Unitax Handles Vaccine Distribution with IT Solutions from Dr. Malek

Unitax Pharma Logistics distributes temperature-sensitive COVID-19 vaccines from Biontech / Pfizer and Moderna in Brandenburg to hospitals, vaccination centers, senior and nursing homes, as well as mobile vaccination teams. IT solutions from Dr. Malek Software ensure smooth processes and rapid data exchange.

(Berlin/Dresden) Logistics is rarely in the spotlight as much as during the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. This is especially true for the serum developed by Biontech / Pfizer, which must be stored at a temperature of -75 degrees and transported under refrigeration. Therefore, it was a special honor for Unitax Pharma Logistics when they were commissioned on December 10 to distribute the vaccine in the state of Brandenburg.

Well-Known for Many Years

“Due to our GDP certification and manufacturing license, we have been well-known to the state of Brandenburg for many years. That’s why we were invited to participate in the tender,” recalls René Gutke, who is responsible for transport and scheduling at Unitax. The company stores and transports active ingredients and finished pharmaceuticals for the pharmaceutical industry as part and full loads. Based in Schönefeld, Großbeeren, and Nuremberg, Unitax also handles fine distribution, supplying pharmacies, clinics, and care facilities daily.

Additionally, Unitax is a founding partner of GDP network solutions. The nationwide groupage network with a hub in Kassel was established in July 2020 by 10 medium-sized logistics service providers specifically for pharmaceuticals and medical products.

Logistics Software Enhanced

“For our entry into groupage delivery within a nationwide network, we invested in information technology,” explains Gutke. The transport management system M3 Logisticware from Dr. Malek Software, which has been in use at Unitax since 2014, was supplemented with additional modules for groupage traffic, including warehouse handling. Other modules, such as driver communication and M3 web services, which enable shipment tracking, were adapted for this purpose. The M3 web services are a data service offering from Dr. Malek Software GmbH on specially operated web servers.

Another adjustment concerned the M3 app, which can be installed on all common Android smartphones, tablets, and many mobile scanners. The app receives the order data and guides the 35 Unitax drivers step by step through the entire delivery process – including navigation and delivery confirmation on the display. The scanner is used at each handover point of the goods between loader, hub, and recipient. The warehouse handling at Unitax is also documented with the help of the M3 app and mobile scanners.

Presentation Adjusted

To meet the high digitalization requirements of the GDP network, Unitax, together with Dr. Malek, enhanced the app with additional functions. “New, for example, is the packaging material exchange, which has now been integrated into the M3 app,” says Gutke. But the presentation of individual data was also adjusted to the wishes of Unitax.

In this context, Unitax was well prepared for the statewide vaccine delivery. Only the data interface between the ERP system of the distribution center and M3, which was programmed by Dr. Malek Software, was still missing. This allows Unitax to receive the order data for the approximately 25 to 45 stops of the following day. Based on this, M3 calculates the optimal routes, which are then sent back to the distribution center for picking via data transfer. After a few hours, the shipments are ready for pickup at the – kept secret from the public – shipping address. After loading, the drivers start deliveries at 6:00 AM.

5,000 Vaccine Doses per Box

“In route planning, it’s about the shortest paths, so the drivers always take new routes while being provided with precise instructions regarding the respective specifics via the M3 app,” reports Gutke. The circle of recipients includes 75 hospitals, 17 vaccination centers, senior and nursing homes, as well as mobile vaccination teams. Due to the low shipment volume, six transporters of the Sprinter class with special cooling structures, which can temper the cargo area to -25 degrees Celsius, are sufficient. In small boxes with a base area of only 25×25 centimeters, 1,000 vials are housed, which corresponds to a quantity of 5,000 to 10,000 vaccine doses, depending on the vaccine. For comparison: Each hospital receives about 400 vaccine doses per delivery, which are administered within a few hours. Vaccine accessories such as gloves, masks, disinfectants, single-use syringes, and saline solutions are also included.

During transport, the boxes are optimally protected from temperature changes by special cool boxes with cooling packs. The boxes are equipped with a data logger that documents the temperature curve throughout the entire transport. Additionally, the cold inside the box is measured upon receipt of the goods. After the tour is completed, the logged data is linked with the completed orders in M3 and made available to the distribution center.

Photos: © Unitax