Starting A New Study? This One's For You

By Kalyan Obalampalli

Choosing the right vendor is one of the most critical — and often underestimated — decisions in launching a clinical trial. Costs, timelines, data integrity, and patient experience all hinge on this choice, yet the process of vendor selection remains fragmented and inefficient across much of the industry. Despite the millions invested in RFPs, sponsors are often left comparing inconsistent proposals, mismatched budgets, and complex spreadsheets that obscure rather than clarify who is best suited for the study.

The result is that vendor partnerships are too often shaped by familiarity, past relationships, or intuition instead of data-driven insights. Emerging technologies are beginning to change this landscape by introducing intelligent automation and standardization into the RFP process, enabling sponsors to evaluate vendors on measurable criteria such as performance fit, resource allocation, and risk sharing. The outcome is faster, more transparent decisions that optimize both cost and quality while maintaining regulatory readiness.

In an era where every trial dollar and day counts, the way organizations select their partners can determine the success or failure of a study. Learn how leading sponsors are redefining vendor selection — and transforming trial execution — through the power of intelligent automation.