Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, with a particular focus on treatments for diseases with high unmet medical needs. The Germany-based company has been in operation since 1885 and last year reported net sales of €25.6 billion. It has more than 53,000 employees and 146 affiliates around the world, making it a truly global business.
However, with this comes a range of challenges, especially when dealing with the research and development of new products. With facilities in multiple countries, each with their own compliance regulations and working culture, the firm needed a customs solution that would enable it to streamline its global operations and meet all local requirements. It therefore turned to MIC for assistance.
What were the challenges faced by Boehringer Ingelheim?
Roberto Fuster Canales, Head of Global Trade Governance and Export Control at Boehringer Ingelheim, explained that as part of its R&D efforts, the firm frequently has to make so-called “miscellaneous shipments”. These are, for example, non-commercial shipments of raw materials that exchange various molecules and compounds between locations.
Exact requirements for these are very difficult to predict in advance, which meant the company needed a solution that could react quickly and provide a great deal of flexibility.
"Transfer requests appear fully unplanned for molecules/substances never seen before," he stated. "Even working with the target to cure patients from various diseases, all shipments must be in compliance with applicable export control and customs regulations."
Roberto added that the biggest challenge was finding a balance between the need for flexibility and developing standardized processes to support global transfers. What's more, this also had to reflect differences in local requirements and cultures within the company - not just internationally, but also on a more regional basis.
To address these needs, Boehringer Ingelheim turned to MIC to provide a tailored solution that could be adapted to the company's unique requirements.
How did MIC help improve the firm's processes?
Products provided by MIC to Boehringer Ingelheim include the modules MIC CUST® Broker Management for Import and Export clearance, Export Control Management (ECM) to provide compliance checks for all shipments, and Central Classification System (CCS) software.
Boehringer Ingelheim selected MIC because of our experience with direct filing solutions for various countries and modular solutions, which enable the firm to react flexibly to individual country-specific requirements.
This has provided Boehringer Ingelheim with a reliable export control process for its R&D shipments. Proper tracking through the customs process allows the company to maintain seamless control over research samples, ensuring they pass through customs without damage. As a result, international research networks and universities can exchange their samples more quickly, despite the challenges posed by trade and customs regulations.
What's next for Boehringer Ingelheim and MIC?
Boehringer Ingelheim plans to expand the use of MIC Broker Management for miscellaneous shipments, using the platform on a global scale.
MIC's solutions were initially piloted in France and Austria, with a focus on developing and implementing a standardized, global core process template. As the system is rolled out further, deployments are set to become faster and less complex. Currently, we're preparing several large-scale deployments both in the US and other markets to further improve the firm's operations.
Roberto added: “MIC, with its long-standing expertise in foreign trade, provides excellent functionalities for various countries, [with a] well-structured system that follows a logical workflow for customs and export control.”
