BT to support PHNIX group for european pharma distribution

DC13-288 22 August, 2013

BT to support PHOENIX group for european pharma distribution

Network services to improve the flow of information and help optimise the delivery of medical drugs in 23 countries

BT, one of the world's leading providers of communications services and solutions, today announced a five-year contract with PHOENIX group, one of Europe's leading pharmaceutical traders, to connect locations in 23 countries through its IP Connect' service.

PHOENIX group offers a wide range of wholesale pharmaceutical products across Europe. In Germany alone, it supplies up to 10,000 pharmacies every day with a range of more than 100,000 items. Across Europe, PHOENIX operates 155 distribution centres in 23 countries. BT will connect these distribution centres as well as more than 30 additional PHOENIX sites. This will enable around 28,700 employees to communicate and collaborate reliably, and allow the logistics systems to exchange data more effectively.

Drug orders are transferred directly from the pharmacies' Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to our data centres, and they have to be processed within hours, explains Dr G nter Bugert, CIO of PHOENIX group. A reliable data network is absolutely indispensable for us to secure a continuous and fast supply of pharmaceutical products.

The network will also link PHOENIX's data centres in Nuremberg with its subsidiaries across Europe. In order to increase the reliability of the network, most of the locations will be connected through two independent lines, providing fail-safe duplication.

Stephan Reiss, General Manager Corporate Sales, BT Germany, said: I am pleased that our network and expertise will contribute to the reliable provision of medical drugs in Europe. This contract draws on BT's years of experience and expertise in the pharmaceutical sector and shows how important IT and network services are in all areas of our daily life even though that may not always be obvious at first glance.

-Ends-

About PHOENIX group

The PHOENIX group from Mannheim is a leading pharmaceutical trader in Europe. Active in 23 countries, the company offers unique geographical coverage throughout Europe, making a vital contribution to comprehensive healthcare with around 28,700 employees.

In pharmaceutical wholesale, the PHOENIX group is active with 155 distribution centres in 23 countries and supplies pharmacies and medical institutions with drugs and other health products. Upon request, the PHOENIX group can take care of the entire drug supply chain for pharmaceutical manufacturers through its pharma services activities. In the pharmacy retail business, the PHOENIX group operates around 1,550 of its own pharmacies in 12 countries. The pharmacy employees, of which there are more than 12,000, have 110 million customer contacts each year. They dispense around 240 million drug packages to patients and advise them on issues concerning pharmaceuticals and general health (last updated: 31/01/2013).

www.phoenixgroup.eu

LINK:	http://www.btplc.com/News/Articles/ShowArticle.cfm?ArticleID=A6331592-...
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