Pharmaceutical Inventory Management Software

Accounting & Inventory Software for Pharmaceutical Distribution

Maintain Compliance with Blue Link’s
Pharmaceutical Inventory Management Software

Blue Link’s Pharmaceutical Inventory Management Software provides functionality to manage all aspects of your pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution business. As a complete end-to-end pharmaceutical ERP system, Blue Link includes robust accounting and inventory management features and advanced functionality for regulatory compliance with the DEA, FDA and DSCSA, including Electronic Serialized File Management, Saleable Returns Verification, DEA and State License Management, Suspicious Order Monitoring, Suspect and Illegitimate Product Handling, EDI Integration, Barcode Scanning and Warehouse Management.

These features work together to automate processes and grow your business, increase transparency, and aid in regulatory compliance.

Pharmaceutical Distribution Software Functionality

Electronic Serialized File Management  Saleable Returns – Verification Router Service  DEA & State License Expiry Date Management
Transaction History Management (T3) (to be updated for 2023 deadline) Customer SKU Classification & Controlled Drug Scheduling Suspicious Order Monitoring (SOM)
Identification of Product Suspect & Illegitimate Product Handling Controlled Substance Ordering System (CSOS)
Short Dated Drugs Management Lot Tracking (Traceability) Compliance Reporting
Accounting – A/R, A/P, GL, Bank Management, etc. Order Entry & Invoicing Purchase Orders
Warehouse Management & Shipping Barcode Scanning Serialized Equipment Tracking
Inventory Management Pricing Rules Reporting & Analytics
Contact Management & CRM B2B Online Order Portal Commission Management

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EPCIS file format on computer

Electronic Serialized File Management

DSCSA 2023 Interoperability Requirement – Now 2024

Blue Link ERP works with 3rd party applications that can read, decipher, store and transmit EPCIS file information for use in the receiving and shipping process.

When receiving inventory into your warehouse, you’re able to scan the product (largest unit size) and as part of the scan, Blue Link will automatically make a call to the 3rd party application to lookup the DTR information which is included in the EPCIS file to verify the product being received. The information is then passed into Blue Link and saved so it can be used in the outbound shipping process.

Pharmaceutical Pills - DSCSA

DSCSA

The Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), signed into legislation by US President Barack Obama on November 27, 2013, ushered in a new age of transparency and accountability in the pharmaceutical industry. The DSCSA outlines several phases aimed at establishing an interconnected platform that will successfully identify and trace specific prescription drugs as they move through the supply chain. As of the end of 2023 and the completion of the ten-year implementation process, the resulting system in place will enable the communication of information at the individual package level identifying where a specific drug has been at different stages of the supply chain. The goal of this transition is to permit the verification of the legitimacy of the drug products, facilitate more efficient and timely recall procedures and protocols, and enhance the detection and notification of illegal products.

For wholesale distributors dealing with pharmaceuticals, Blue Link closely monitors FDA, DEA and the progression of DSCSA requirements and frequently consults with existing customers and industry experts to ensure the pharmaceutical specific functionality offered continues to meet the needs of the industry and new standards/regulations as they come into effect.

In August 2023, it was released by the FDA that they will be enforcing a ‘Stabilization Period‘ and will not be enforcing the DSCSA requirements until November 27th, 2024. The stabilization period is encouraged to be used to build and validate the systems and processes that require Pharmaceutical trading partners to be fully compliant with DSCSA requirements. Although the FDA will not be enforcing the law until 2024, it’s important that businesses do not stop or delay implementing these processes.

Read the FDA Guidance document:

Learn more about the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) and Pharmaceutical Distribution Software.

Person restocking pharmaceutical products on store shelf. NAPD DDAP.

NABP Drug Distributor Accreditation
Program (VAWD)

The NABP DDA program (VAWD) is an accreditation that is issued by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to pharmaceutical wholesale drug distribution facilities. The accreditation verifies that distributing facilities are in compliance with state and federal laws which ultimately helps to prevent counterfeit drugs from entering the U.S. market. It is currently recognized by 21 states in the U.S., and is a requirement in Indiana, North Dakota, and Wyoming. Other states require NABP DDA as a condition of license renewal for disciplinary cases.

Over half of all Blue Link pharma customers have been able to achieve VAWD/NABP with the help of our pharma ERP software.

Pharmaceutical Distribution Software Demo Videos


Pharma ERP Demo Video
SOM Demo Video

2024 DSCSA Compliance Guide for Pharmaceutical Distribution

Download Guide Now

Pharmacy worker on computer. DEA pharma license management.

Saleable Returns – Verification Router
Service “VRS” powered by LSPedia

DSCSA 2024 Interoperability Requirement

VRS features allow you and your employees to verify that the unique product identifier on a returned product is authentic and includes barcode scanning functionality to read applicable 2D Datamatrix barcodes of the smallest saleable unit. Direct integration between Blue Link’s returns functionality and the Verification Router Service, powered by LSPedia meets the November 27, 2019, DSCSA requirements around Saleable Returns and expands the capability to perform product verification in real time with sub-second response from anywhere, utilizing the Unique Product Identifier (GTIN, Serial #, Lot #, Expiration Date).

In addition, Blue Link ERP has the ability to integrate with other Verification Router Services for managing Saleable Returns.

DEA & State License Expiry Date
Management & DEA License # Tracking

DSCSA 2024 Interoperability Requirement

Blue Link pharmaceutical inventory management software recognizes the type of license, state, license number, expiry date, and allowable drug schedules for each customer ship-to address and prevents an order from being processed if the customer has an invalid license. This allows you to generate reports with information on licenses that are approaching expiry and is interfaced with Blue Link’s B2B Online Order Portal. The system also stores digital copies of Customer and Vendor Licenses for future reference.

Blue Link’s B2B Online Order Portal allows your customers and/or sales reps to login, view inventory and specific pricing, track license information, view past orders and more. Your customers and/or sales reps can then place orders which automatically populate into Blue Link ERP’s order entry and processing tools.

Man writing testimonial on cell phone

“Not only is CSOS going to potentially double your revenues, but Blue Link will also handle all of your reporting requirements."

IPD Logo
Russel Patterson
Owner, IPD
Learn More about CSOS
Pharma DSCSA requirements

Transaction History (T3)

**To be updated for 2024 deadline (DSCSA 2024 Interoperability Requirement)

The DSCSA requires that all trading partners including manufacturers, repackagers, wholesale distributors, and dispensers not accept pharmaceutical products unless the trading partner they receive the product from can provide specific information about the product. This specific requirement dictates that every shipment moving through the supply chain include a Transaction Report or T3.

To meet these needs, Blue Link includes transaction history (product/lot tracing information) of a specific drug’s route and automatic tracking of information stored one level back and one level forward. The software includes the ability to enter complete transaction tracking for each product/lot back to the manufacturer and full Transaction Reporting (T3).

Customer SKU Classification &
Controlled Drug Scheduling

Blue Link ERP’s pharmaceutical classification capabilities enables you to restrict the type of controlled “scheduled” drugs any one of your customers can purchase. The software’s limit capabilities enable you to restrict the quantities of controlled drugs a customer can purchase and alerts you when customers exceed their quantity limits at the order level. Drug Family scheduling features enable you to restrict the total quantity of a “Family” of controlled drugs a customer can purchase per order or per month and includes features for managing ratios of controlled vs. non-controlled drug sales by customer on sales orders. In accordance with DEA standards, this feature can also be used to automatically generate ARCOS reports.

suspicious order monitoring

Suspicious Order Monitoring (SOM)

DSCSA 2024 Interoperability Requirement

Since 1971, the DEA has required pharmaceutical “registrants” to monitor sales orders and inform their DEA Field Division Office of any suspicious orders including unusual size, orders deviating substantially from a normal pattern, and orders of unusual frequency. Blue Link pharmaceutical inventory management software includes configurable SOM capabilities to monitor sales order activity in a number of areas including;

  • Unusual size
  • Unusual order patterns
  • Monthly ordering frequency
  • Ratio of controlled vs. non-controlled quantities
  • Combinations of products
  • Items outside of scope of practice
  • Strength check
  • Product family combinations
  • Percentage of products from the same family

This functionality will automatically put a sales order “on hold” and send a notification to an authorized user within our customer’s business if certain criteria are met. Configuring the criteria and removing the “hold” status requires specific user permissions.

Read Blog: DEA Suspicious Order Monitoring with Blue Link ERP

identification of product

Identification of Product

Blue Link ERP includes association of NDC#, GTIN, Family, Brand, Strength, Dosage, Drug Classification, Customer Limits, Lot, Expiration Date and Ratio of each product and includes features for printing product specific information on various documentation including printed labels and “Transaction Information”.

Suspect and Illegitimate Product Handling

DSCSA 2024 Interoperability Requirement

Under DSCSA regulations, if a trading partner in the supply chain identifies that a product in their possession is suspicious or deemed illegitimate, they are required to notify the FDA and all other immediate trading partners who may have received the suspicious/illegitimate product, no later than 24 hours after making the determination. Once the trading partner has notified the appropriate people, they are then responsible for quarantining the product and immediately launching an investigation. Blue Link has developed specific functionality in our pharmaceutical ERP software to manage this process including the ability to:

  • Quarantine and remove product from the supply chain that is considered suspect
  • Store detailed information on lot controlled products, sales and purchase history (Pedigree and Transaction Reporting)
  • Manage information and images pertaining to the shape, size and description of product
DEA certified CSOS

Controlled Substance Ordering System

A Controlled Substance Ordering System (CSOS) allows distributors, pharmacies and manufacturers to transmit Schedule II (CII) orders electronically. This feature is certified by the DEA as an approved legal process based on industry regulations and streamlines the order and reporting process for Scheduled Drugs. Our CSOS DEA certified functionality allows trading partners in the supply chain to place orders online for Schedule II (C2) controlled substances. CSOS is built into Blue Link’s B2B Ordering Platform.

Short Dated Drugs Management

Short Dated Drugs functionality enables you to identify when a product should be considered “Short Dated” and allows you to associate a specific price to that products lot.

Lot Tracking

Lot tracking software, or batch tracking, allows for product traceability to keep track of which customers received specific groups (or shipments) of items and when they were received. The date these items were purchased and supplier they came from are also tracked, allowing you to monitor an individual group of products (or shipment) from the supplier to your own warehouse and ultimately to the customer. Strong lot tracking features will also allow users to print lot numbers on documents including invoices and packing slips. Lot tracking is especially important if any of the products you distribute are ever recalled – associating a specific lot number to products makes it much easier to handle recalls.

illegitimate product handling

Reporting

Blue Link ERP’s robust reporting functionality allows for the automatic printing and emailing of Transaction Reporting (T3), Customer License Expiry Report and allows you to automatically generate and upload ARCOS/CSOS reports to the DEA at a set scheduled date and time (as determined by you). Blue Link also has Lot Expiry Reports and Lot Recall Reports, in addition to standard financial reports, sales reports and inventory reports.

Read Blog: Make Sure Your Pharmaceutical Distribution System Includes These Reports

Man writing testimonial on cell phone

"We've been working closely with Blue Link for several years. Throughout our relationship Blue Link Associates have put forth amazing effort to address our ERP needs. Blue Link is a great company to work together with and we appreciate our relationship with them."

republic pharmaceuticals logo
Kenon Pointer
Republic Pharmaceuticals

Strategic Partnerships
Pharmaceutical Industry Memberships

Blue Link ERP maintains its strong presence in the pharmaceutical industry by keeping up-to-date on industry regulations and compliance as set out by the FDA, DEA, DSCSA and other affiliated governing bodies. For wholesale distributors, it is important to work with a software vendor like Blue Link that has a strong presence in the pharmaceutical world. Blue Link does this by maintaining a membership with the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA), by forming partnerships with industry experts and by regularly participating in pharmaceutical conferences, seminars and tradeshows.

HDA Member

Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA)

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) is the national organization representing primary pharmaceutical distributors — the vital link between the nation’s pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics and others nationwide. The alliance represents 36 distribution companies — national, regional and specialty — as well as approximately 130 manufacturers and more than 50 service providers.

Since 1876, HDA has helped members navigate regulations and innovations to ensure efficient and reliable delivery of medicines and healthcare products. Throughout this period, the pharmaceutical distribution industry has undergone a rapid evolution as technology has advanced, the market has globalized and the supply chain has become more complex.

www.hda.org 

pdg logo

Partnership for DSCSA Governance (PDG)

PDG is a collaborative forum dedicated to developing, advancing, and sustaining an effective and efficient model for interoperable tracing and verification of prescription pharmaceuticals in the United States. Through collaboration with industry stakeholders, PDG has developed a Foundational Blueprint for 2023 Interoperability, which provides a set of compliance and business requirements for DSCSA interoperability.

www.dscsagovernance.org

Gateway Checker logo

Gateway Checker Corporation

Gateway Tracker™, a product traceability platform, is completely integrated into Blue Link’s Pharmaceutical Distribution Software enabling item-level traceability functionality and DSCSA regulatory compliance. Goods receipt, reconciliation, inventory management, fulfillment, and reverse logistics are serialized-enabled through Gateway Tracker APIs. Direct access to serialization through the Blue Link interface means there is no need for costly configuration, complicated onboarding, or expensive integration services.

Gateway Checker Corporation develops pharmaceutical traceability software that enables conformance to GS1 application standards and DSCSA compliance. Gateway’s applications facilitate DSCSA traceability, drug transaction exchange, product verification, systems validation, conformance certification, and item-serialized, lifecycle management. Founded in 2019 based on 13 years’ experience establishing supply integrity and deploying serialization solutions to more than 50 companies. Gateway Checker Corporation is a GS1 Solution Provider, a GS1 Certified Conformance Testing Service, and a wholly owned subsidiary of BrandSure, LLC.

www.gatewaychecker.com

Pharma Solutions logo

Pharma Solutions USA Inc

**Formerly Five Rivers RX and NavigateSOM

Blue Link works with Pharma Solutions to help pharmaceutical distribution businesses find and implement proper inventory and accounting pharmaceutical ERP software.

Pharma Solutions enables the drug supply chain to ensure quality and security through consulting and administrative solutions that leverage innovation, expertise, and technology. The company’s services span Federal and State requirements including State Licensing, NABP Accreditation, DEA Compliance and providing technological solutions to help pharmaceutical companies along the supply chain. Pharma Solutions are always hyper-focused on client care and meeting client objectives.

www.pharma.solutions

LSPedia logo

LSPedia

Powered by LSPedia, the verification router service in Blue Link ERP works to meet the DSCSA requirements and expands the capability to perform product verification in real time with sub-second response from anywhere, on any device, utilizing the unique product identifier.

LSPedia is a leading supply chain software provider for the pharmaceutical industry. LSPedia’s serialization solution RxChain enables pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesale distributors, dispensers to manage data, distribute products, and track inventory at the serialized level. LSPedia’s Verification Router Service enables authorized trading partners to authenticate serialized products, verify returns, and deter counterfeiting.

www.lspedia.com

rxvirtual logo

RxVirtual

Blue Link works with RxVirtual as an integration partner for eCommerce, EDI and integration with other third-party applications.

RxVirtual is a US based and operated IT company with focus in providing the most modern technology solutions, including EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) to allow businesses to streamline and automate their operations. Founded by a group of highly experienced IT specialists with years of collaboration in TOP enterprise level organizations.

www.rxvirtual.net

trxade logo

Trxade

Blue Link integrates with Trxade allowing for data to be electronically passed between Blue Link and the Trxade platform.

Founded by an independent pharmacist in 2010, the Trxade platform offers true price transparency to its over 7,500 Pharmacy members with industry-leading cost comparison tools and advanced search features that put Pharmacies in control of their Rx purchases like never before. They are the leading pharmaceuticals e-commerce marketplace featuring 30+ pedigree and NABP compliant wholesalers price competing in real time like Amazon and eBay.

www.rx.trxade.com

It’s Time to Grow Your Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution Business

Blue Link’s pharmaceutical inventory management software helps your business reduce manual work, automate processes and remain compliant with industry regulations so that you can focus on what really matters: growing your business. Let us help you with the hard work by providing a complete end-to-end pharmaceutical distribution system to manage your business operations.

Contact Us!

Additional Resources for
Pharmaceutical Distributors

FDA | Overview of Medical Device Regulation

FDA | Overview of Medical Device Regulation

Read More

FDA | Drug Recall Information

FDA | Drug Recall Information

Read More

ISO 13485 | Medical Devices | Requirements for Regulatory Purposes

ISO 13485 | Medical Devices | Requirements for Regulatory Purposes

Read More

Tracking Inventory with Pharmaceutical Distribution Software

Tracking Inventory with Pharmaceutical Distribution Software

The pharmaceutical distribution industry is characterized by strict regulations, sophisticated product tracking and advanced reporting. Regulations laid out in the...

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Celebrating Pharmaceutical Distribution in the US | A New HDA Initiative

Celebrating Pharmaceutical Distribution in the US | A New HDA Initiative

Pharmaceutical distribution networks in the US are some of the most complex supply chains in the world, and the United...

Read More

Accelerate VAWD (Now NABP) Accreditation with Pharmaceutical ERP Software

Accelerate VAWD (Now NABP) Accreditation with Pharmaceutical ERP Software

Most pharmaceutical distribution wholesalers are familiar with the Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributors (VAWD) (Now called the National Association of Boards of...

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Cautionary Tale for non-VAWD Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distributors – OptumRx Revokes Extensions

Cautionary Tale for non-VAWD Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distributors – OptumRx Revokes Extensions

Many people do not know that the prescription drugs in their medicine cabinets have quite the tale to tell.  Its'...

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Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) and Pharmaceutical Distribution

Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) and Pharmaceutical Distribution

This post is Part 1 of the Series: Understanding The Drug Supply Chain Security Act and What it Means for...

Read More

Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) Transaction Report (T3)

Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) Transaction Report (T3)

This post is Part 2 of the Series: Understanding The Drug Supply Chain Security Act and What it Means for...

Read More

DSCSA: Suspect and Illegitimate Product Handling and Notification

DSCSA: Suspect and Illegitimate Product Handling and Notification

This post is Part 3 of the Series: Understanding The Drug Supply Chain Security Act and What it Means for...

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Serialized Numerical Identifier (SNI) and the Drug Supply Chain Security Act

Serialized Numerical Identifier (SNI) and the Drug Supply Chain Security Act

This post is Part 4 of the Series: Understanding The Drug Supply Chain Security Act and What it Means for...

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Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) – Annual Reporting

Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) – Annual Reporting

This post is Part 5 of the Series: Understanding The Drug Supply Chain Security Act and What it Means for...

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How to Manage DSCSA Requirements with Pharmaceutical Software

How to Manage DSCSA Requirements with Pharmaceutical Software

This post is Part 6 and the last post of the Series: Understanding The Drug Supply Chain Security Act and...

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Pharmaceutical Distribution Software Buying Guide

Pharmaceutical Distribution Software Buying Guide

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Customer Success Story: Independent Pharmacy Distributor

Customer Success Story: Independent Pharmacy Distributor

Read More

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Examples of Pharmaceutical Distribution Customers

Below you will find some examples of Blue Link customers that are wholesale distributors in the Pharmaceutical and Medical industry. These customers have all benefited from Blue Link’s inventory and accounting ERP software with industry specific functionality to aid in DSCSA and FDA requirements such as our lot tracking, transaction reporting, CSOS and license management tools. As an expert in the pharmaceutical industry, Blue Link works with a variety of small-medium size pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution businesses across the USA.