource planning.
• Lower administrative burden for procurement, HR and line managers.
What this case demonstrates
This case demonstrates PharmaRelations’ ability to create value not only by providing individual consultants, but by taking broader responsibility for the client’s consultant supply model. By consolidating vendors, coordinating assignments and giving the client access to cross-functional Nordic expertise through one partner, PharmaRelations helped reduce cost, simplify governance and strengthen long-term workforce planning.
“Consolidating our consultant needs with PharmaRelations has significantly simplified the way we manage external expertise. With one partner, one framework and access to a broad Nordic life science network, we have reduced administration, improved cost transparency and can respond faster when new resource needs arise.”