Digital Transformation for Large Pharmaceutical Company
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Pharmaceutical Company
This was a global leader in biopharmaceuticals, known for developing innovative therapies that address serious medical conditions. With a strong focus on antiviral and oncology treatments, the company has been at the forefront of research in areas with high unmet medical needs. Their commitment to improving patient outcomes and advancing medical science has positioned them as a key player in the healthcare industry, consistently pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in medicine.
INDUSTRY
Pharmaceutical
COMPANY SIZE
Large Enterprise
CHALLENGE SCOPE
Legacy system modernization and operational efficiency
Executive Summary
Dhuni Software partnered with a leading pharmaceutical company to modernize their drug discovery platform, resulting in dramatic performance improvements and streamlined operations. Through comprehensive UI redesign, database optimization, and intelligent automation, we delivered a 10x performance increase while significantly reducing operational overhead.
Our pharmaceutical client faced critical limitations with their existing drug discovery platform:
The current research and drug discovery environment involves multiple systems, manual processes, and legacy technologies that can make workflows less seamless than desired. Researchers spend significant time navigating different interfaces, handling repetitive tasks, and working with complex or slow-performing systems. While these processes support research, they also require additional training, coordination, and careful attention to maintain consistency and efficiency. As data volumes grow and analytical requirements become more complex, there is an opportunity to modernize the infrastructure, streamline workflows, and enhance usability—enabling researchers to focus more fully on core scientific work and accelerating the overall research pipeline.
These challenges were directly impacting their drug discovery timelines and operational costs, requiring immediate strategic intervention.
Our Solution:
Complete UI Transformation
Database & System Optimization
Drug Discovery Pipeline Automation
Navigation & Workflow Automation
Strategic Team Augmentation
Research-Driven Redesign
Redesigned the user interface based on in-depth user research and usability testing to understand the needs and workflows of pharmaceutical researchers and scientists. Using these insights, a new interface architecture was developed that emphasizes task-based workflows and reduces cognitive load. The updated design incorporates modern design patterns, improved visual hierarchy, and streamlined navigation that better aligns with users’ mental models of drug discovery processes.
Streamlined Workflows & Accessibility
Enhanced the user experience through workflow analysis and iterative design improvements that removed unnecessary steps and reduced task completion times. Introduced intelligent form validation, contextual guidance, and progressive disclosure to support users through complex processes while keeping the interface clear. The updated design also meets accessibility standards and provides customizable options to accommodate diverse user needs and preferences.
Iterative Validation & Testing
Carried out extensive user testing and iterative refinement with pharmaceutical researchers and
laboratory personnel to ensure high adoption and user satisfaction. Multiple rounds of usability
testing, A/B testing, and feedback sessions were conducted to validate design decisions and
identify opportunities for improvement. This collaborative approach helped ensure that the final
interface effectively supported the diverse workflows and real-world needs of different user
groups within the organization.
Database Performance Analysis
Performed comprehensive database performance analysis using profiling tools and monitoring
systems to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in query execution. Examined query patterns,
index usage, table structures, and data access patterns to develop targeted optimization strategies.
This analysis highlighted areas where database design improvements and query restructuring
could significantly enhance performance across the system.
System Architecture Improvements
Enhanced system architecture through database schema changes and normalization,
implementation of connection pooling, and redesign of the data access layer to reduce network
latency. Introduced asynchronous processing for resource-intensive operations and established
real-time performance monitoring. These improvements were designed to support future
scalability and accommodate increasing data volumes.
Customizable Dashboards
Developed highly customizable dashboards tailored to different user roles, including researchers,
laboratory managers, data analysts, and executives, each aligned with their specific information
needs and workflows. The dashboard system included role-based access controls, personalized
data visualizations, and configurable alerts to keep users informed of relevant developments.
Designed as central command centers, these dashboards provide flexibility to accommodate
individual preferences and evolving requirements.
Coding Standards and Documentation
Established comprehensive coding standards and documentation protocols aligned with industry
best practices and the specific needs of pharmaceutical software development. These standards
covered code organization, naming conventions, testing requirements, and documentation
expectations to ensure consistent, maintainable code across all development efforts. The
protocols support collaboration, help manage technical debt, and facilitate regulatory
compliance.
Sustainable Development Practices
Implemented sustainable development practices for long-term system maintenance, including
automated testing frameworks, continuous integration pipelines, and version control best
practices. Deployment procedures, rollback mechanisms, and change management processes
were established to ensure safe, reliable system updates while maintaining compliance. These
practices aim to reduce maintenance overhead, improve system reliability, and enable faster,
more confident deployment of new features and enhancements.
Key Features & Innovations
Performance Improvements
Operational Efficiency
Technical Excellence
User Experience
System Performance Improvements
Achieved up to 5X faster performance across core operations through database optimization,
query restructuring, and system architecture enhancements. Response times for critical
operations were reduced from minutes to seconds, enabling researchers to work more efficiently
and complete tasks that previously required significant waiting periods. Performance gains were
validated through extensive testing and proven consistent across different usage patterns, peak
load scenarios, and diverse workflows throughout the drug discovery process.
Page Load and Query Optimization
Reduced page load and query response times through optimized data access patterns, advanced
caching mechanisms, and streamlined interface components. Complex data visualizations and
analytical reports were optimized to load much more quickly, improving workflow efficiency
and allowing researchers to focus on their analysis rather than system delays. These
enhancements also supported more consistent performance across varying data volumes and user
workflows. Overall, the optimizations contributed to a smoother, more responsive user
experience throughout the platform.
Automation of Routine Processes
Implemented automated pipelines to handle routine tasks without manual intervention,
including restarting services that consumed unnecessary resources, file syncing, and
sending email notifications. This automation allowed researchers to focus on high-value
analytical work and strategic decision-making, improving overall team productivity and
workflow efficiency.
Improved user productivity
Enhanced user productivity through intuitive interface design that reduced training
requirements, minimized unnecessary navigation steps, and provided intelligent
workflow guidance. Task completion times for common operations were significantly
reduced, enabling users to work more efficiently
Technical Debt Remediation
Addressed critical technical debt that was limiting system evolution and increasing
maintenance complexity. Legacy code components were refactored or replaced with
modern, maintainable alternatives following industry best practices. Updates included
modernizing libraries, restructuring monolithic components into modular architectures,
and implementing comprehensive testing frameworks to ensure stability while enabling
confident future development.
Scalable System Architecture
Established a scalable system architecture designed to accommodate growing data
volumes, user loads, and functional requirements without requiring major redesigns.
The architecture incorporates microservices patterns, cloud-native design principles,
and horizontal scaling capabilities to support current operations and future expansion.
Best DevOps practices were applied during deployment, system upgrades, and
migrations to ensure reliability and maintainability.
Enhanced User Satisfaction
Improved user satisfaction through a modern, responsive interface that addressed
previous usability challenges and aligned with users’ expectations. Users reported
noticeable improvements in ease of use, visual appeal, and task efficiency. The updated
experience also contributed to higher system adoption and a reduction in support
requests, as users were able to complete tasks more independently and confidently.
Technologies & Methodologies
FRONTEND
Implemented the frontend using C# Razor, Bootstrap, and native HTML/CSS, following responsive design principles to ensure usability across desktop and mobile devices. The frontend architecture employed structured templates and reusable components to maintain visual consistency and support efficient development and maintenance of the user interface.
BACKEND
Developed the backend using Python and C# .NET Core, providing robust processing capabilities to support pharmaceutical data analysis and workflow automation. Databases included SQL Server and MongoDB, with indexing and query optimizations applied to enhance performance and maintainability. Selenium was used for automated testing and process validation, ensuring system reliability.
METHODOLOGY
Agile development methodology with continuous feedback loops, regular stakeholder engagement, and iterative improvement processes that ensured alignment with user needs and business objectives. The development approach incorporated user-centered design principles, extensive testing protocols, and change management practices that minimized disruption to ongoing research activities. Regular sprint reviews, retrospectives, and stakeholder demonstrations ensured transparent communication and rapid adaptation to changing requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
Client Impact
The transformation delivered measurable business value:
The implemented system optimized workflows and automated routine processes, significantly accelerating research cycles and improving operational efficiency. Researchers were able to focus more on high-value scientific work rather than manual tasks, while bottlenecks in data processing and report generation were reduced. The improvements also lowered infrastructure and maintenance costs, decreased training requirements for new team members, and enhanced overall system reliability, delivering measurable return on investment and enabling reinvestment in further research capabilities.
In addition, the modern, scalable platform positioned the organization to adopt emerging technologies, integrate with new laboratory systems, and adapt to evolving regulatory requirements. The updated infrastructure supports future innovations such as advanced analytics, AI integration, and cloud-based collaboration, while fostering higher user satisfaction and productivity across all teams. This future-ready system ensures clients can expand their research capabilities, respond rapidly to market opportunities, and
maintain a competitive edge in the pharmaceutical industry.
The Challenge