PSI CRO: Achieving auditing excellence with Ideagen
"I want to save time and perform more meaningful audits... I could see that the Ideagen system was a good fit."
PSI specializes in pivotal phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials in oncology, hematology, gastroenterology, autoimmune, infectious diseases, neurology and other indications.
An award-winning clinical research organization renowned for delivering clinical trials on time and within budget, PSI CRO found the right solution to their internal audit challenges through Ideagen.
The challenge
Doug Black has been Head of Internal Audit at PSI for six years. Company growth and the avoidance of value stagnation motivated him to think of more innovative ways to manage the everyday challenges of his audit work.
Productivity and accuracy challenges
Like most internal auditors, Doug always looks for ways to be more efficient and effective, especially as the company continues to grow:
“I want to save time and perform more meaningful audits. I’d reached the limits of traditional Office based tools in terms of efficiency, so I was looking for software that could assist from that standpoint.
Additionally, I was seeking a solution that would enhance accuracy and scalability, addressing many of the inherent limitations borne by a largely manual audit process.”
Global challenges
“We operate in over 60 countries and benefit greatly from local expertise. This also brings about certain risks that auditors need to address. Consistency and standardization of controls, communication, transparency and accountability are all key considerations for auditors that a purpose-built internal audit management solution can assist with.”
The solution
Doug’s search for a purpose-built internal audit solution ended with Ideagen.
The solution stood out because of its flexibility, cost-effectiveness and clear roadmap that meant the system would continue to support Doug’s needs long-term.
Crucially, Ideagen displayed a clean, easy-to-navigate interface. As someone with limited prior use of an internal audit management tool, this was important to Doug from the outset.
The system also ticked the boxes of being purpose-built for internal audit and flexible enough for Doug's needs.
Unlike competitors, Ideagen offered a flexible package that he could scale as he expanded his team in the future, without paying for unnecessary seats or features:
“After watching demo videos on the website, I could see that the Ideagen system was a good fit: it looked easy to use, it had the functionality I was looking for and it’s easy to manipulate to how I need to use it.
“The team at Ideagen was really responsive and helpful when I reach out to them – and that continued through my onboarding process.”
The result
Doug found it straightforward to put the system into action when he completed his first audit using Ideagen. In particular, the ease of use has made it simple to adapt objectives and steps in his fieldwork as he progresses.
With ambitions to grow his internal audit team, Doug is confident that Ideagen will help them meet the broader risk landscape in future, and that the internal audit team will continue to contribute to the company’s success.
About PSI CRO
Operating in over 60 countries, PSI is a leading clinical research organization that specializes in Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials. They are a recipient of the CRO Leadership Awards in expertise, quality, compatibility and reliability categories in 2024. PSI takes pride in their reputation for delivering their sponsors' clinical trials on time and within budget, thereby contributing to life-altering medical advancements worldwide.
Internal Audit at PSI is focused on assessing and improving the effectiveness of internal controls, supporting risk management efforts, and strengthening the corporate governance process.
Internal Audit also recommends actions and improvements related to potential risk and process inefficiencies to ensure organizational objectives are achieved and company assets are protected.
Working across such a broad range of locations, Doug finds that audits are always well received, and his colleagues willfully embrace proposed actions and improvements.
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