KOaLa: Accelerating Data-Driven Insights in Medical Marketing

Foundry, the Toronto-based Klick Health consulting wing, partnered with Aqila to develop KOaLa, a cutting-edge data product enabling key opinion leader (KOL) identification, regulatory document analysis, and drug product comparisons. Aqila provided expertise in technical project management, product development, and software engineering to accelerate delivery, refine processes, and ensure successful deployment. KOaLa exemplifies the power of strategic collaboration in delivering innovative healthcare solutions.

CATEGORY: Data

August 2022

Foundry, a division of Klick Health, a leading Medical Marketing Agency recognized for its innovative solutions in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. The organization is scaling its data science-enabled software tools to offer robust capabilities like KOL identification, regulatory document search and analysis, and comparative drug product evaluations. Their ambitious vision required specialized expertise to streamline product development processes and ensure timely, high-quality software delivery.

Problem/Goal:

As Foundry expanded its data product portfolio, they faced challenges including:

• A lack of structured product development processes.

• Inefficient team focus on delivery timelines and scope adherence.

• Limited in-house expertise in microservices development and scalable architecture for a data lake.

• The need for mentoring teams to align with agile methodologies for accelerated product delivery.

• 
  

Their goal was to develop and launch KOaLa v1.0, a sophisticated product to enhance KOL management, empower regulatory document analysis, and provide actionable insights for pharmaceutical companies.

Solution:

Aqila brought its expertise in technical project management, AI, and data science-enabled product development to address Foundry’s challenges. The approach included:

• Process Optimization:

  • Conducted workshops to analyze gaps in existing processes and delivered an enhanced product delivery framework.

  • Mentored teams to adopt agile methodologies and foster a results-driven culture.

  • Defined team roles and responsibilities through job descriptions tailored to the project’s needs.

• KOaLa Development Support:

  • Owned the development lifecycle of KOaLa, focusing on front-end and back-end enhancements, including features like expert search, filtering, expert profile views and API integration with Foundry’s data lake.

  • Conducted QA testing and facilitated user acceptance testing for reliable deployment.

• Team Engagement and Delivery:

  • Fast-tracked the onboarding of external development teams and established processes for effective collaboration.

  • Provided ongoing support for data analysts, enabling successful delivery of secondary research projects for their other pharma clients.

• Scalable Architecture:

  • Advised on microservices development to support Foundry’s data lake for scalable and efficient data processing.

Results:

Aqila’s involvement enabled Foundry to achieve the following outcomes:

• Enhanced Delivery Focus: The team shifted from process ambiguity to a focused delivery mindset, successfully completing KOaLa v1.0 on time.

• Streamlined Processes: A rinse-and-repeat delivery framework was implemented, ensuring consistency and scalability for future product iterations.

• Effective Collaboration: External teams were effectively onboarded, contributing to a working software product within the agreed timeframe.

• Value-Driven Data Insights: Delivered actionable data analysis for clients, demonstrating the tool’s capabilities and versatility.

Conclusion

Through Aqila’s expert guidance, Foundry successfully transformed its product development approach and delivered KOaLa, a sophisticated tool revolutionizing KOL identification and regulatory insights for the pharmaceutical industry. This collaboration empowered Foundry to establish scalable processes and foster a culture of delivery excellence, paving the way for sustained innovation in medical marketing solutions.