Fortrea Simplifies the Site Experience with VeevaID

As clinical trials grow more complex, the number of digital tools used by research sites has increased. For Fortrea, a key priority is to simplify the technology landscape for sites, allowing them to focus on patients and research rather than navigating multiple systems.

By implementing VeevaID, Fortrea provided more than 4,500 clinical research site users with a single, secure login for their Veeva applications. This removed a significant point of friction, reducing the administrative burden on sites and internal teams while improving training compliance.

Complex Technology Landscape for Sites

In today’s clinical trial environment, sites often work with numerous sponsors and CROs, each with their own set of technology solutions. “There is quite an explosion of all different technologies,” explains Bireshwar Saha, executive director of programming at Fortrea. “It has added an enormous burden on the sites. Not only to manage all these different technologies but learn how to navigate them.”

A primary challenge was managing the volume of user IDs and passwords required to access different systems. Principal investigators and site staff frequently struggled with login issues, which created downstream delays. “If they are not able to access the EDC to enter data or sign a casebook, we have to manage those challenges,” says Saha.

These access problems have the potential to lead to:

• Delays in data entry and signatures: Investigator login problems can potentially interrupt critical data entry and review. As a result, monitoring can be stalled and query resolution delayed, at times impacting critical milestones.
• Training and compliance considerations: Unexpected access delays can create pressure to meet tight timelines, which may lead to requests for exceptions to standard training requirements. Such situations should be proactively managed to maintain audit readiness.
• Increased burden on support teams: Fortrea’s internal clinical teams act as the first point of contact for site staff experiencing access problems, which requires time spent troubleshooting login problems instead of focusing on other priorities.

Frictionless Login to Drive Efficiency

To address these challenges, Fortrea rolled out VeevaID, a single sign-on solution that gives site users unified access across their Veeva clinical applications, including Veeva EDC and Veeva Site Connect.

For sites, the change represented a simple solution to a frequent frustration. Fortrea’s internal teams were especially supportive of the move. “Our clinical team was very excited because they handle the fallout when principal investigators or site users are not able to access a training or completing the signatures,” says Dilliraja Purushothaman, principal programmer at Fortrea.

A well-orchestrated communication plan that engaged sponsors, sites, and internal teams was critical to the smooth transition for users.

Better Site Experience Improves Compliance and Timeliness

Since implementing VeevaID, Fortrea has seen a significant reduction in login-related issues from sites.

“Before VeevaID, I was meeting with site users about login issues multiple times a week. In the time since we implemented it, I haven’t had a single meeting about access problems.” – Dilliraja Purushothaman, principal programmer, Fortrea

By streamlining access to key systems, Fortrea is encouraging more timely and consistent engagement from sites. “The hope is that this frictionless access with VeevaID will drive that behavior shift, so users are more inclined to complete their data entry or their reviews or signatures in a timely fashion,” notes Saha.

One of the most significant benefits is the creation of a portable training record for investigators. Because training completion is tied to a user’s VeevaID, an investigator does not need to repeat training when working on a different study with another CRO that also uses Veeva. This saves valuable time and removes a common barrier.

Ultimately, simplifying the login process helps Fortrea advance its core mission of supporting its sites. “That is a big part of our strategy,” concludes Saha. “To make technology seamless for sites, so they can focus on their job and patients.”