Enhancing supply chain visibility in a pharmaceutical supply chain: Solutions based on automatic identification technology

Marcel Papert (Dipl. Wi.-Ing.) is a PhD Candidate in SCM at the University of Bamberg, Germany. He received his Dipl. Wi.-Ing. Degree in Economics and Engineering from the Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden). His research focusses on the implementation of Auto-ID-based services (Internet of Things services) in SCM, business ecosystems and business models. He is also a Research Assistant at the Research Center for Business Models in the Digital World at the University of Bamberg.

Patrick Rimpler (MSc) is a Consultant at Miebach Consulting – the Supply Chain Engineers and will be a Phd Candidate in Business Administration. His research focusses on the internationalization of small- and medium-sized enterprises and its success factors.

Alexander Pflaum (Dr rer. pol.-Dipl.-Ing., Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, FAU) is the Director of the Fraunhofer Center for Supply Chain Services (SCS) in Nuremberg and Bamberg. Additionally he is responsible for the affiliated Center for Smart Objects. In the past he has given lectures on technologies in logistics as well as on technology and innovation management at FAU. Since 2011, he has been a Full Professor for Business Administration, especially Supply Chain Management, at the Otto-Friedrich-University in Bamberg. In 2014, he founded the Bamberg Competence Center for Business Models in the Digital World together with other faculty members. In parallel to his scientific career, he conducted numerous development and consulting projects for retail, industry, public institutions and logistics service providers. The focus of his research work is on the adoption of smart object technologies such as radio frequency identification, wireless sensor networks and real-time location systems within the logistics industry. Currently he is working on service engineering models and methods for smart object-based supply chain information services. He works with industry, speaks at international conferences, is involved in the creation of international standards and has published his work in peer-reviewed journals.