AI-enabled platforms, unified ecosystems transform clinical development, patient engagement and commercial operations, ISG Provider Lens^® report says

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STAMFORD, Conn. -- (Business Wire)

Life sciences organizations are building coordinated operating structures enhanced with AI to improve efficiency, compliance and decision-making, according to a new research report published today by Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm.

The 2026 ISG Provider Lens^® global Life Sciences Digital Services report finds that enterprises are building on discrete digital initiatives to create integrated models that unify data, workflows and decisions across clinical, regulatory and commercial domains. This expansion of transformation efforts is motivated in part by a growing need for consistency, traceability and cross-functional alignment in complex environments.

“With rising regulatory pressure and operational complexity, life sciences enterprises need a new kind of architecture to ensure optimal outcomes,” said Jenn Stein, ISG partner, Manufacturing and Life Sciences. “They are embedding AI in all areas, creating a fabric that aligns clinical development and patient engagement with compliance and quality controls.”

Companies are expanding the use of AI and automation within core operational workflows to enhance performance and efficiency. Applications include protocol design, documentation, anomaly detection and signal identification across safety and regulatory functions. These capabilities improve data processing speed and reduce manual effort across high-volume environments. Enterprises also use AI to support decision-making through real-time insights and structured analysis.

Organizations are establishing unified data environments supported by cloud-native architectures, API integration and modular services. These systems enable consistent data exchange across clinical, safety and commercial functions, improving visibility throughout product lifecycles. Interoperable ecosystems are linking fragmented data estates for coordinated execution, faster decision-making and improved traceability across processes.

Decentralized and hybrid engagement models are becoming more prevalent across clinical development and patient interactions. Digital tools and remote participation improve access to trial populations, boosting enrollment and retention. Real-world data integration enhances continuity across channels for customer engagement, making outcomes more consistent. These approaches also improve the overall experience for patients, ISG says.

“Life sciences enterprises need to increase development speed, product quality and patient-centric personalization while facing greater inspection pressure and higher reporting volumes,” said Rohan Sinha, ISG principal analyst and lead author of the report. “Service providers support these efforts by enabling interoperability across fragmented systems and embedding intelligence into workflows for consistent execution.”

The report also explores other life sciences enterprise trends, including increasingly close partnerships with contract research organizations and the growing use of self-learning agentic AI models to coordinate decisions and workflows.

For more insights into the challenges faced by life sciences enterprises, along with ISG’s advice for addressing them, see the ISG Provider Lens Focal Points briefing here.

The report evaluates 60 providers across eight quadrants: Clinical Development (Service Providers), Patient Engagement (Service Providers), Manufacturing and Supply Chain (Service Providers), Pharmacovigilance and Regulatory Affairs — Digital Evolution (Service Providers), Commercial Operations — Digital Evolution (Service Providers), Clinical Development (CROs), Patient Engagement (CROs), and Pharmacovigilance and Regulatory Affairs — Digital Evolution (CROs).

The report names Accenture, Capgemini, Cognizant, Deloitte, HCLTech, Infosys, TCS and Wipro as Leaders in five quadrants each. It names ICON plc, IQVIA, PPD, Syneos Health and Tech Mahindra as Leaders in three quadrants each. Hexaware, NTT DATA and Parexel are named as Leaders in two quadrants each. Genpact, Indegene and LTM are named as Leaders in one quadrant each.

In addition, Cencora Pharmalex, Clario, Hexaware, LTM, Medpace, NTT DATA, Persistent Systems and Tech Mahindra are recognized as Rising Stars — companies with a “promising portfolio” and “high future potential” by ISG’s definition — in one quadrant each.

In the area of customer experience, Hexaware is named the global ISG CX Star Performer for 2026 among Life Sciences Digital Services providers. Hexaware earned the highest customer satisfaction scores in ISG's Voice of the Customer survey, part of the ISG Star of Excellence™ program, the premier quality recognition for the technology and business services industry.

Customized versions of the report are available from Altimetrik, Capgemini, Hexaware Technologies, Indegene and PPD.

The 2026 ISG Provider Lens global Life Sciences Digital Services report is available to subscribers or for one-time purchase on this webpage.

About ISG

ISG (Nasdaq: III) is a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm. A trusted partner to more than 900 clients, including 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is a long-time leader in technology and business services that is now at the forefront of leveraging AI to help organizations achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm, founded in 2006, is known for its proprietary market data and research, in-depth knowledge and governance of provider ecosystems, and the expertise of its 1,500 professionals worldwide working together to help clients maximize the value of their technology investments.

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Contacts:

Press Contacts:

Laura Hupprich, ISG
+1 203-517-3100
laura.hupprich@isg-one.com

Eric Arvidson, Matter Communications for ISG
+1 978-518-4542
isg@matternow.com

Source: Information Services Group, Inc.