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Manual vs. Automated Proofreading: A Comprehensive Guide

Date: December, 2023 | Category: Proofreading | Author: Hana Trokic

The way we communicate with others is essential. How we express ourselves through different outlets is crucial in getting our exact message across exactly how we intend it to. 

The same can be said for businesses, as companies spend immense amounts of time, money, and resources ensuring they communicate their brand seamlessly to every consumer. Yet, a brand’s image isn’t just a mission statement or a slogan. Behind each brand is a mountain of content and documentation – from packaging and labeling to legal, digital and printed content.

It begs the question. Manual or automated proofreading? Which method will better ensure brand integrity when products go out to market? 

What is Manual Proofreading?

Manual proofreading refers to the process of carefully reviewing and checking documents or content by human experts to ensure accuracy, compliance, and adherence to established standards and regulations. This process involves meticulous examination of the content for errors, inconsistencies, or any deviations from the regulatory requirements.

The Risks of Manual Proofreading

Manual proofreading implies human proofreading of all documentation before it goes out to print. 

With an endless stream of documentation that needs to be constantly reviewed, manual proofreading is not without its challenges. Not only is it time-consuming, but the chance of human error is high, while some mistakes can result in significant consequences for companies, be it financial, legal, or brand-wise. 

Other companies face the challenge of having documents that simply cannot be manually proofread since errors in barcodes, fine print, and graphics are often far too difficult for the human eye to detect. 

While manual proofreading will always play an essential role in many quality assurance processes, it is important to note its many risks if used as a primary method of proofreading.  

Some of the risks associated with manual proofreading include:

  • Human Error: Humans are prone to errors, and manual proofreading relies on human judgment. Mistakes, oversights, or misinterpretations may occur during the manual review process, potentially leading to inaccuracies in the verification results.
  • Scalability Issues: Manual proofreading can be time-consuming, making it challenging to scale the process efficiently, especially when dealing with large volumes of documentation. This can result in delays and increased costs.
  • Limited Coverage: Due to time constraints, manual proofreading may only cover a subset of the data or content, leaving some areas unchecked. This limited coverage increases the risk of overlooking errors or non-compliance issues.
  • Resource Intensiveness: Manual proofreading requires human resources, which can be expensive and time-consuming. Organizations may need to allocate significant manpower to ensure thorough verification, impacting overall efficiency.
  • Consistency Challenges: Ensuring consistent application of verification criteria across different reviewers can be challenging. Variability in interpretation and decision-making among reviewers may lead to inconsistencies in the verification process.

What’s more, manual proofreading is not highly accurate when dealing with graphics, color deviations, barcodes, or braille. Unless the mistakes are evident, the human eye cannot detect minor discrepancies that otherwise compromise the integrity of the overall design, packaging, label, and so on.

To stay competitive in today’s market, companies simply cannot afford the setbacks of manual proofreading. This is why many modern-day businesses turn to automated technologies to help increase the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of their revision workflows.

Want to learn more about the risky business of manual proofreading? Read our blog post here. 

Automated Quality Control as a Proofreading Solution 

Automated quality control and proofreading stands out as a perfect proofreading solution for businesses who wish to reduce the risks and setbacks that come from manual proofreading.

This technological innovation provides better proofreading results and enables complete and comprehensive inspections of critical content and documentation. 

In essence, automated quality control and proofreading works by comparing two documents to find discrepancies between the two. The software conducts comprehensive inspections and proofreads everything from text, color, graphics, barcodes, braille, and more. Inspections are completed exponentially faster than manual proofreadings and a task that used to take hours or days is now reduced to only a few minutes. 

The Benefits of Automated Proofreading 

Automated quality control and proofreading offers several advantages across various industries and processes. 

Some key benefits include: 

  • Speed and Efficiency: Automated quality control can proofread and process large volumes of data or content at high speeds, reducing the time required for reviews compared to manual methods. Automated systems can also perform repetitive tasks consistently and without breaks, contributing to increased efficiency.
  • Consistency: Automated proofreading ensures consistent application of predefined criteria or rules, eliminating variations in judgment that can occur with different human reviewers. Consistency is crucial in maintaining product or service quality and compliance with standards.
  • Scalability: Automated systems can easily scale to handle growing volumes of content. The scalability of automated processes allows organizations to maintain quality even as their operations expand.
  • Reduced Human Error: Automated systems are not prone to the same types of errors that humans might make, such as overlooking details, miscalculations, or fatigue-related mistakes. This reduction in human error contributes to higher accuracy and reliability in quality control processes.
  • Data Analysis and Reporting: Automated quality control and proofreading systems can generate detailed reports and analytics, providing insights into trends, patterns, and areas for improvement. Data analysis capabilities help organizations make informed decisions about their processes and quality improvement strategies.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: While there may be upfront costs associated with implementing automated quality control and proofreading software, they often lead to cost savings in the long run by reducing the need for manual labor and minimizing the risk of errors that could result in costly consequences.
  • Adaptability and Flexibility: Automated systems can be easily adapted to changes in criteria or regulations, making them flexible in addressing evolving business needs. This adaptability allows organizations to stay agile and responsive to shifting requirements.
  • Integration with Other Systems: Automated quality control and proofreading systems can often integrate seamlessly with other technologies and systems, streamlining workflows and improving overall process efficiency.

To learn more about how automation can help your organization avoid costly mistakes, read Manual Proofreading Errors: How to Stop Label Recalls in Your Supply Chain

Automated Proofreading for Error-Free Content 

One area where companies can largely benefit from automated quality control and proofreading is packaging and labeling. Pristine, error-free packaging and labeling not only increases customer loyalty to your brand, it’s also a necessity, regardless of industry. 

It ensures that companies meet strict regulations from regulatory agencies such as the FDA for the United States, the MHRA for the United Kingdom, and EFSA for the European Union to name a few. This helps avoid potential compliance issues that lead to severe consequences. 

Error-Free Packaging and Labeling 

A packaging or label error doesn’t have to be fraudulent to be costly. In fact, a great deal of mistakes are simply caused by human error. Market research indicates that 60% of product recalls are caused by human oversights.

Human errors can easily be introduced and missed in content and only reinforce the need for added layers of reassurance, such as automated quality control and proofreading software. 

Performing label and packaging inspections at each stage of the revision cycle reduces the risk of a recall and the number of required revision cycles, so products get to market faster, without any errors.

Consequences of Label Errors 

Taking the food and beverage industry as an example, packaging must contain what the label entails. If the FDA has reason to believe packaging is inaccurate, that it falsely claims the contents of the product inside, imports can be detained without physical examination. The product effectively gets prevented from being distributed and ultimately sold.

If a manufacturer is found to be guilty of breaching FDA regulations and compliance, the FDA may issue a warning. In the event the manufacturer does not comply and correct the issue, the FDA takes additional legal action to ensure the product gets removed from the market, without it being permitted to return until the issue has been corrected. Criminal fines and even prosecution may result depending on the infraction.

In the case of the pharmaceutical industry, which is also under the purview of the FDA and whose customers depend on packaging for accurate dosage information, it’s easy to see why penalties need to be especially severe. A single misplaced period can have huge negative ramifications.

Find out more about creating error-free content by reading Why Error-Free Packaging and Labeling Is a Must

Tips for Creating Error-Free Content 

There are many different components involved when creating content for regulated industries, which includes packaging and labeling. To help ensure that you create error-free content and reduce the risk of dealing with a product recall, it’s always helpful to implement some best practices. 

Proofreading Starts With Up-to-Date PDFs

Throughout a proofreading cycle, a PDF can go through many revisions before getting approved. Files can also be stored across different network shares or even on an individual’s local computer. It’s key to ensure you know where to find the most up-to-date PDF. By doing so, businesses will avoid sending the wrong PDF to print.

Check Barcodes Early

It’s common for graphic artists to put placeholders for barcodes to show where the final barcodes will be positioned on a file. An FPO symbol will often be placed on top of a barcode which stands for “For Position Only.” This is often missed when the print runs, resulting in the correct barcode not appearing.

It’s recommended to check barcodes on proofs which can be done through automated quality control and proofreading for checking barcodes or printing out the proofs and using a handheld verifier.

Proofread Printer Proof Prior to Approval

It’s easy enough to give a quick glance over artwork files and tell the printer to go ahead with the job, but this is not enough to ensure no mistakes have slipped through.

Conducting a thorough proofreading of files to check for errors in spelling, color, barcodes, and other content on a proof is essential. One way to do this type of check is to do a line-by-line visual comparison.

Standardize Design Tools

Do you know what versions of Adobe Illustrator your suppliers are using? Chances are they are all using different versions, which equals different functionalities and feature sets. 

Ensuring everyone is on the same version means everyone is viewing the same file and that you have repeatable results. This also ensures there won’t be any unintended changes due to differences in software. 

Continuous Quality and Improvement

Continuous testing in software is the new approach when developing products. Most software products today will have some level of automated testing completed to check against expected results. This helps to continuously test code and ensure quality throughout the development process.

Read 6 Tips for Creating Error-Free Packaging for more information about how to create perfect content every time. 

There’s no reason why this methodology can’t be applied to any business’s revision cycle, regardless of industry. Using tools to perform routine tasks like preflight and PDF comparison can enable automation on a continuous basis to catch errors in files early on before products go out to market.

By implementing these best practices, businesses will see an immediate reduction in errors and an overall improvement in quality. 

Want to learn more about automated quality control. Read our guide An Introduction to Automated Quality Control 

Automate Your Manual Processes  

To keep up with modern trends and ever-growing consumer demands, manual proofreading is simply not an adequate solution to allow for proper functions within a company’s quality assurance workflow. 

While traditionally manual proofreading was the only method used to revise critical documentation, modern-day technology and innovations have allowed for more intelligent, more efficient solutions to get the job done. 

With endless benefits and countless advantages to your workflow, automated quality control and proofreading is the leading solution for companies who want to revolutionize their revision processes.  

To ensure the complete integrity and accuracy of all files, request a demo of GlobalVision today, and learn about all the advantages it can bring to your company while modernizing your current practices.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Sustainable Packaging

A Beginner’s Guide to Sustainable Packaging

Date: November, 2023 | Category: Quality | Author: Hana Trokic

While “going green” may be a proud point for many businesses in this day and age, in the world of packaging and design, it’s not necessarily going far enough. Instead, it’s all about being sustainable. 

However, true sustainability doesn’t just take into account the materials that go into packaging. True sustainability also considers potential waste during the production process. When introducing end-to-end sustainability, businesses need to look back to the very beginning, to the point where the packaging is designed and then approved.

It is important to note that the packaging approval process can result in many rounds of revisions until everything is ready for production. The result can create wasted resources if your process isn’t as tight as possible, even if the packaging itself is 100% sustainable.

As a result, significant resources get wasted when mistakes slip through your supply-chain cracks. Avoidable errors can result in recalls leading to heaps of wasted packaging that have no value. For perspective, in 2015 alone, 77.9 million tons of municipal solid waste generated in the United States consisted of containers and packaging. Over one-third of that total ended up in landfills.

Read on to discover how to create truly sustainable packaging and processes for your business.

What Is Sustainable Packaging?

While a product that’s labeled as “green” carries a positive, eco-friendly connotation, it’s vague by standards set by the Federal Trade Commission. 

For example, “green” generally means one or some combination of the following:

  • Compostable
  • Degradable
  • Non-toxic
  • Ozone-safe/ friendly
  • Recyclable
  • Made from recycled content
  • Made with renewable energy
  • Made with renewable materials
  • Refillable

“Green” may sound satisfactory, but each of the above actually conveys something tangible. According to Diana Fryc, Director of Operation of Retail Voodoo, using compostable packaging is just one step.

“Aside from compostable packaging, there is still a strong desire to reduce the size of packages, continued desire to use fewer adhesives, and continued use of the post-consumer recycled material,” she says. “Lighter materials to save on shipping costs and form factors that maximize shelf space bottles will also continue.”

In fact, packaging that’s “sustainable” is understood to meet a long list of specific criteria, featuring many of those same characteristics. To further illustrate this point, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition has developed its own criteria for what defines sustainable packaging:

  • Sourced from materials that each remain healthy throughout the lifecycle
  • Manufactured using clean technologies and best practices, to optimize materials and energy, thereby meeting/exceeding competitive performance and cost standards
  • Transported efficiently via fossil fuel alternatives, helping to develop renewable energy markets
  • Recycled, recovered, and utilized in closed biological/ industrial loop cycles

Of course, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Consumer Goods Forum, and CEN all have alternative packaging standards. So, globally speaking, there aren’t any hard, fast rules for what constitutes sustainable packaging. There are, however, certain guidelines. 

Following them is far from easy, but this guide will help you understand the basics as you maneuver through the complex world of sustainable packaging and its implementation. 

Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

Ultimately, by introducing sustainable packaging into your supply chain, businesses are aiming to reduce their carbon footprint as a whole. This includes securing product packaging workflow through effective quality control. 

Preventing recalls by catching errors means less packaging, less waste, and therefore, a lot less energy consumed. After all, the resources needed to carry out recalls, which cost on average $10 million in the food industry, don’t include the transportation and labor costs of putting more packaging through your supply chain and re-shipping the product. It all affects your bottom line and the packaging footprint you’re trying to market as sustainable.

Therefore, it’s time to start looking beyond the product and at the complete end-to-end process. Many companies are integrating new technologies and automated systems that can spot errors before going to print as a pre-emptive strike against recalls. The main goal is to address sustainability, as it’s important to consider how products are made and how to be as efficient as possible with the resources available.

It turns out the idea that integrating sustainable packaging leads to higher costs is actually a myth. Studies show that companies that look to become more eco-friendly overall enjoy as much as an 18% return on investment increase. That’s potentially a lot of green for going green.

Have you heard about footprint packaging? Learn more by reading our detailed blog post. 

The Need for Sustainable Packaging

There’s little denying the benefits of sustainable packaging. There are financial benefits in store for any corporation moving in that direction. That’s not just due to the increased back-end efficiency and economies of scale that result from such a move. 

If marketed correctly, sustainably packaged products have been proven likely to sell more.

Obviously, a company shouldn’t make the switch simply to appease its conscience. All things being equal, it just makes sense to waste less and promote a brighter future filled with less waste. 

“Packaging is a polluting factor” says Andreas Kioroglou, the CEO of Matador Design. “Creative design will [start to] take into account factors like the reduction of the carbon footprint of packaged goods throughout the supply chain and designs that will extend the packaging life cycle.”

Read what more experts are saying about sustainable packaging here.

Over the long term, it is expected that sustainable packaging solutions will lead to higher profits relative to one’s current process. The only thing holding companies back is the inevitable, albeit short, discomfort that results from transitioning to a new and improved process.

Implementing Sustainable Packaging

Packaging plays a crucial role in influencing customers’ buying behavior, yet unsustainable packaging can damage the reputation of a company, causing customers to switch to other brands that employ environment-friendly materials and processes. 

Implementing Sustainable Packaging

Unsustainable packaging is detrimental to the environment as it increases the amount of waste that is diverted to landfills, causing increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainable packaging can reduce our ecological footprint at all stages of the product life-cycle, helping the manufacturer and the customer work towards a sustainable future.

With sustainability being the major agenda for almost all countries around the globe, several organizations are introducing sustainable packaging in order to reduce the negative impact on the environment and differentiate themselves from the competition. 

However, the industry is not devoid of misconceptions that could cause confusion, making it challenging for organizations to work toward a sustainable future.

Sustainable Packaging Is An Added Cost

It is a common belief that a majority of product improvements come with a high price tag. Though the cost of sustainable packaging may seem to be high initially, it offers numerous benefits that contribute to the long-term success of a business. Moreover, socially responsible businesses incorporate the extra cost of sustainable packaging as a part of their business plan, assuring them of profits in the long term.

Adopting sustainable or green packaging enables marketers to connect with their eco-conscious and green-aware consumers, giving them a competitive advantage and boosting profits. In fact, studies conducted by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) prove that organizations that adopt eco-friendly materials and processes are likely to see a return on investment of 18 percent or more.

Apart from attracting new customers and boosting your corporate image as an environmentally-responsible organization, sustainable packaging also offers innovative designs that can be tailored to the clients’ specific requirements.

For instance, waste can be recycled using the paper molding process and converted into customized packaging in order to meet the firm’s requirements for heavy and delicate products at an extremely affordable rate. All this eliminates excessive packaging, making the shipments light and drastically reducing the products’ footprints on the store shelves.

Additionally, in recent times, brands cannot afford to ignore eco-friendly strategies. Consumers increasingly prefer products that protect the environment, reduce global warming, and prevent air and water pollution. 

Consequently, both emerging and advanced markets are drifting towards ethical and environment-friendly options, pushing designers, marketers, and package development experts to meet the right social and environmental standards.

Most countries also offer special subsidies and incentives for businesses that are looking to join the sustainability bandwagon. Moreover, firms going the sustainable way also enjoy preferential terms and tax rebates from the state and local authorities for setting up an environment-friendly business.

Thus, green packaging actually stands to save money by reducing material and shipping costs and minimizing waste, playing a persuasive role in helping customers choose your brand over the competition.

Sustainable Packaging Choices are Limited

With the growing concern regarding waste being diverted to landfills and the ensuing greenhouse emissions, customers are expecting firms to use eco-friendly elements in their products. 

Consequently, packaging firms have come up with several innovative and green materials, namely polylactic acid (PLA), bagasse, recycled paper, and post-consumer polystyrene that can be used to manufacture coffee cups, plates, cutlery, and boxes.

For instance, Evocative, a New York-based biomaterials firm developed a mushroom-based material that can be used as an alternative to plastic packaging. Similarly, Biopac, a UK-based bioplastic developer uses polylactic acid (PLA) from renewable plant sources to manufacture compostable cups and food packaging.

Sustainable Packaging Adds to Waste

Sustainable packaging is not merely about the eco-friendly nature of the final product. Instead, it means that the packaging material is made from biodegradable, reusable, and environmentally-safe matter and uses energy-efficient manufacturing procedures and health-friendly working conditions for the staff involved.

Sustainable packaging helps firms streamline the packaging design, eliminating unnecessary material from the processes and creating less packaging-related waste. Materials such as biodegradable plastics, plant-based plastics, and recycled products are used to develop sustainable packaging, making it possible for manufacturers and consumers to reduce the amount of waste being diverted to landfills and the ocean floor. 

For instance, molded fiber products, namely egg trays, fruit-and-vegetable trays, compostable plant holders, and wine shippers are made using biodegradable waste procured from recycling companies and individual households.

Sustainable Packaging is Unappealing to Consumers

Most commonly, when people think of sustainable packaging they envisage a dull brown or cream paper with visible reused fibers. However, technology has made it possible for design firms to come up with innovative packaging that harnesses powerful aesthetics and is environment-friendly at the same time. 

Many international brands and powerhouses such as Samsung, Zara, and Puma offer attractive packaging yet use 100 percent eco-friendly material, preserving the planet and its natural resources.

Want to learn more about sustainable packaging myths? Click here to read our in-depth blog post.  

Transitioning to Sustainable Packaging

While some companies are already fully onboard the sustainable packaging bandwagon, others are either on route to making the transition or have yet to make a firm decision on the matter.

For the companies already in existence, it’s about altering the course. Once you’ve committed to making the leap, it’s important to determine your ultimate goals. While the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s criteria favor a circular economy (or closed loop, which relies on renewable energy), it’s by no means the only choice.

Another is to develop packaging with a linear lifecycle. There, packaging ultimately ends up as trash instead of biologically degrading. It can also be considered eco-efficient, depending on other production factors. It also means bigger short-term gains. The closed loop means more risk and long-term investment, but a higher potential payoff through legitimately sustainable packaging.

Here are some tips to help execute a proper sustainability strategy:

  • Get buy-in: Empower employees to take charge and get more emotionally invested in the outcome of the change in strategy. Businesses can also get buy-in from the public. Communicate the change in your corporate philosophy. Done right, it can only improve your image as a forward-thinking company.
  • Choose the right materials: It goes beyond selecting materials that are recyclable or even materials that are renewable. While renewable feedstocks are one sustainable direction in which to go, there are other things to consider. For example, how their functionality compares to that of traditional materials. “Sustainable” is great, but it means little if the packaging doesn’t do what it needs to.
  • Get to designing: It will be a long process, but thoroughly evaluating each required packaging component will go a long way toward ensuring an overall sustainable design. Simple ones, made from single materials without secondary and tertiary packaging, are easily disassembled and recyclable. That also means minimal glue when possible. Creating packaging that is reusable and multi-functional also wins market points from a sustainability perspective and with consumers.
  • Invest in quality control: Quality control processes are critical, especially when rolling out dramatically different packaging that can contribute to product spoilage. Automating quality control and eliminating proofing fatigue, human error, and errors in general, can also contribute to long-term sustainability.

Automation to Sustainability 

Automated quality control tools are indispensable assets for businesses striving to enhance their sustainable packaging processes. These tools, driven by cutting-edge technology offer multifaceted advantages that extend far beyond mere error correction. 

In the context of sustainable packaging, precision is paramount. This software meticulously scans through all packaging-related content, including labels, product descriptions, usage instructions, and promotional materials, ensuring that they are free from spelling, grammar, and formatting errors. By maintaining a high standard of accuracy, businesses reduce the likelihood of recalls, reprints, and costly product corrections, directly contributing to a more efficient and eco-friendly production process.

Automation to Sustainability

By preventing errors, reducing rework, and promoting sustainability, automated proofreading software helps minimize waste in the production process and optimize resource utilization. They aid in curbing the overuse of materials and energy while contributing to the reduction of the carbon footprint associated with packaging. 

In the eyes of environmentally-conscious consumers, these efforts resonate as a genuine commitment to sustainability, ultimately enhancing a company’s brand reputation and its competitiveness in the market.

Automated quality control is not just about catching typos; it’s a vital enabler in a business’s journey toward sustainable packaging. The software streamlines operations, reduces costs, encourages green thinking, and helps businesses establish themselves as responsible actors in environmental protection and sustainability.  

As sustainable packaging gains increasing importance in today’s eco-conscious world, this technological solution is becoming an indispensable instrument for companies committed to both excellence and environmental consciousness. 

A Sustainable Future 

The global packaging and protective packaging market was valued at $1.0 trillion in 2021, and is projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2031, which would result from steady year-over-year growth.

Innovation will logically end up being one driver of that valuation, just as it is currently in the manufactured goods sectors directly reliant on it. That’s simply the nature of a free-market economy in which consumers reward the cutting-edge.

As a result, it’s no longer a matter of going green. It’s arguably not even about going sustainable. It’s about striving to reach sustainability. As the exact definition of “sustainable” is a fast and moving target, it’s more a matter of taking steps towards attaining that goal.

In a period of just three years, the number of firms listed on the S&P 500 that included sustainability issues in their Securities and Exchange Commission filings increased from 5% to 25%. That in and of itself may not be a testament to how successful sustainability can be, but it is of how the times are becoming more eco-friendly.

A sustainable future

Joining in on the success means changing with the times, or, perhaps more accurately, adapting. Both customers and the companies behind the products they consume stand to benefit from the large-scale evolution of packaging, which is taking place right before our eyes.

If you would like to take a step into implementing sustainable packaging into your business, start by implementing smart, technological solutions that can easily help you get there. Automated quality control is a comprehensive solution that will not only streamline your proofreading and quality assurance processes, it will also help your business achieve true sustainability with far greater ease. 

Request a demo of our innovative proofreading software and see how this technology can revolutionize your every day, sustainable business practices. 

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How AI Proofreading Will Power the Future of Pharma

How AI Proofreading Will Power the Future of Pharma header

Date: November, 2023 | Category: Proofreading | Author: Gabriella Naguib

In the rapidly evolving pharmaceutical landscape, accuracy, compliance, and speed of regulatory processes are key. Traditional proofreading and compliance review methods for documentation and packaging, labels, and more have proven to be time-consuming and error-prone, often leading to delays to market, financial losses, non-compliance issues, and consumer safety risks. 

The introduction and recent rise of artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation proofreading technology allow pharmaceutical companies to reap significant competitive advantages by streamlining workflows, reducing errors, and getting to market faster for often life-saving drugs. Consequently, these technologies also protect consumers and patients from potential adverse effects or improper use. 

Pharmaceutical companies that are ahead of this technological curve are already benefiting from the introduction of AI and automation in their workflows. Heightened accuracy, compliance, and speed are only some of the advantages they reap, but as the technology continues to grow and develop, regulated industries–especially pharma–can expect to continue to benefit from such technologies in the future. 

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

AI focuses on creating intelligent systems capable of simulating human-like intelligence. Machine learning is one of the most popular techniques used in AI, which allows computers to learn from data, recognize patterns, and make decisions. These capabilities enable AI systems to adapt and enhance their performance over time.

The field of Regulatory Affairs within the Life Sciences industry is currently undergoing a significant transformation, thanks to the emergence of AI-powered technologies. These technologies are currently being utilized in Regulatory Technology (RegTech) to improve end-user performance. However, the potential for future use cases is vast. Although the use of AI in this field is currently relatively new, the RegTech industry is expected to grow from 7.08 billion in 2023 to 40.83 billion by 2030, and is well-positioned to leverage the power of AI.

How Pharma Regulatory Leverages AI Proofreading

A G2 study from June 2023 reveals that artificial intelligence and machine learning are the primary technologies used for compliance procedures, assisting in risk assessment, crisis management, and predictive analytics. 

A prime example of how regulatory professionals in the industry leverage these technologies to automate compliance procedures is through AI-powered solutions. One emerging and innovative cloud-based proofreading software that is changing the way regulatory businesses are using automation in their quality assurance processes is, Verify. 

Verify is the newest and most innovative proofreading software from GlobalVision that harnesses the power of AI to conduct accurate and thorough inspections of regulatory documentation. It allows regulatory users to perform quality checks across critical content such as digital packaging assets and labels by automating key tasks such as text inspection with character for character precision.  

A key component of these quality checks is the ability to inspect documents whether they contain live text or not. To facilitate this, Verify has built-in OCR (Optical Character Recognition) capabilities that are driven by artificial intelligence. By leveraging these technologies, regulatory affairs professionals can handle reviews such as regulatory submissions and labeling inspections with complete ease, in record time.  

The Advantage of AI Proofreading 

GlobalVision’s independent market research has recently shown that AI-powered technologies help pharmaceutical companies get their products to market faster. Our survey results revealed that 89% of our regulatory survey respondents said that using our AI-powered automated proofreading solutions significantly reduced their compliance review process, allowing them to deliver products to market faster.

These findings provide strong support for the same claim through a customer case study involving a large pharmaceutical enterprise. The case study revealed that prior to implementing our AI-powered automated proofreading solution, the company had difficulties getting their products to market ahead of competitors, which ultimately hindered their ability to capture any market share in certain instances.


Elevating Core Technology with AI Proofreading 

Beyond Optical Character Recognition (OCR), the industry is delving into a realm where AI plays a pivotal role throughout the entire content management and review process. In the near future, substantial improvements driven by machine learning will allow RegTech solutions to surpass the confines of rule-based systems that have previously governed SaaS proofreading algorithms. 

This new ‘AI era’ presents an unprecedented opportunity. Tech companies can now “teach” their algorithms how to comprehend documents by continuously feeding them vast volumes of data over time. The result? Faster, better, more streamlined workflows and quality control processes that ultimately lead to more accurate inspections and content. 

What’s more, as time passes, it is inevitable that these solutions will further improve and transform into “intelligent technology” at their core, designed with increasing precision to meet the unique needs of each and every customer.

AI to Simplify User Experience

With this strategic shift and AI at the forefront, regulatory users can expect even further automation for a multitude of tasks throughout the content management workflow, without compromising their trust in these technologies. 

The automation of said tasks will be infused with a deeper, more human understanding of the documents that regulatory professionals review on a daily basis. 

Imagine a level of understanding that encompasses simple nuances such as page numbers, document types (IFU, QRD, SPL templates, inserts, cartons), and structural components, including prescribing information highlights, tables of content, full prescribing information, forms, strengths, warning statements, dosages, and even the correctness of dosage units.

With this technology constantly expanding and becoming more common in regulatory workflows, users can look forward to a transformative end result that enhances their workflow and instills confidence in the technology they rely on daily. 

What this means is as AI-driven proofreading technology advances, it promises faster and more accurate error detection. AI’s rapid analysis of large volumes of text will enhance productivity and ensure quicker turnaround times. The improving accuracy stems from machine learning algorithms that understand context, offering nuanced suggestions that will improve the overall quality of content. 

Moreover, AI’s adaptability will allow for personalized proofreading, aligning with individual organizations needs and goals. This evolving technology can be used to not only detect text errors but beyond that, including graphics, formatting, color, braille, and barcode errors providing relevant insights catered to each specific business. 

The final benefit to end-users is the seamless and highly efficient automation of numerous quality control tasks. In essence, AI-enhanced proofreading will transform and streamline the entire revision process, fostering comprehensive, efficient, high-quality content across various workflows.

AI Proofreading for Medical Terms 

Going a step further, the first step into this journey could involve AI applications to detect and analyze medical terms by harnessing the power of machine learning. This new approach would revolutionize how medical dictionaries are managed and updated, making for a more sustainable and effortless approach for SaaS providers, as opposed to constantly cross-referencing to a medical dictionary such as Stedman’s Medical Dictionary. 

Users would benefit by being able to rely on a continuously updated AI engine to detect and inspect medical terms and eliminate the risk of non-compliance issues occurring. It would also eliminate the need for tedious and time-consuming manual checks of medical terms that aren’t included in a specific dictionary.   

AI Proofreading for Allergens 

Much like medical terms, allergen statements is another area of exploration that this exciting new field presents. With the assistance of machine learning, solutions could flag allergen statements and analyze their components at the same level as a human reviewer. This simple addition promises to automate compliance reviews, eliminate laborious manual checks, and contribute to the elimination of recalls and non-compliance sanctions.

The applications of AI for medical terms and allergen statement reviews could potentially help users meet FDA requirements in those areas as well as the requirements of other global health authorities. 

AI Proofreading in the Future 

In conclusion, AI and machine learning hold vast potential for widespread adoption in regulated industries and the possibilities are endless.

While the level of trust in AI is still evolving, the role of artificial intelligence in proofreading will continue to grow steadily. And while human intelligence remains an indispensable asset in the revision and quality control process, for the foreseeable future in regulated industries, AI will act as a trusted assistant and an added layer of inspection when dealing with critical and regulatory documentation. 

Want to learn more about how AI can help elevate your regulatory business? Download our Regulatory Insights Report: The Rise of Automation Technology in Regulatory Affairs and take a deeper dive into more compelling data from regulatory professionals and their use of technology. 

If you would like to start experiencing the time-saving and compliance enhancing powers of AI and Verify, get started today with a Free Trial.  

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Are you interested in being part of the future of our AI-powered technology? We are looking for Verify customers and prospects to participate in our beta group for new AI technologies – our Innovation Advisory Board. Have your voice heard and sign up here.

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Compliance in Medicine Post Brexit: Everything You Need to Know

Compliance in Medicine Post Brexit: Everything You Need to Know

Date: November, 2023 | Category: Compliance | Author: Hana Trokic

As we continue to process the historic decision of the United Kingdom to exit the European Union, commonly known as Brexit, its far-reaching implications continue to unfold across various sectors. In terms of healthcare and pharmaceuticals, the repercussions are expected to be particularly noticeable and profound. 

After years of negotiations and political turbulence, Brexit, which officially came into effect on January 31, 2020, has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the pharmaceutical industry in the UK and the EU.

The intricate web of Brexit’s impact on medicine compliance, pharmaceutical trade, and regulatory frameworks is yet to be fully understood but one thing is for certain – it’s multifaceted and intertwines issues of access to medicines, the integrity of pharmaceutical supply chains, and the development and approval of new drugs.

From supply chain disruptions stemming from customs and border checks to evolving drug approval processes as the UK establishes its own regulatory path, we look at how this shift is reshaping the landscape of medicine compliance and pharmaceuticals in the UK and EU.

By navigating the complexities and challenges faced by pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, and patients, read on to learn more about the strategies and adaptations emerging in the post-Brexit era to ensure the continued delivery of safe and effective medicines to those who rely on them.

Medicine Compliance in the UK Post Brexit

One of the immediate concerns that surfaced with Brexit was its impact on medicine compliance. Prior to Brexit, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) played a central role in regulating and approving medicines across the EU, including the UK. However, with the UK’s departure, the country’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) became a stand-alone body as it ceased to be part of the European system of approval. 

This transition led to a series of challenges, including the need for pharmaceutical companies to duplicate their efforts by submitting separate pharmaceutical applications to both the EMA and MHRA for approval.

This duplication not only increased regulatory burdens but also posed questions about the consistency of medicine approvals and what compliance is in medicine post Brexit. 

Patients and healthcare providers needed assurance that the medicines they relied on remained safe and effective. Consequently, many pharmaceutical companies undertook the arduous task of adapting to these new compliance requirements, investing time and resources to ensure a seamless transition.

The Pharmaceutical Trade Landscape

The pharmaceutical industry relies heavily on global supply chains, making it particularly vulnerable to disruptions caused by Brexit. The imposition of customs and border checks created bottlenecks and delays, affecting the timely delivery of vital medicines to patients on both sides of the English Channel.

Pharmaceutical companies were forced to reevaluate their supply chain strategies, with some choosing to stockpile medicines to mitigate potential shortages. However, stockpiling is not a sustainable long-term solution and comes with its own set of challenges, including increased storage costs and the risk of medicines expiring before use.

Moreover, the UK’s departure from the EU single market and customs union introduced new regulatory barriers to pharmaceutical trade and new medicine compliance rules. Companies had to navigate complex rules of origin, tariffs, and customs procedures, all of which added to the cost and complexity of doing business. 

To address these challenges, some pharmaceutical firms explored the possibility of relocating parts of their operations to the EU to maintain access to the single market. This then leads to the potential of further economic consequences for the UK as valuable companies and jobs are no longer located on English territory. 

Parallel Importation

Another challenge that arose was the stricter regulations regarding parallel importation.  

Parallel importation refers to the practice of importing pharmaceutical products from one country to another within the European Market Area (EMA) to take advantage of price disparities. After Brexit, the UK is no longer part of the EU single market, meaning parallel importation became significantly harder. 

They are now subject to stricter medicine compliance regulations and have to apply for licenses to import goods that could have easily been shipped throughout the Euro Zone prior to Brexit. In the future, this could affect the availability of certain medicines and their cost in the UK.

Customs and Supply Chain Disruptions

While exiting the EU made certain things easier for the UK, it certainly also introduced many more regulations and complications with regard to trade between the two European territories.  

Brexit introduced customs checks and border controls between the UK and the EU, which has been shown to lead to supply chain disruptions for pharmaceutical companies. Delays in transporting raw materials and finished products can, and to an extent, have impacted the availability of medicines on both sides of the border. 

Pharmaceutical companies have had to adjust their supply chain strategies to mitigate these challenges, but the potential for even more disruptions remains a large concern.

The Evolution of Drug Approval Processes

Brexit also prompted a shift in the landscape of drug approval processes. 

The UK now had the opportunity to develop its own medicine compliance regulatory framework, separate from the EMA. While this could potentially streamline decision-making and reduce bureaucracy, it raised concerns about the duplication of efforts and the potential for divergence in standards between the UK and the EU.

To mitigate these risks, the UK and EU agreed to a medicine compliance regulatory cooperation framework, ensuring continued information sharing and collaboration on drug approvals. However, challenges remain as the two entities adapt to their new roles and responsibilities in this post-Brexit era.

Pharmacovigilance and Safety Reporting

Pharmacovigilance, the monitoring of the safety of pharmaceutical products once they are on the market, is a crucial part of the pharmaceutical product lifecycle, and another area affected by Brexit. 

The UK and the EU now have separate pharmacovigilance systems, leading to the need for separate safety reporting and data management processes. Ensuring seamless cooperation and information exchange between these systems is crucial to maintaining patient safety and medicine compliance. 

Yet, with the additional regulations being placed after Brexit and the further complication of the entire process, the chance of errors occurring is higher, therefore, the need to mitigate them is also a larger concern. 

Medicine Compliance Strategies and Adaptations

In the face of these medicine compliance challenges, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, and patients have to quickly adapt to the post-Brexit reality. 

Strategies to ensure the continued delivery of safe and effective medicines include:

  • Diversifying Supply Chains: Many pharmaceutical companies are diversifying their supply chains, reducing their reliance on a single source for critical components and ingredients. This strategy enhances resilience and reduces the risk of disruptions.
  • Investing in Regulatory Expertise: Companies are investing in regulatory expertise to navigate the complexities of dual regulatory systems. This includes hiring regulatory professionals and consultants to manage compliance effectively.
  • Collaboration: Collaboration between pharmaceutical companies, regulatory authorities, and healthcare providers remains crucial. Information sharing and cooperation can help address challenges and ensure a smoother transition.
  • Patient Education: Patients are being educated about potential changes in the availability of their medicines and are encouraged to consult with healthcare providers to explore alternative treatments or solutions.
  • Advocacy and Lobbying: Pharmaceutical industry associations are actively engaging with policymakers to advocate for policies that support the smooth flow of medicines and reduce trade barriers.

Document Comparison Software: The Ultimate Post-Brexit Strategy 

Along with the strategies mentioned above, document comparison software offers significant advantages in the domains of medicine compliance, pharmaceutical trade, and post-Brexit regulatory adherence. 

It aids medical facilities in maintaining – medicine compliance by ensuring the accuracy of regulatory content, supporting version control, and facilitating audit readiness. In the pharmaceutical sector, in particular, it helps companies uphold product labeling and manufacturing standards, ensuring compliance with international trade regulations and reducing the risk of trade disruptions. 

Moreover, document comparison software plays a pivotal role in adapting to post-Brexit medicine regulations by ensuring legal compliance, monitoring trade agreements, and mitigating risks associated with regulatory changes. Its ability to swiftly identify inconsistencies and compliance gaps makes it an invaluable tool for navigating these complex and highly regulated industries.

How to Ensure Medicine Compliance With Document Comparison Software?

Here’s how document comparison software can help in post-Brexit medicine compliance regulatory adherence:

  • Regulatory and Medicine Compliance: Document comparison software can assist in ensuring that medical documents, such as patient records, compliance documents, and regulatory submissions, are up to date and aligned with the latest healthcare regulations. This is crucial, as non-compliance can lead to legal issues and harm patient care.
  • Version Control: The software helps in managing version control of critical documents, making sure that the latest and approved versions of documents are being used by quality assurance teams. This ensures that pharmaceutical documentation, packaging, and labeling, remain compliant with evolving regulations.
  • Audit and Inspection Support: The pharmaceutical industry is regularly audited and inspected. Document comparison software can help in preparing for audits by identifying any inconsistencies or non-compliance issues in advance, reducing the risk of compliance violations.
  • Product Labeling and Packaging: In the pharmaceutical industry, accurate labeling and packaging of products are essential. Document comparison software can ensure that product labels and packaging materials comply with international trade regulations, reducing the risk of product recalls or trade disruptions.
  • Batch Records and Manufacturing: Pharmaceutical companies can use document comparison software to ensure that batch records and manufacturing processes adhere to quality and safety standards, which are critical for successful international trade.
  • Regulatory Submissions: Companies can use the software to compare regulatory submissions before and after Brexit to ensure that they are in compliance with the new post-Brexit regulations. This reduces the risk of regulatory issues and trade disruptions.
  • Legal Compliance: Document comparison software can be used to compare legal documents before and after Brexit, ensuring that new documentation is updated and accurate and that companies are aware of and adhere to the new regulations and trade agreements that have come into effect.
  • Trade Agreements: The software can help companies in the pharmaceutical and medical industries ensure that they are in compliance with any new trade agreements or tariffs that have been established as a result of Brexit.
  • Risk Mitigation: By regularly comparing documents with the latest, updated versions, organizations can identify and address compliance gaps or inconsistencies promptly, reducing the risk of legal issues and trade disruptions.

The Future of Pharma and Brexit 

Brexit has undeniably cast a shadow of uncertainty over the pharmaceutical industry, but it has also spurred innovation and adaptation. As pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, and patients navigate the complexities of medicine compliance, supply chain disruptions, and evolving regulatory frameworks, the resilience and determination of the industry to ensure access to safe and effective medicines remain unwavering.

While the full implications of Brexit on healthcare and pharmaceuticals are still unfolding, the commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of patients on both sides of the English Channel remains of the highest importance. 

The post-Brexit era presents an opportunity for the industry to demonstrate its adaptability and dedication to delivering vital medicines to those who rely on them. One way in which they can ensure this is through the implementation of efficient, streamlined, and error-free processes. 

Implementing document comparison software in regulatory and quality assurance processes can help maintain medicine compliance, ensuring that documentation and pharmaceutical processes adhere to evolving healthcare regulations with complete ease while giving regulatory professionals peace of mind that no errors are slipping through.

Take a step in the right direction by setting up proper processes through document comparison software. Visit our Demo Center to learn more about our products at your own leisure and see how this technology can revolutionize your everyday business and regulatory practices. 

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How Document Comparison Software Improves Customer Experiences and Builds Trust

How Document Comparison Software Improves Customer Experiences and Builds Trust

Date: November, 2023 | Category: Quality | Author: Hana Trokic

Imagine you are walking down the aisle at the drugstore and see a product that catches your eye. You pick it up to learn more about it only to find errors and inconsistencies on the packaging and labeling. How would you feel about the product? Would you trust that a company, that has so hastily brought this product to market, could actually produce effective and quality products?

Most likely, your interest in that product would completely diminish. What’s more, you most likely wouldn’t see yourself buying anything from that company and would question the legitimacy of its products.

This is because that one negative experience with that one product has led you to question your trust in the company and its whole production.  

Businesses constantly seek ways to enhance customer experiences and build trust with their clients. With many different approaches, methods, and platforms to help them achieve their goal, technological solutions have emerged as a powerful tool that can significantly transform how organizations operate and interact with their customers.

Document comparison software is one of those powerful tools that helps ensure the accuracy of all products that go out to market – from the inside out! 

Read on to explore how document comparison software is pivotal in revolutionizing customer experiences and fostering trust and brand loyalty. 

The Significance of Customer Experience and Trust

Customer Experience is defined as a positive customer experience and is the foundation of customer loyalty. When customers have smooth, hassle-free interactions with a brand, they are likelier to return and recommend the company to others. Customer experience encompasses all touchpoints and interactions a customer has with a business, including communication, service, and product quality.

Continuous positive experiences with a brand lead to trust and, ultimately, brand loyalty. Trust is critical to any successful business relationship, as customers need to trust that a certain company and brand will deliver on its promises, protect their data, and provide value. Trust is earned through consistent, transparent, and reliable interactions.

Building Customer Trust with Document Comparison Software

Document comparison software, a crucial software for regulated industries that deals with critical content, has been found to also be extremely beneficial in other sectors due to its transformative impact on customer experiences and trust-building. 

Here’s how this technology helps businesses achieve customer success:  

Optimizes the Revision Process 

Ensuring the accuracy of a product and its documentation is the first step to ensuring you are releasing a product that consumers will trust. This all happens during the revision stage of the product life cycle. 

Document comparison software meticulously analyzes multiple versions of documents, and provides a comprehensive view of differences between files. This level of scrutiny ensures that errors are caught early, and inconsistencies are swiftly rectified. 

The automated nature of document comparison software expedites the revision process, reducing the need for time-consuming manual inspections. Moreover, it facilitates collaboration among team members, allowing them to work concurrently on revisions while keeping track of all modifications. 

As a result, organizations can streamline their revision processes, increase productivity, and maintain document accuracy and consistency, ultimately saving time and resources to pursue higher-quality outcomes.

Ensuring Accuracy and Reliability

Inaccurate or outdated information can lead to customer frustration and erode trust. Document comparison software ensures that all customer-facing content, such as packaging, labeling, marketing materials, and other critical documentation is accurate and can be updated accordingly with complete ease, without potential errors slipping through. 

The use of document comparison software in quality assurance processes results in the reduction of errors and inconsistencies, and ultimately, reduces the potential for misinformation or miscommunication which could potentially foster mistrust in a company’s image.

Brings Trusted Products to Market Faster

The modern, fast-paced, global market leads consumers to expecting quick product releases, response to demand, and extremely fast service. Document comparison software accelerates document review and approval processes, enabling businesses to meet customer demands with speed and efficiency. 

By automatically detecting and highlighting differences between various versions of crucial documents, the software helps minimize errors and streamlines the review and approval process, reducing the need for time-consuming manual checks. 

Consequently, teams can make informed decisions swiftly, resolve discrepancies efficiently, and maintain compliance with industry standards, ultimately accelerating the product development cycle. In doing so, document comparison software not only enhances productivity but also instills confidence in the market, assuring consumers of the quality and reliability of the products they receive.

Document Comparison Software in the Real-World 

Document comparison software is an extremely valuable platform for regulated industries that need to ensure the complete accuracy of their products. However, it also benefits a wide range of industries that want to ensure a positive consumer experience and build a strong and trusted brand. 

Here is how document comparison software can benefit certain sectors:

  • Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare: It is estimated that over 50% of medication use errors are associated with poor labels. With such a high risk of error, pharmaceutical companies turn to document comparison tools to check sensitive documentation from how-to-use instructions, dosages, labels, and more. The software identifies discrepancies between versions, reducing the risk of compliance issues and regulatory fines. Moreover, this market is extremely fast-paced where time-to-market is crucial. Document comparison software expedites the review and approval process, allowing for faster decision-making and shorter time-to-market for new drugs and therapies.

  • Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG): Much like pharmaceuticals, CPG companies work with highly regulated documentation where accuracy is paramount. Document comparison software ensures content such as packaging and product labeling compliance by meticulously inspecting ingredient lists, nutritional information, warning labels, and more. Moreover, in a highly competitive industry like CPG, it helps maintain brand consistency by ensuring that packaging and marketing materials remain uniform across product lines and geographic regions.
  • Marketing and Advertising: Marketing agencies often work on multiple iterations of content for campaigns, websites, and collateral. Document comparison software helps ensure consistency in messaging, branding, and design by quickly identifying any discrepancies between versions, minimizing the risk of errors in client deliverables and ultimately materials that go to print. Also, By automating the process, agencies save time that would otherwise be spent on manual proofreading and revisions. This efficiency not only reduces costs but also allows agencies to meet tight deadlines more effectively.

Ready to Strengthen Your Brand? 

Document comparison software is no longer just a niche tool; it’s a critical asset for any business looking to transform customer experiences and build trust. By promoting accuracy, streamlining communication, and optimizing processes, document comparison software empowers businesses to provide superior customer experiences that lead to long-lasting trust and loyalty. Embracing this technology is a strategic move for companies aiming to thrive in the digital age, where customer expectations are higher than ever before.

Looking to guarantee the trustworthiness of your brand? Take the first steps towards flawless customer experiences using GlobalVision’s state-of-the-art document comparison software. Begin experiencing the advantages of our cutting-edge software today.

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Enhancing Your Verify Experience – Our Fall Release is Here

Verify Fall Release header banner

Date: October, 2023 | Category: Company | Author: Hana Trokic

Are you ready to heighten your Verify inspections and overall proofreading experience? 

We’re thrilled to introduce significant improvements to Verify, designed to make the automated proofreading experience easier and more efficient. These product advancements have been rolled out in two waves throughout September and October!

With a substantial performance upgrade, a 69% improvement in Spell Check results and the addition of Single File Inspections, now called ‘Proofreader Mode’, our Verify Fall Release ensures your content is perfected, faster.

Additionally, this release marks a huge milestone for Verify’s core technology, as it has been completely rehauled and updated to an entirely new architecture with all modern technology—get ready to elevate your compliance review and inspection processes! 

The Verify Fall Release also brings a number of major improvements and features including: 

If you want to learn more about how to leverage these new features, book a demo of Verify here.

Upgraded Architecture, Upgraded Inspections

We’ve upgraded to an entirely new architecture with modern technology to offer you the best possible proofreading experience on the market. Though this upgrade brings with it many benefits and advantages, possibly the largest benefit is that it will increase development speed, resulting in highly requested features being released more rapidly. 

This accelerated development pace translates to a high turnover of new features and capabilities, allowing regulatory and commercial experts to stay ahead of evolving compliance requirements by having the best tools available to them during their quality assurance processes. 

The upgraded architecture also increases Verify’s reliability and uptime. This results in fewer interruptions to critical processes, where you can rest assured that your workflows run as smoothly as possible and with the utmost ease. In the exceptional  instance of an issue occurring, the enhanced infrastructure ensures swift resolution, minimizing downtime and enhancing productivity. 

Moreover, the optimization of our algorithms for faster inspections enables regulatory professionals and beyond to expedite their reviews, ensuring that all documents and critical content adhere to compliance standards with greater efficiency and precision. 

This major breakthrough in Verify’s development empowers regulatory professionals and all automated proofreading users to work more effectively, maintain compliance, and improve the overall quality and reliability of their operations.

Boosted Responsiveness For Heightened day-to-day Efficiency.

Boosted Responsiveness For Heightened day-to-day Efficiency

Time is crucial when inspecting documents, especially for regulated industries where manual compliance procedures can sometimes hinder time-to-market

This new release brings a remarkable 15% improvement in responsiveness, backed by a more stable infrastructure to further help accelerate the revision cycle of critical content and ensure error-free files in record time. 

Through this new upgrade, you can expect to load and inspect large files faster than ever, without rendering issues, decreasing delays in inspections and allowing for an overall more seamless inspection.

Save More Time With Built-in Spell Check Rules 

Save More Time With Built-in Spell Check Rules

The new fall release also brings with it new built-in rules that improve Spell-Check results by 69%. The new update will only flag important spelling errors, ensuring a more efficient review process. 

This means the software no longer detects terms such as URLs or words containing numbers as spelling errors allowing teams to focus their energy on more crucial aspects of their inspections without getting set back by minor details. 

The improved Spell Check feature also assists regulatory professionals in meeting FDA requirements by ensuring accurate, clear, and error-free documents. This helps maintain compliance with FDA guidelines, reduces legal and reputational risks, and promotes efficiency.

Single File Inspection For Ease and Simplicity

We’re simplifying the inspection process with the introduction of a Single File Inspection capability called “Proofreader Mode”. This feature allows you to upload and inspect a single file when there is no need to compare it against a source file. This feature is particularly beneficial for regulatory professionals who have many documents to review and need to optimize their entire process.

The upgrade was designed to facilitate Barcode Inspections and Spell Checks, and Braille Inspection. Previously, the software required that two identical files be uploaded to perform an inspection. Now, you can tackle these tasks with precision and ease, one file at a time.

More Review Enhancing Features 

If those upgrades are not enough to bring your compliance reviews to the next level, regulatory and commercial professionals can expect to enhance their inspections through the following features: 

  • Automatic Detection of All Graphics Differences: Instead of manually drawing red boxes around detected differences in ‘flash mode’ on the New file panel by panning around and identifying the changes manually,  Verify now finds all differences within a zoned region and highlights them with red boxes automatically. 
  • Improved Optical Character Recognition (OCR): With this new update, you can expect improvements in OCR detection of flattened text and an overall heightened OCR experience. Verify’s expanded OCR capabilities allow you to detect smaller fonts which previously went undetected by the OCR engine. This feature is powered by Artificial Intelligence and leverages Machine Learning for continuous improvements with each release.
  • Detection of Reading Order Changes: The new difference type, Reading Order, under the filtering tool detects relative reading order changes, meaning that if a block of text moves from one location to another, changing the relative context of the information, this will now be detected by Verify. 
  • Braille Inspection in 44 Global Languages: This new technology for braille translation and inspection ensures that braille regions read accurately and that their formatting is compliant with the Marburg Medium Font Standard. 
  • Full XML File Support Including Stylesheets: XML files loaded into Verify were previously not converted into their viewable format. Now, our platform supports seamless integration and advanced formatting options with full XML file processing, including stylesheets.

A Better Verify Experience 

With Verify’s fall release and a complete overhaul of our core technology, you will experience a more responsive and stable platform. With the addition of the many features and functionality presented, regulatory and commercial professionals tasked with reviewing content for total compliance lifesciences can  perfect their content, faster. 

These exciting updates to Verify are a testament to our commitment to improving the overall user experience and making quality inspections more efficient and effective. 

For more detailed information about our latest upgrades, read the Release Notes, and, make sure to watch our informative video, which highlights some of the new additions to the Verify fall release.

If you haven’t experienced the time-saving and compliance enhancing powers of Verify yet, get started today with a Free Trial.  

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A Definitive Guide to Data Integrity Assurance

A Definitive Guide to Data Integrity Assurance

Date: October, 2023 | Category: Compliance | Author: Hana Trokic

In the digital age, where data serves as the backbone of decision-making, business operations, and technological advancements, ensuring the integrity of data has become paramount. 

From sensitive information to critical corporate records and beyond, the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of data play a pivotal role in building trust, driving innovation, and avoiding potentially catastrophic consequences. 

This comprehensive guide is designed to unravel the intricate layers of data integrity, offering insights into its significance, the challenges it poses, and, most importantly, the proven strategies and best practices that individuals and organizations can adopt to safeguard their data. 

Whether you’re seeking to refine your enterprise’s practices, you’re a small company that is eager to improve its systems and security, or personally looking into how you can secure your data and privacy, this guide is your compass in navigating the complex landscape of data integrity assurance.

What is Data Integrity?

At its core, data integrity represents the steadfast accuracy and consistency of information throughout its lifecycle. It encompasses the assurance that data can be either valid, invalid or in the process of becoming valid.

Error-checking and validation processes are methods often used to ensure data integrity and it’s easier to think of it as the trustworthiness of a digital asset, where any modifications, corruptions, or unauthorized changes are effectively prevented or quickly detected and corrected. 

In essence, data integrity is the pillar on which sound decision-making, seamless processes, and reliable systems are built. It not only guards against accidental errors and technical glitches but also shields against intentional tampering, ensuring that data retains its value and authenticity, fostering confidence among stakeholders and enabling a strong foundation for operational excellence.

The key to a successful software development lifecycle? Data integrity. Read more here! 

Why is Data Integrity Important?

Data integrity is a cornerstone of modern information-driven landscapes, playing a pivotal role in upholding the credibility and effectiveness of any data-driven endeavor. 

In a world where organizations and individuals rely on data for critical decision-making, strategic planning, and innovation, the importance of data integrity cannot be overstated. 

Maintaining data in its accurate, unaltered state ensures that insights drawn and actions taken are based on a foundation of truth, enhancing the reliability of outcomes. Moreover, data integrity is a foundation of regulatory compliance, particularly in industries handling sensitive information such as healthcare and finance, for example. 

Without robust data integrity measures, the risk of errors slipping through, compromised security, and a damaged brand image pose a large threat. By creating a culture of data integrity, organizations foster trust among stakeholders and customers while driving efficiency in operations and securing their ability to navigate the complexities of the digital age with confidence.

Data Integrity Best Practices

When it comes to ensuring data integrity, there are several fundamental principles that serve as the foundation for maintaining the reliability and trustworthiness of your data.

These principles are collectively known as ALCOA, an acronym that stands for Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, and Accurate. 

  • Attributable: Data should clearly demonstrate who observed and recorded it when it was observed and recorded, and who it is about. This principle ensures transparency and accountability in data collection and management. When data is attributable, it becomes possible to trace its origins and understand the context in which it was generated.
  • Legible: Data should be easy to understand and recorded permanently and original entries should be preserved. Legibility is crucial because it ensures that data can be effectively reviewed, analyzed, and shared without ambiguity. 
  • Contemporaneous: Data should be recorded as it was observed, and at the time it was executed. Timeliness in data recording is essential to prevent inaccuracies or omissions that can occur when data is retroactively documented. 
  • Original: Source data should be accessible and preserved in its original form. This ensures that data remains unaltered and unmanipulated throughout its lifecycle. Original data serves as a reference point for audits, validations, and quality assessments.
  • Accurate: Data should be free from errors, and conform with the protocol. Accuracy is at the core of data integrity, as incorrect data can lead to faulty decisions, jeopardizing product quality, patient safety, and regulatory compliance. 

What Are Threats to Data Integrity?

The landscape of data integrity faces a multitude of threats that can compromise the accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness of information. Malicious cyberattacks, ranging from hacking and phishing to ransomware, pose a significant danger by potentially altering or stealing data. 

System glitches, hardware failures, and software bugs can inadvertently introduce errors and inconsistencies. Data entry mistakes, often attributed to human error, can distort information at the point of creation. 

Additionally, as data travels through various stages of its lifecycle, data integrity risks emerge during storage, transmission, and processing. Moreover, inadequate data governance and insufficient security measures can create vulnerabilities that malicious actors exploit.

These threats collectively highlight the necessity of robust data integrity measures that encompass technological safeguards, employee training, vigilant monitoring, and stringent compliance with established protocols.

Overall, threats to data integrity can appear in many different forms. Some of the most common threats, however, are often internal. Examples include:

  • Human error
  • Unintended actions
  • Security errors
  • Malware
  • Compromised hardware

How to Minimize Data Integrity Risks 

In today’s marketplace, individuals and companies need to feel confident that there is no loss of quality when using computer systems. To accomplish this, there are effective strategies that companies may implement to manage their data integrity risks and ensure their data respects the ALCOA principle. By moving from a reactive to a proactive way of thinking, the following key requirements and controls may be put in place to ensure data integrity and minimize risks.

For more information about how you or your organization can ensure complete data integrity, read our detailed blog post.

Top Backup Strategies to Keep Data Integrity Intact

Just backing up data isn’t enough to keep data intact anymore. While it’s a necessary step and a good start, a backup means little if there aren’t adequate safeguards in place to protect the integrity of the data that might have to be recovered. 

Even if backups themselves are a safeguard, they must be seen as an asset in their own right. After all, it’s estimated that 100 MB of company data is worth $1 million on average. Half the firms that cannot recover lost data in 10 days cannot recover themselves.

That is why, it is in every individual’s and company’s interest to have a good backup plan and strategy in place. Here are some backup strategies to keep data intact:

  • Know What to Back Up: It’s not only files that must be backed up but programs, including Operating System software as well. 
  • Encrypt Your Back-Ups: Information must be kept secure for its data integrity to stay intact. One way to avoid confidential information from being compromised is to encrypt it into code.
  • Make Regular Back-Ups: Ideally scheduled for when there is low network activity to prevent slowdown, back-ups should be made every day, with daily snapshots taken as well to monitor performance. 
  • Store Your Back-Ups Properly: It goes beyond storing your backups in environmentally controlled facilities. You would also want to store your backups off-site, separately from the original data. 

To find out more about best practices and top-back-up strategies to keep your data integrity intact, read our in-depth blog post. 

How to Reduce Data Integrity Risks for Regulated Industries

In regulated industries, reducing data integrity risks is paramount to ensure compliance and maintain public trust. By implementing stringent data management protocols, conducting regular audits, and fostering a culture of transparency and accountability, organizations can effectively mitigate data integrity risks and uphold regulatory standards.

Here are some ways businesses in regulated industries can overcome data integrity issues: 

  • Validate Input: Documented evidence of validation is a crucial way to ensure that input data is accurate. Once a data set is received, it should always be systematically verified.
  • Validate Data: Ensuring data meets pre-determined specifications and key attributes is crucial to ensuring its validity and the system through which it passes.
  • Remove Unnecessary Data: Duplicate files and unidentified data can potentially open doors to unwanted intruders set on exploiting or corrupting information.
  • Data Back-Ups: Permanent data loss is a real threat to businesses. Staying on top of routine backup checks is crucial to avoid losing critical information. Businesses should be proactive in creating a recovery strategy in the event of an unexpected data loss or application error. This will help to restore any losses that could potentially occur.
  • Manage Access Control: Setting limits and controls on who can access certain information within an organization is crucial in protecting data from unauthorized users, including intruders and impersonators. Actions must be taken to ensure that the unwanted spread of sensitive information is limited. Furthermore, the importance of physical access controls must not be neglected. Businesses should take care to protect places like server rooms that can be especially vulnerable to corruption.
  • Traceability: Data integrity relies heavily on the ability to track down the source of a breach at any point within operations. Ensuring that audit trails are consistently in place helps to provide security in the event of a breach and allows organizations to identify the source.

For a step-by-step look at how you or your organization can ensure data integrity, read our in-depth “12 Ways to Reduce Data Integrity Risks for Regulated Industries”

The Role of Document Comparison Software in Ensuring Data Integrity

As automation technology becomes increasingly prevalent and the use of different software, applications, and the internet becomes an absolute necessity, data integrity is as important as ever. Not only does it serve as the driving force behind technology of all forms, but it also acts as a fail-safe.


Document comparison software is one viable way to catch and stop errors that risk corrupting data in their tracks. The software is designed to compare two or more documents to identify all differences, changes, and errors between them allowing for ease of proofreading, and editing and ultimately leading to error-free content. As previously mentioned, this type of software is particularly useful in industries that deal with highly regulated and critical content.

Here are some ways document comparison software can help ensure data integrity:

  • Enhances security 
  • Reduces Human Error
  • Prevents Issues from Recurring 

Enhances Security

While data security is different than data integrity, the two go hand in hand. Like data quality, data security is a single facet of data integrity (but not vice versa). Nevertheless, without the proper degree of security, data can become compromised due to breaches, among other threats. In other words, for data to have integrity, it must first be secure.

As a result, document comparison software can be considered a key component of any complement of tools designed and implemented to enhance the security of data. Errors are simply outliers or anomalies, which are defined as observations that lie outside of norms Document comparison software can build baselines of systems, their users, and the data they create, leading to the easy detection of behavioral deviations, whether there is malicious intent or not.

Do you think following FDA data integrity guidelines is hard? It’s way easier than you think! 

Reduces Human Error

There’s an inherent risk whenever you rely on human resources. There are some things a machine will likely never be able to do as well, but analyzing data is not one of them. It’s similar to the situation with manual proofreading, where, the longer the process is, the less likely errors are to get caught. Fatigue sets in eventually and the effectiveness of proofreaders declines over time.

In much the same way, the automated analysis of unstructured data saves time, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the process. Employees wouldn’t be replaced, either. There would still be a need to oversee the analysis. The right document comparison software would all the while keep relevant parties apprised of how the data behaves. 

Interested in learning more about how document comparison software can help ensure data integrity? Read more here! 

Prevents Issues from Recurring

It isn’t just the current errors the software might catch, but the ones in the future that would otherwise slip through the cracks. Consider document comparison software as an example. A form of error-detection software, GlobalVision features an audit trail for compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 11.

The platform doesn’t just go over the document pixel-by-pixel or character-by-character to detect graphics and text differences (among other types). The application tracks parameter changes and log-ins, so data becomes “attributable,”  one of the five principles of data integrity.

Read about how GlobalVision Adds Electronic Signatures for Enhanced Data Integrity to the Most Comprehensive Platform Yet!

The Importance of an Audit Trail to Securing Data Integrity

Though the word might spring negative connotations, audits are an unavoidable part of life for many corporations that bring many benefits to daily functions and processes. 

In essence, trails are the lists of transactions or events kept track of to help auditors and, in many ways, those being audited as well. An audit is simply an investigation of accounts and records in general. 

For example, audits can be key to achieving and maintaining regulatory compliance, which is in turn critical to operating in regulatory sectors. It is also important to note that external and internal audits are to be expected on a regular basis.

External vs. Internal Audits

External audits and internal audits serve different purposes:

  • External audits: done by independent third parties and focused on confirming accurate financial statements for regulators and stakeholders.
  • Internal audits: performed by the organization’s own team, and aims to assess and improve internal controls, risk management, operations, and adherence to policies.

The Benefits of an Audit Trail

Regardless of the focus of an audit, trials are undeniably critical to their success. And success is what all parties should strive for, whether they’re doing the auditing or being audited. 

Audits can be made easier if all required records have been kept and are easily accessible to auditors. Automated trails that are easily searchable make smooth audits more of a reality.

Trails are theoretically included in the software as one of many required technical controls that enable users to achieve compliance with 21 CFR Part 11 with the Food and Drug Administration (in the United States; equivalent to Annex 11 in the European Union). 

Compliance here ensures companies implement good business practices through reliable electronic records, which must be able to be accurately displayed and exported. Here, the audit trail serves to log what changes to application data were made, when, and by whom and be available for review.

Whoever ends up conducting that review, whether it’s an agency or the company itself, the auditor will no doubt thank you as the bigger picture begins to take shape. Identifying the individual trees is key to seeing the forest as a whole, though. Finding your way through can be hard, but an audit trail can clearly reveal the right path to take.

Read more about the importance of an audit trail to securing data integrity here. 

Step Up Your Data Security

Data integrity serves as the pillar for informed decision-making, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. 

By delving into the significance of data integrity, the principles of ALCOA, threats to data security, and practical strategies for safeguarding it, this guide equips individuals and organizations with the knowledge and tools necessary to protect their data assets.

Whether you are an individual seeking to secure your personal information or a business aiming to strengthen your operations and brand, the principles and practices outlined provide a compass to navigate the complexities of the digital age with confidence. 

As data continues to evolve and become more integral to our lives, the assurance of its integrity remains vital, ensuring that our digital assets are built on strong foundations of truth, trust, and reliability.

Ready to upgrade your data security? Take a step in the right direction by setting up proper processes through automated quality control. Request a demo of our innovative proofreading software and see how this technology can revolutionize your everyday business practices along with your data security.

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OCR: Everything You Need to Know About Optical Character Recognition

OCR: Everything You Need to Know About Optical Character Recognition

Date: September, 2023 | Category: Proofreading | Author: Hana Trokic

Optical Character Recognition (OCR), is a technology that has revolutionized how we interact with text. This technology enables computers to decipher and manipulate printed, handwritten, and images of text, from an array of sources, including digital files, scanned documents, web pages, and more.  

In this blog post, we’ll look into the fundamentals of Optical Character Recognition, explore the distinctions between live, rasterized, and vectorized text, and discover its versatile applications across various industries. 

Read on to find out everything you need to know about OCR’s potential and how it can benefit your specific use case.

What is Optical Character Recognition?

OCR, short for Optical Character Recognition, is a transformative technology that converts printed, handwritten text or images into machine-encoded text, otherwise known as live text. It allows computers to recognize, understand, and manipulate text from various sources. 

The primary goal of Optical Character Recognition is to make text more accessible and editable, enabling users to extract valuable information from physical documents or images and convert it into a digital, searchable format. Besides live text, text can also be rasterized or vectorized which makes the need for OCR crucial when editing digital assets and documents. 

It is also important to note that OCR is otherwise a field of AI that focuses on recognizing and extracting text from images without live text. While Optical Character Recognition itself is a specific application within AI, it relies on various AI techniques and algorithms to perform its tasks such as machine learning.

Difference Between Live, Rasterized, and Vectorized Text

Knowing the difference between live, rasterized, and vectorized text is important in various contexts, especially when working with digital designs, graphics, and prints. 

Here is a simple breakdown to help you understand their meanings and main differences: 

  • Live Text: Refers to text that is editable and retains its text properties, such as font, size, color, and style, within a digital document or design software. In other words, live text is dynamic and can be modified or formatted. This is the text you would see in a Word or Google document, or other writing and editing platforms. 
  • Rasterized Text: Refers to text that has been “flattened” or converted into a grid of pixels. Rasterized text loses its ability to be edited as text and is treated as a static image or part of an image. This would be text that is seen in a screenshot or image.
  • Vectorized Text: Refers to text that is represented using vector graphics rather than pixels. In vector graphics, text is shown as shapes, positions, and attributes. This means the text is shown as a graphic within a graphic and can be edited as a shape but not as text characters. You can increase the size of the graphic and change its position, but the text itself cannot be edited.

Optical Character Recognition For Different Use Cases 

Now that we understand the difference in text types, it’s important to understand how Optical Character Recognition can benefit users in real-life scenarios. Optical Character Recognition technology is valuable in a wide range of industries and applications where converting printed, handwritten text, and images into machine-readable digital text is essential. 

This is especially useful in regulated industries and print and packaging during the quality review and proofreading stages of the product life cycle. Highly regulated industries have little room for error in their critical content. As such, any inaccuracies in content can lead to catastrophic consequences such as product recalls or customer safety issues. The addition of OCR in the editing and revision stages enables errors to be caught and fixed before products go out to market.   

Here is a detailed look at how Optical Character Recognition is beneficial in different use cases: 

  • Regulatory Compliance: In situations where critical content is provided as rasterized or vectorized text, such as product information, ingredients or warning labels, and other artwork files, OCR simplifies data extraction, document quality inspections such as spell checks, and ultimately the editing process by reducing the chance of errors slipping through and costs associated with similar compliance efforts. 
  • Labeling Quality Control: Teams that work in labeling quality control deal with label proofs that are more often than not graphics instead of dynamic files that include live text. Because of this, Optical Character Recognition is crucial to extract the text and inspect and edit labels before they go out to production and print. 
  • Promotional Materials: Marketing materials, particularly in regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals, sometimes need to be reviewed in the form of PDFs, screenshots, images of webpages, and flattened email content. Additionally, global companies often deal with these assets in a multitude of foreign languages. OCR can convert this text so files can be easily inspected and edited to ensure all materials are error-free when they reach consumers.
  • Press Quality Control: Optical Character Recognition enables the automatic extraction and verification of text content within print-ready materials. This ensures that printed documents, such as packaging, newspapers, and magazines, meet quality standards and contain no print errors, enhancing the overall quality assurance process and reducing the risk of costly mistakes or reprints. 

The Importance of Optical Character Recognition in Proofreading

When proofreading documents, it is best to ensure that all text is live text to ease the revision and editing process. If text is not live, and is instead rasterized or vectorized, it is best that your proofreading platform offers Optical Character Recognition capabilities to transform any and all text into live text. 

Here are some reasons why OCR is important when proofreading your documents: 

Handling Non-Live Text: One of the primary reasons Optical Character Recognition is crucial in proofreading documents is its ability to handle non-live text effectively. As non-live text is text that has been rendered as static images or part of an image, without OCR, proofreaders would face significant challenges in identifying and correcting errors in content. OCR’s capability to convert non-live text into dynamic, editable formats allows proofreaders to efficiently review and edit content that would otherwise be inaccessible or difficult to modify.

Streamlining Compliance Efforts: In industries where regulatory compliance is essential, OCR plays a vital role in streamlining proofreading processes. Many compliance-related documents contain non-live text, such as labels, warnings, packing, etc. making Optical Character Recognition crucial for ensuring the accuracy of critical content. By using OCR to extract, review, and edit content, organizations can reduce the risk of compliance errors, maintain adherence to legal standards, and minimize the associated costs and potential liabilities. Ultimately, this significantly reduces the risk of recalls and any non-compliance issues with FDA or other health authority requirements.

Enhancing Efficiency in Quality Control: Whether it’s labeling quality control or press quality control, Optical Character Recognition significantly enhances efficiency in many industries. In labeling quality control, where label proofs often consist of non-live text and graphics, OCR’s conversion of non-live text into editable formats simplifies the proofreading process. Similarly, in press quality control for printed materials, Optical Character Recognition technology helps identify typographical errors, formatting issues, or missing text. This efficiency not only saves time but also reduces the likelihood of costly printing errors and reprints, thereby enhancing the overall quality assurance process.

GlobalVision’s Verify and OCR

GlobalVision’s newest, most innovative cloud-based proofreading software, Verify, is currently developing and testing the platform’s Optical Character Recognition capabilities that allow users to inspect flattened text on documents such as promotional material screenshots and supplier proofs by converting the digital images into readable, live text format.

Verify’s OCR technology relies on machine learning which is a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Verify, uses machine learning and computer vision algorithms to recognize characters and words in images or documents. It involves the use of computational methods to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence or manual work, such as reading and understanding text within images.

Because of its use of artificial intelligence, it’s important to note that Optical Character Recognition can never be perfect and there is always a chance of error. An example would be when detecting characters that are very similar such as “O” and “0”. 

For a detailed overview of Verify’s OCR capabilities, watch our informational video.

 

Optical Character Recognition For Error-Free Content 

Optical Character Recognition is a powerful technology that transforms non-live text from various sources, making it editable and accessible. It’s essential for proofreading as it can handle non-editable text, streamline compliance tasks, and improve quality control processes. 

It is important to note that in most cases, it is best to follow best practices and create files with live text. For more information about how to follow these best practices, read Section 3 of our Artwork Creation Guide. However, sometimes we cannot avoid working files with non-live text making the need for Optical Character Recognition inevitable. 

In these cases, it is best to turn to software to transform your non-live text documents, enable editing, and ease the complete revision process. GlobalVision’s Verify, along with its lightning-fast inspection capabilities and robust set of proofreading features, is developing its OCR capabilities to further strengthen inspection processes for those dealing with non-live text. 

If you’re ready to delve into Verify’s many market-leading proofreading capabilities, get started today and try Verify for free! 

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GlobalVision is Going to RAPS Convergence 2023 in Montreal

GlobalVision RAPS Convergence 2023 in MTL

Date: September, 2023 | Category: Company | Author: Hana Trokic

GlobalVision is thrilled to announce our participation in RAPS Convergence 2023, set to take place in Montreal from October 3rd to 5th. This event promises to be a pivotal networking and learning experience for all professionals in the regulatory industry and similar fields. 

Join us at one of the top life sciences events of the year as we engage with industry leaders and professionals, highlighting our innovative proofreading solutions while fostering valuable connections. Make sure to stop by our booth #225 during the event to gain valuable insights into our products and services and see what’s new with GlobalVision! 

Why RAPS Convergence 2023

RAPS Convergence is renowned for bringing together experts, innovators, and thought leaders in regulatory affairs and life sciences. It serves as a hub for networking, knowledge sharing, and exploring the latest advancements in regulatory science. 

As GlobalVision is a market-leading proofreading software and a top choice for regulatory experts in quality assurance, we understand the significance of staying at the forefront of industry trends. That is why we are excited to showcase our products to an even broader audience, helping regulatory professionals drive efficiency across their entire proofreading workflows and ensuring flawless critical content. 

What to Expect from GlobalVision at RAPS

As a market-leading quality control software and solution for regulated industries, GlobalVision is committed to helping organizations enhance their quality control processes. Our innovative technology helps ensure packaging, labeling, and all critical content are accurate and compliant with regulatory requirements. 

At RAPS Convergence 2023, we will showcase our cutting-edge software, offer free demos to attendees, and showcase how our innovative products, including our newest and most innovative cloud-based software Verify, can streamline quality control processes, reduce errors, and save time and resources.

Engage with Our GlobalVision Experts

Our team of experts will be on hand at our booth to provide live demonstrations of our software and answer all questions. We value every opportunity to engage with professionals in the regulatory affairs community, and we’re eager to hear about the latest and most specific challenges and needs of the industry.  

In addition to our booth presence, GlobalVision will also have an educational session and presentation during the conference. Our presentation “How AI Will Power the Future of Proofreading in Pharma” will cover the growing role of technology, specifically artificial intelligence, in the pharmaceutical and regulatory industries. 

Finally, RAPS Convergence 2023 is an excellent platform to connect with like-minded professionals. That is why we are excited to use this opportunity to network with top industry experts, share experiences, and build connections that can help drive success in the regulatory affairs and life sciences industry.

Join Us in Montreal

Mark your calendars for October 3-5, 2023, and join us at RAPS Convergence in Montreal for an incredible opportunity to learn, network, and explore the latest innovations in regulatory affairs. 

We can’t wait to meet you, showcase our solutions, and discuss how GlobalVision can empower your organization to achieve compliance and quality excellence. See you at RAPS Convergence 2023!

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An Introduction to Automated Quality Control

An Introduction to Automated Quality Control

Date: August, 2023 | Category: Quality | Author: Hana Trokic

Terms like “audit,” “inspection,” and “quality control” are prevalent in any manufacturing business. The first one refers to analyzing manufacturing organizations and processes, whereas the second and third refer to any product-checking activity.

Generally, quality inspectors do this by following a pre-established list based on certain product specifications. In fact, any type of product can be inspected, starting with just the components used for the product to semi-finished ones and (most often) the finished product itself.

According to the ISO 2859 standard – which is derived from MIL-STD 105 E – quality inspection involves activities such as testing, gauging, examining, or measuring one or more product characteristics. 

These quality inspections are usually extremely time-consuming and tedious processes that leave little room for error, due to their critical nature of ensuring product quality and safety. 

Thankfully, automated quality control is a cutting-edge technological approach that revolutionizes the way industries ensure product excellence, utilizing advanced systems and algorithms to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and consistency throughout the manufacturing revision processes. 

Want to learn more about automation, proofreading, and quality control? Read more content from GlobalVision here!

Quality Inspections – Getting Started Early 

Quality inspections in any product lifecycle should begin early. 

Starting quality inspections early in the product development lifecycle is essential to minimize errors that may arise during any stage of manufacturing, including development, production, and delivery.

This is a critical concept for product developers since identifying and addressing errors as early as possible can help reduce costs significantly. 

Various studies have shown that there is a 1:10:100 cost/time ratio among the three manufacturing categories. This means that identifying and correcting a mistake during production is likely to cost ten times more, both in terms of time and money, then if it were caught during development.

Following the same ratio, an error will then cost 100 times more to fix if it actually reaches consumers. That’s why applying quality inspection at the end of the production line is a risky move that few major companies dare to take. Big, organized, and customer-oriented companies are now focusing on inspecting earlier to prevent catastrophic consequences and save resources.

Automated Quality Control as a Solution

In order to lower the risk of errors slipping through in all stages of the quality control process, businesses are turning to technology to increase the accuracy of their inspections. Automated quality control is a comprehensive solution that not only allows all differences and errors to be found in critical content, it also speeds up inspections saving businesses time and money. 

Businesses can use automated quality control to conduct digital inspections on both hardcopy samples and digital files. This eliminates the need for manual proofreading. By using automated quality control, users can compare sample files to approved content automatically and detect any discrepancies between the two immediately.

The role of automated quality control consists of both speeding up the proofreading process and improving the accuracy of content. To learn more about automated quality control read our detailed blog post here.

How Automated Quality Control Gets Products to Market Faster

Automated quality control technology helps businesses get products to market faster without compromising quality. By automating manual tasks that would otherwise take hours to complete, this technology speeds up the entire quality control process and significantly cuts down proofreading time. In turn, errors can be detected quickly and accurately as inefficiencies like fatigue and human error are eliminated.

Some benefits of implementing automation technology in your business’ quality control process include: 

Time benefits of automated quality control

  • Eliminates hours spent searching content for errors
  • Inspects files in seconds compared to hours spent manually proofreading
  • Automatically detect all types of errors at any stage of the process
  • Achieve faster turnaround times by accelerating approvals and reducing quality delays

Efficiency benefits of automated quality control

  • Easily compare two files to detect any differences between the two
  • Identify any touchpoints within your business that are prone to errors
  • Utilize time usually spent on proofreading to bring jobs to market faster

To find out more about how automated quality control speeds up product time to market, read our blog post. 

Automated Quality Control for Increased Efficiency 

Automated proofreading software simplifies workflow processes, leading to better, more efficient processes. In order to increase productivity in the workplace, practices need to be instilled that allow businesses to get tasks completed more quickly without compromising on the quality of the work.

The implementation of automated quality inspection will enable corporations to rely entirely on digital verification while almost completely reducing and eliminating the need for manual proofreading. 

Automated proofreading eliminates the need for overly complicated processes and simplifies to only a couple of steps. Once content is created, the software inspects the entire file looking for discrepancies in the master document and the print.

Errors will be identified within seconds, with the software pinpointing all differences in the document. All that’s left is for quality control teams to make the necessary corrections, and the content is ready to be printed and published.

The software also eliminates the need for large teams to overlook proofreading processes and brings it down to just a few people and the software. Proofreading times are also heavily decreased as the software thoroughly inspects all aspects of the document finding errors that would be extremely difficult to find through manual inspections, such as those of colour, graphic, and barcode deviations. 

Find out more about how you can increase efficiency with automated quality control here. 

Industry Benefits of Automated Quality Control 

Automated quality control presents many benefits for diverse industries operating within regulatory markets. It not only ensures stringent compliance with regulatory standards and guidelines it also efficiently detects deviations and errors, reducing the likelihood of non-compliance and associated penalties. 

Some industries that can extremely benefit from automated quality control include: 

Automation for Pharmaceuticals 

Automated quality control benefits pharmaceutical companies by ensuring accuracy, reducing errors, and speeding up processes. It helps meet regulatory standards, brings products to market faster, and provides valuable data for continuous improvement. 

Automated inspections for pharmaceuticals have become essential to the day-to-day affairs of companies wishing to attain the efficiency and error-free work that is demanded of them. In addition to the rigorous quality control implemented on the products themselves, it is important to ensure the compliance of packaging and labeling information.

If labels and packaging components are not up to the same quality standards as the products themselves, there could be detrimental consequences to both the brand and the consumer. In this article, we explore the numerous ways that automated packaging inspections can benefit the pharmaceutical industry.

Ensure the accuracy of your critical pharmaceutical content through automation. 

The Importance of Quality Inspection in Print and Packaging

Companies needing to print in bulk will find that having a quality inspection process is extremely beneficial. Print inspection systems can provide the assurance and quality control your company needs to minimize mistakes. They will also guarantee the delivery of consistent results that will enhance your brand’s image through error reduction.

In fact, the role of quality inspection systems becomes even more vital when dealing with offset commercial printers. Given that most printing presses operate at incredibly high speeds, irregularities in the final product are more than possible, if not mandatory. 

Quality inspection software in print and packaging – as opposed to manual inspection systems – provides the necessary accuracy to achieve consistent and flawless results on a regular basis.

Modern Solution for Prepress

Modern print inspection systems consist of advanced technology that links with your printing press or web rewinder to achieve exceptional results. It works by integrating vision systems (cameras), web viewers, and high-tech software that will catch any errors in time before they are printed in bulk.

Over the years, these quality inspection systems have been developing at a rapid pace. Nowadays, you can find multiple options online at very competitive prices. In fact, given that they require little to no maintenance, one of the key advantages of implementing these non-traditional tools is that you only need to make a one-time investment. Other benefits include ease of use and operation and the ability to have more control over your result.

Benefits of Automation for Creative Agencies

Quality control systems are essential to ensuring that no content errors affect the quality of campaigns and other projects.

Built to ensure the quality of work at all stages of the agency workflow, GlobalVision’s software eliminates inefficient and costly errors that can delay projects and negatively impact client satisfaction. Manual proofreading simply isn’t accurate enough to meet the defined standards that clients expect from their hired agencies, especially when multiple departments are involved.

The various divisions of a creative agency require standardization when it comes to quality control, which is where GlobalVision’s software comes in. From ensuring the accuracy of copies and vendor proofs to graphic and editorial consistency, automated quality control elevates your agency’s credibility and inspires confidence in your clients.

Everything you need to know about automated quality control for creative agencies is right here. 

The Role of Quality Control in Consumer Goods

Automated quality control has emerged as a game-changer for the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry, revolutionizing the way manufacturers ensure product excellence. By leveraging advanced technologies like machine learning and computer vision, automated quality control streamlines and optimizes various aspects of production. 

It enhances accuracy and consistency in inspecting content, identifying defects, and monitoring the manufacturing process. 

With real-time data analysis, potential issues can be detected swiftly, reducing the risk of faulty products reaching consumers. This not only enhances overall product quality but also minimizes waste and recalls, resulting in cost savings for CPG companies. 

Furthermore, automation eliminates the need for extensive manual inspections, freeing up human resources for more strategic tasks, such as research and development, fostering innovation, and driving long-term growth in the industry. Overall, automated quality control empowers the CPG sector to deliver higher-quality products, bolster consumer trust, and maintain a competitive edge in a dynamic market landscape.

Automated Proofreading to Replace Obsolete Difference Checker Tools

According to official Food and Drug Administration numbers, the majority of product recalls are caused by labeling errors. How can companies accurately keep track of the quality of millions of products being packaged daily? It’s definitely a challenge, but that’s why proofreading is crucial in order to release products into the market with complete confidence.

Over the last 20 years, companies have come to realize that human inspection is inherently prone to error. There’s no arguing that, as safety regulations are continuously increasing, automated inspection has become the gold standard for the industry.

Early on, ”diff checker” and ”text compare” tools were the ultimate proofreading solution in the market, allowing for the comparison of characters between two documents and spotting changes in the text before they reach the printer to ensure data integrity.

With the advent of sophisticated machine vision systems and automated proofreading software, technology is progressively becoming more powerful, efficient, and easier to set up and use.

Modern text inspection tools can even generate progress reports, outlining all errors corrected for faster approval times. Meanwhile, plain old document comparison software continues to fall behind when it comes to innovation.

Read more about how automated proofreading is replacing obsolete difference checker tools. 

Automate Your Workflows for Success

Quality inspection is an essential part of every production line.

Those who do not understand how valuable they are, are not looking at the big picture. Money-wise, the cost of manufacturing a product extends far beyond the build cost, as it continues across its lifecycle, from support and delivery to warranty claims.

The one-time investment in quality inspection software can reduce future costs relating to customer support, warranty returns, and rejected or returned items. They can even add value to your company, as you’ll count on a competitive defense tool that will eventually pour more money into your pockets.

Ready to step into the world of automated quality control? Request a demo of our innovative proofreading software and see how this technology can revolutionize your everyday business practices. 

Transform your quality control processes with GlobalVision’s cloud-based quality inspection tool. 

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