AI in Action: Productivity Gains and Practical Applications

At LogiPharma 2025, Ruth Beadle, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Sanofi, delivered a keynote that captured the spirit of transformation sweeping through the pharmaceutical industry.

Her presentation, “Chasing the Miracles of Science to Improve People’s Lives: How to Become an End-to-End Supply Chain Powered by AI,” offered delegates a candid look at Sanofi’s bold ambitions, the tangible progress already achieved, and the critical role of people and technology in shaping the future of pharma logistics.

Sanofi’s Ambition: Leading with Science, Powered by AI

Sanofi, with its 83,000 employees and a presence in 70 countries, is undergoing a historic transformation. “We have been reshaping ourselves to become the world’s leading immunology company and become best in class at everything we do. No small feat,” Beadle remarked. But the ambition doesn’t stop there. Sanofi aims to be the first biopharma company powered by AI at scale, leveraging digital tools to modernise operations and ultimately improve patients’ lives.

Building a Smart, End-to-End Supply Chain

Central to this vision is the creation of a “smart supply chain”—one that is end-to-end, data-driven, and digitally led, with visibility from patient to supplier. Beadle underscored the importance of this approach: “Our definition is one that is end to end, visibility from patient to supplier. Its data driven, digitally led and helps predict future shocks”.

Sanofi’s supply chain modernisation is already yielding impressive results. Beadle shared, “We have improved our service by almost 11%, our forecast error by almost 14% and our cost to serve by 12.5%.” These achievements have garnered industry-wide recognition and demonstrate the power of integrating advanced planning systems and digital capabilities for true orchestration and resilience.

The AI Framework: Expert, Snackable, GenAI

Beadle introduced Sanofi’s pragmatic, three-pronged AI framework:

• Expert: Designed for technical teams, this leverages digital twins and advanced analytics to solve complex problems and enhance supply chain agility. Sanofi’s partnership with Bluecrux, for example, has enabled digital twins that increase visibility and predict disruptions.
• Snackable: Focused on democratizing data, this approach delivers nearly three million actionable insights, making AI accessible and useful for everyday problem-solving and faster, more accurate product launches.
• GenAI: Sanofi has developed its own generative AI tools, making AI a resource for everyone in the organisation and driving innovation in daily operations.

Looking Ahead: A Journey, Not a Destination

Beadle emphasised, “AI won’t replace humans, but humans with AI will replace humans without AI. This is why we need to be at the forefront, be leaders and not laggards”.

Sanofi’s journey is ongoing, but the impact is already seismic. With 40 products in the pipeline and a robust, AI-powered supply chain, Sanofi is poised to deliver on its promise of bringing the miracles of science to patients and families worldwide. As Beadle concluded, “We aren’t at the end, we are on a journey but we are already making a seismic impact.”

LogiPharma 2025’s focus on digitalisation, AI, and end-to-end visibility reflected the industry’s recognition that the future of pharma supply chains lies at the intersection of technology, data, and empowered people.

To view the full post-event report, including all the key insights, trends, and expert perspectives, click here.