{"id":7446,"date":"2026-06-15T15:58:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T14:58:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/?p=7446"},"modified":"2026-06-16T14:15:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T13:15:11","slug":"beyond-the-single-platform-a-practical-path-to-unified-clinical-trial-execution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/blogs\/beyond-the-single-platform-a-practical-path-to-unified-clinical-trial-execution\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond the \u2018Single Platform\u2019 &#8211; A Practical Path to Unified Clinical Trial Execution"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t<div class=\"o-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"o-grid\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"o-grid__item u-width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"s-cms\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Duncan McDonald<\/strong>, <em>eClinical Solutions Advisor\u00a0| Almac Clinical Technologies<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Rethinking the Industry\u2019s Default Position<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For over a decade, the clinical trial technology conversation has been anchored around a single idea:&nbsp;&nbsp;The pursuit of a \u201csingle platform\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The premise is understandable,&nbsp;Sponsors are seeking simplicity in an increasingly complex environment;&nbsp;However, in practice, this approach has consistently fallen&nbsp;short.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not because the ambition is wrong but because the underlying assumption is.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Clinical trials are inherently multi-dimensional.&nbsp;They&nbsp;require&nbsp;specialised capabilities across randomisation, data capture, patient engagement, and operational&nbsp;oversight.&nbsp;There are stakeholders who need access to different combinations of data&nbsp;at&nbsp;different times, in different formats.&nbsp;&nbsp;These functions cannot,&nbsp;and&nbsp;arguably should&nbsp;not,&nbsp;be reduced to a single monolithic system.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The result is a persistent challenge:&nbsp;Fragmentation&nbsp;is&nbsp;not eliminated but redistributed&nbsp;and repackaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-300x150.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7447 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-480x240.png 480w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image.png 901w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/150;\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-300x150.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-480x240.png 480w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image.png 901w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Real Problem: Inconsistent Study Logic Across Systems<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the core of this challenge is not the number of systems in use.&nbsp;It is the absence of a consistent, shared representation of the study itself.&nbsp;Today, each system effectively interprets the protocol independently:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visit schedules are configured separately&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Data collection rules are duplicated&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Amendments are propagated manually&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Discrepancies are reconciled downstream<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This introduces risks with:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Misalignment across systems&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased reconciliation effort&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduced traceability&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Greater operational burden at site level&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>User Management Issues across systems with names and access&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Challenges with data management and analysis&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Managing multiple integrations and data pools<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In short, the study exists in multiple places, in multiple forms, at the same time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A Structural Shift: Separating Study Logic from System Execution<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To address this, the industry is beginning to move towards a more sustainable model:&nbsp;Decoupling study definition from system execution&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where two emerging concepts become highly relevant:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Unified Study Data Model (USDM)<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;Unified Study Data Model (USDM)&nbsp;is an emerging industry standard developed to create a consistent, machine-readable representation of a clinical trial protocol.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In practical terms, USDM defines:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The structure of the study (arms, epochs, visits)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The schedule of activities (what happens, when, and how often)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The procedures and data to be collected&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The relationships between&nbsp;all of&nbsp;these components&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>By translating the protocol into a structured data model, USDM removes ambiguity and&nbsp;attempts&nbsp;to&nbsp;ensure all systems interpret the study in the same way.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rather than each system configuring its own version of the protocol,&nbsp;USDM provides a single, standardised blueprint that can be reused across the ecosystem.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Master Data Repository (MDR)<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;Master Data Repository (MDR)&nbsp;is the operational counterpart to USDM.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is a centralised environment that stores, governs, and distributes the structured study definition.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this model:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The study is authored once (aligned to USDM)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The MDR maintains it as the authoritative source of truth&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Downstream systems (IRT, EDC, eCOA, etc.) consume this definition rather than recreating it&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;MDR reenforces&nbsp;the USDM and&nbsp;ensures that:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>All systems are aligned to the same study logic&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Updates and amendments are propagated consistently&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Data definitions&nbsp;remain&nbsp;synchronised across the lifecycle&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Downstream systems impact and risks are reduced&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Put simply:&nbsp;USDM defines the study.&nbsp;The MDR ensures it is consistently&nbsp;applied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why This Matters Operationally<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This shift has direct and measurable implications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Consistency Across Systems&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All systems&nbsp;operate&nbsp;from the same underlying study definition<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This reduces configuration variability and downstream reconciliation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-1-300x150.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7448 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-1-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-1-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-1-480x240.png 480w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-1.png 901w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/150;\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-1-300x150.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-1-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-1-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-1-480x240.png 480w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-1.png 901w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Improved Data Integrity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A key regulatory focus has been the integrity of the data.&nbsp;&nbsp;By&nbsp;implementing this&nbsp;methodology,&nbsp;a&nbsp;clinical&nbsp;trial aligns requirements and standards&nbsp;that are indifferent to the providers you are using.&nbsp;&nbsp;This helps to align to&nbsp;a&nbsp;single source&nbsp;of truth&nbsp;for your data.&nbsp;&nbsp;It&nbsp;enhances traceability and alignment with regulatory expectations&nbsp;and&nbsp;principles around data quality, data integrity,&nbsp;system suitability, and computer software assurance.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Reduced Site Burden<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When workflows are driven by a consistent model, it reduces the sites overall burden, including:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visit alignment&nbsp;across systems&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tasks follow predictable patterns&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Training becomes reusable&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This translates to greater site compliance, fewer data and monitoring issues, and less&nbsp;site time spent entering\/working through systems.&nbsp;These are key factors to help speed the onboarding&nbsp;and processing of sites, while reducing the time spent monitoring and&nbsp;addressing&nbsp;preventable&nbsp;data collection issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Faster Study Execution<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the&nbsp;eClinical&nbsp;systems are unified,&nbsp;protocol amendments and updates can be propagated more efficiently, reducing cycle times and operational friction.&nbsp;Meetings,&nbsp;UAT, and validation efforts are reduced while providing a smoother implementation.&nbsp;&nbsp;This allows trial sponsors to implement a truly risk based approach, while&nbsp;remaining&nbsp;focused on&nbsp;the overall&nbsp;quality of the trial.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>From Concept to Execution: The Role of Orchestration<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While USDM and MDR provide the structural foundation,&nbsp;they require an execution layer to translate consistency into operational reality.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is where orchestration&nbsp;becomes critical.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An effective orchestration layer ensures that:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Systems are coordinated, not just connected&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Workflows are guided, not fragmented&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Users interact through a unified operational experience&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You need&nbsp;defined and easily followed workflows, with a unified interface.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What Unification Delivers in Practice<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Through ongoing conversations with sponsors and sites, one theme is&nbsp;clear. A&nbsp;single, unified operational environment,&nbsp;supported by one service desk, a streamlined study setup process, and harmonised workflows&nbsp;can materially reduce operational cost and inefficiency.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Importantly, this unification is not achieved by forcing all activity into a single&nbsp;monolithic system, but by orchestrating modular capabilities into one coherent way of working.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For sponsors, these benefits&nbsp;extend across&nbsp;the full clinical trial lifecycle, including study&nbsp;start\u2011up, execution, and&nbsp;close\u2011out. This leads to&nbsp;reduced configuration duplication, fewer downstream reconciliation activities, and simpler operational oversight.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For sites, the impact is most pronounced during study execution, where consistent workflows, aligned visit structures, and predictable system behaviour support improved protocol adherence and higher data quality.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These benefits are maximised when unification is&nbsp;intentionally&nbsp;mapped to the services and modules that support execution,&nbsp;rather than treated as a technology consolidation&nbsp;exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-2-300x150.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7449 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-2-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-2-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-2-480x240.png 480w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-2.png 901w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/150;\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-2-300x150.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-2-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-2-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-2-480x240.png 480w, https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image-2.png 901w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Aligning with Almac Trial Coordinator\u2122 (ATC)<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The principles outlined above are&nbsp;the basis for&nbsp;the vision behind&nbsp;Almac Trial Coordinator\u2122 (ATC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ATC is designed to address fragmentation not by replacing systems,&nbsp;but by orchestrating them through a unified operational layer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rather than enforcing wholesale platform change, ATC enables sponsors and CROs to extend the value of their current technology landscape, while selectively incorporating Almac Clinical Technologies\u2019 modular solutions where they add the most operational benefit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Key characteristics include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Guided workflows&nbsp;that standardise how tasks are executed across systems&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Single interface interaction&nbsp;for sites and study teams&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vendor-agnostic integration&nbsp;via open APIs&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Modular architecture&nbsp;that supports&nbsp;best\u2011of\u2011breed&nbsp;capabilities, including optional use of Almac\u2019s own modular&nbsp;eClinical&nbsp;solutions (such as IRT, eCOA\/ePRO, and eConsent) alongside&nbsp;third\u2011party&nbsp;technologies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In this model:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>USDM defines the study&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The MDR governs and distributes it&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Almac Trial Coordinator&nbsp;operationalises it&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, they&nbsp;unify a modern clinical trial by&nbsp;enabling:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Consistency without constraint&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integration without complexity&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Flexibility without fragmentation&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A More Realistic End State<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The future of clinical trial technology is unlikely to be defined by consolidation into a single system.&nbsp;Instead, it will be characterised by:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Standardised study definitions (USDM)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Centralised data authority (MDR)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Orchestrated execution layers (e.g., ATC)&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This&nbsp;represents&nbsp;a shift from:&nbsp;\u201cOne platform\u201d&nbsp;<br>To:&nbsp;One model. One source of truth. One way of working.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The industry does not need fewer&nbsp;systems;&nbsp;it needs systems that&nbsp;operate&nbsp;in alignment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By adopting standardised data models and centralised study definitions and pairing them with effective orchestration sponsors can reduce fragmentation, improve data integrity, and enhance the experience for those delivering trials on the ground.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201csingle platform\u201d may remain an appealing concept.&nbsp;However,&nbsp;a coordinated ecosystem, underpinned by shared truth, is a far more practical and achievable solution.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>References<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-small-font-size\">\n<li>TransCelerate&nbsp;BioPharma Inc. \u2013 Unified Study Definitions Model (USDM)&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.transceleratebiopharmainc.com\/initiatives\/digital-data-flow\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.transceleratebiopharmainc.com%2Finitiatives%2Fdigital-data-flow%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cthomas.drake%40almacgroup.com%7Cafc52205fd644d45621e08dec7c3cf82%7Cf3c459be14e14ac69006b6c68b68ef64%7C0%7C0%7C639167840993267919%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=S124PPznVSWNGofKU70Z%2Bil9i8yt5o7b6yzPa8Juzlk%3D&amp;reserved=0\">https:\/\/www.transceleratebiopharmainc.com\/initiatives\/digital-data-flow\/<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CDISC \u2013 Clinical Data Standards&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdisc.org\/standards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.cdisc.org\/standards<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) \u2013 ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ich.org\/page\/efficacy-guidelines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.ich.org\/page\/efficacy-guidelines<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kush, R. et al. (2020).&nbsp;<em>Electronic Health Data Standards in Clinical Research<\/em>.&nbsp;npj&nbsp;Digital Medicine&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41746-020-00312-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC4287078\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rethinking the Industry\u2019s Default Position&nbsp; For over a decade, the clinical trial technology conversation has been anchored around a single idea:&nbsp;&nbsp;The pursuit of a \u201csingle platform\u201d.&nbsp; The premise is understandable,&nbsp;Sponsors are seeking simplicity in an increasingly complex environment;&nbsp;However, in practice, this approach has consistently fallen&nbsp;short.&nbsp; Not because the ambition is wrong but because the underlying [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1287,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"event_business_unit":[],"class_list":["post-7446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.3.1 (Yoast SEO v26.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Beyond the \u2018Single Platform\u2019 - A Practical Path to Unified Clinical Trial Execution - Clinical Technologies<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This blog challenges the \u201csingle platform\u201d mindset and reveals a smarter way to unify clinical trials without added complexity.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/blogs\/beyond-the-single-platform-a-practical-path-to-unified-clinical-trial-execution\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Beyond the \u2018Single Platform\u2019 - A Practical Path to Unified Clinical Trial Execution\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This blog challenges the \u201csingle platform\u201d mindset and reveals a smarter way to unify clinical trials without added complexity.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/blogs\/beyond-the-single-platform-a-practical-path-to-unified-clinical-trial-execution\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Clinical Technologies\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-15T14:58:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-16T13:15:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/06\/image.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"901\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"450\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"thomasdrake\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"thomasdrake\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/blogs\/beyond-the-single-platform-a-practical-path-to-unified-clinical-trial-execution\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/blogs\/beyond-the-single-platform-a-practical-path-to-unified-clinical-trial-execution\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"thomasdrake\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.almacgroup.com\/clinical-technologies\/#\/schema\/person\/1a2d988b4b3ddeae822e8a0d742a9367\"},\"headline\":\"Beyond the \u2018Single Platform\u2019 &#8211; 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