{"id":83550,"date":"2025-04-14T22:59:42","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T20:59:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veeva.com\/eu\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=83550"},"modified":"2026-04-06T22:30:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T20:30:30","slug":"4-ways-top-sponsors-build-strong-and-sustainable-site-relationships","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.veeva.com\/eu\/resources\/4-ways-top-sponsors-build-strong-and-sustainable-site-relationships\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Ways Top Sponsors Build Strong and Sustainable Site Relationships"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n<p>.veeva-2024 .content-block__content .number-icon {\nwidth:64px;height:64px;margin-bottom:5px;\n}<\/p>\n<p>.svg-takeaway-box {\n    display: flex;\n    align-items: center;\n    background-color: #fff;\n    border-radius: 12px;\n    padding: 2.4rem 3.2rem;\n    margin: 3.2rem 0;\n    font-family: Poppins, sans-serif;\n}<\/p>\n<p>.svg-takeaway-box .ai-icon {\n    width: 40px; \n    height: 40px;   \n    margin-right: 24px;   \n    flex-shrink: 0;     \n}<\/p>\n<p>.svg-takeaway-box .box-text {\n    font-size: 16px;\n    font-weight: 600;\n    line-height: 1.4;\n    color: #000;\n    letter-spacing: -.03em;\n}<\/p>\n<p>.hero-contained.hero-contained--gradient  {\ndisplay:none;\n}<\/p>\n<p>.veeva-2024 .veeva-footer-2024--counter-rounded-bottom-section {\nmargin-top: 0;\npadding: 104px 0 64px;\n}\n.veeva-2024 .orange {\ncolor:#f5670e;font-size:18px;\n}\n.veeva-2024 .content-block__content .h3, .veeva-2024 .content-block__content h3 {\n\tfont-size: 20px;\n\tline-height: 26px;\n\tmargin-top: 35px;\n\tmargin-bottom: 20px;\n\tfont-weight:500;\n}<\/p>\n<p>.veeva-2024 .content-block__content .img-responsive {\ndisplay: block;\nheight: auto;\nmargin-left: auto;\nmargin-right: auto;\nmax-width: 100%;\npadding: 0;\nmargin-bottom:50px!important;\nmargin-top:30px!important;\n}<\/p>\n<p>ol.color li, ul.color li {color:#f5670e;font-weight:700!important;}\nol.color li span, ul.color li span {color: #01040b;font-weight:400;}<\/p>\n<p>.veeva-2024 .content-block__content blockquote span:first-of-type, .veeva-2024 .content-block__content blockquote span:only-child {\nfont-family: Poppins,sans-serif;\nfont-size: 14px;\nfont-weight: 400;\nletter-spacing: unset;\nline-height: 1.2;\nmargin-bottom: 0;\nmargin-top: 15px;\ntext-transform: unset;\n}\n.veeva-2024 .content-block__content blockquote {\nfont-size: 18px;\npadding: 2.2rem 3.2rem 2.2rem 2.4rem;\n}<\/p>\n<p>.veeva-2024 .content-block__content p>a:not(.resources-toc-target,.button-outline,.button-primary,.button-secondary,.button-tertiary) {\ncolor:#f5670e;\ntext-decoration: underline;\ntext-decoration: none;\ntransition: color .3s ease;\n}<\/p>\n<p>.veeva-2024 .button-secondary img {\nbackground-color: #f5670e;\n}\n.veeva-2024 .content-block__content .takeaway-box {\ndisplay: block;\nborder-left:3px solid #f5670e;\nborder-top-left-radius: 0px;\nborder-bottom-left-radius: 0px;\nfont-size:20px;\nwidth:100%;max-width:550px;\nmargin-top:40px;\n}\n.veeva-2024 .content-block__content .button-icon.button-icon--white {\nbackground-color:#f5670e;\nmargin-top: 5px;\n}<\/p>\n<\/style>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tOver the past five years, there\u2019s been an explosion of new technology introduced to improve clinical research site engagement. But these well intentioned solutions are often custom, standalone systems that require complex middleware and integrations. This forces sites to adopt dozens of sponsor-specific tools and build customized processes around them. This is just one of the reasons an estimated <a href=\"https:\/\/milkeninstitute.org\/content-hub\/research-and-reports\/reports\/supply-clinical-trial-sites-openings-closings-and-longevity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">60% of sites<\/a> cease operations within their first year.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tAlthough most sponsors understand the urgency and value of improving site relationships, it can be challenging to implement effective strategies that don\u2019t exacerbate existing technology siloes. In this report, clinical operations and site engagement leaders at top 20 biopharma companies share how they\u2019ve improved site collaboration despite these industry challenges.\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2>Unpacking current conditions for clinical research sites<\/h2>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tAccording to the Society for Clinical Research Sites, over <a href=\"https:\/\/myscrs.org\/resources\/sites-now\/closing-the-gap-on-clinical-tech-for-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">60% of sites<\/a> use more than 20 systems daily. On average, site staff spend <a href=\"https:\/\/myscrs.org\/resources\/reducing-site-technology-burdens\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">5-15 hours per month<\/a> learning how to use new technology. For busy research coordinators, this technology burden detracts from their top priorities: patient scheduling and being present during visits. Over-reliance on email and repetitive communication with sponsors and CROs limits the time site staff can spend with patients, often delaying start-up of vital studies.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tA <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.veeva.com\/resources\/site-survey-top-10-white-paper-2025\/\">recent survey<\/a> targeting over 10,000 research site professionals found that the top two technology challenges for sites are managing multiple logins and growing numbers of sponsor-selected vendors. One site commented \u201cWe have turned down several studies that use multiple technologies \u2013 both for subjects and ourselves. It just becomes too complicated.\u201d\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>                               <img decoding=\"async\" style=\"border-radius: 25px;\" class=\"img-responsive mw-800\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veeva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4-ways-top-sponsors-build-strong-and-sustainable-site-relationships-2.png\"\"><\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tDespite tech complexities and dwindling site numbers, global sites are optimistic about clinical trials. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clinicalleader.com\/doc\/clinical-sites-are-optimistic-despite-growing-challenges-0001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">recent study<\/a> from the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development found that site optimism is significantly related to the degree to which site staff feel that sponsors value and apply feedback from sites. This highlights the crux of the issue: an engaged site is one which has an open and collaborative relationship with its sponsors. Here, several leading sponsors demonstrate four key methods for improving site engagement:\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin:32px 0\"  class=\"img-responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veeva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/4-ways-top-sponsors-image-3@2x.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"svg-takeaway-box\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" \n        src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/veeva2015\/assets\/svg\/icons\/ai-technology-spark.svg\" \n        class=\"ai-icon\" \n        alt=\"AI Spark Icon\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"box-text\">\n        <strong>An engaged and thriving site is one which has an open and collaborative relationship with its sponsors.<\/strong>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<p>\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"number-icon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veeva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/image-how-to-become-a-sponsor-section-1@2x.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"margin-top:25px\">Standardizing the site experience<\/h2>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tCreating a consistent user experience is a top priority for most sponsors: they need a standard method for engaging with sites that allows flexibility toward the site\u2019s preferences.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tA senior director of global clinical solutions at one top 20 biopharma company is working to create an intuitive experience for sites. They explain how this approach could benefit the site employees and ultimately participants: \u201cSites need an easy system that they can navigate independently. They should be able to bulk upload documents and find the information required to support patients in real-time during the trial.\u201d\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\nThe need for standardization is compounded by the number of different systems and passwords that sites must navigate daily. \u201cWe regularly hear from sites that each tool that sponsors provide requires knowledge and training,\u201d they said. \u201cBeing able to provide a standard across sponsors removes some of the burden from sites and allows them to spend more time doing what matters most: helping participants.\u201d\n                              <\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnother top 20 biopharma has a similar goal: become less sponsor-centric and give sites more choice when it comes to technology. The company\u2019s head of clinical software development (COE) comments: &#8220;We think we are bringing the right solutions to sites, but it\u2019s not just about our relationship with them. Sites are working with all of us.\u201d\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"leading-quote leading-quote--inline leading-quote--inline-in-content\">\n<div class=\"leading-quote__inner\">\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not just about our relationship with the site; they are working with all of us. That\u2019s why we believe in ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ, to get an industry standard for sites.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"content-leading-quote__author\">\n<h6>Head of Clinical Software Development COE, Top 20 Biopharma<\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tUnified solutions that automate information flow across trial partners, processes, and systems are improving site collaboration without adding to the technology burden. These tools should have features like:\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Single sign-on<\/strong> to give sites easy access to all sponsor technologies through one ID\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>A simple, free app<\/strong> to easily manage site content like ISF and delegation logs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Streamlined information and data exchange<\/strong> to improve collaboration between sponsors and CROs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Optimized training<\/strong> where sponsors assign tasks automatically before site visits and track on-site activities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<p>\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\"  class=\"number-icon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veeva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/image-how-to-become-a-sponsor-section-2@2x.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"margin-top:25px\">Building collaborative relationships with clinical research sites<\/h2>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tAs an industry pioneer in site-centricity, Merck &#038; Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (hereinafter &#8220;MSD&#8221;) has worked to address the perception that sponsors have<br \/>\n\t\t\ta top-down approach to their relationship with sites and do not consider their needs. Natalie Blake, senior director of MSD\u2019s project management office at the global clinical trials organization (GCTO), explains the company\u2019s approach: \u201cTo effectively partner with sites, we must give them a seat at the table and incorporate their valuable input into MSD\u2019s decisions as a sponsor.\u201d\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"leading-quote leading-quote--inline leading-quote--inline-in-content\">\n<div class=\"leading-quote__inner\">\n<p>\u201cAs we design and develop new technology, we want to incorporate site experience to ensure what we are designing is meeting end-user needs.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"content-leading-quote__author\">\n<h6>Natalie Blake, Director, Global Clinical Trials Organization, MSD<\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tMSD is moving away from process-driven site-sponsor relationships toward a consultative and dynamic mindset. To support this shift, the company implemented the Clinical Site Partnership (CSP) program, leveraging a network of 30+ global sites to develop clinical trial technology strategies that accommodate all study partners. CSP includes focus groups, live site observations, surveys, workshops, and user experience sessions.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tSince implementing this program, MSD has garnered feedback on over a dozen initiatives in areas like clinical supplies and data management. The company also implemented a \u201cmenu\u201d of operational enhancements to make it easier for sites to conduct clinical trials. CSP sites perform well with patient enrollment and comprise over 20% of MSD&#8217;s oncology portfolio.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tSites participating in the initiative say that CSP opened lines of communication between MSD and monitors. Dr. Mustafa Erman, head of preventative oncology at the Hacattepe University Cancer Institute, describes his experience: \u201cBeing a part of CSP has allowed me to communicate freely and frequently with MSD to optimize processes. It\u2019s also improved screening, recruitment, and patient care.\u201d\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"svg-takeaway-box\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" \n        src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/veeva2015\/assets\/svg\/icons\/ai-technology-spark.svg\" \n        class=\"ai-icon\" \n        alt=\"AI Spark Icon\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"box-text\">\n        <strong>Clinical research sites in MSD\u2019s partnership program enroll over 20% of the total oncology portfolio.<\/strong>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<p>\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\"  class=\"number-icon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veeva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/image-how-to-become-a-sponsor-section-3@2x.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"margin-top:25px\">Investing in site-centric technology<\/h2>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tPart of building collaborative relationships with sites is providing technology that empowers success at every stage of the clinical trial lifecycle. One top 20 biopharma launched a joint effort between study start-up leaders and executive leadership to select KPIs that would provide better visibility and actionable insights to reduce cycle times. They identified metrics across 175 studies and created dashboards for each KPI to monitor progress by therapeutic area, country, and study. Using ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ Site Connect and ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ Study Startup together, the team was able to decrease site selected to site activated cycle time by 30% and decrease the time from when the start-up package is sent to activation by 36%.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe biopharma also implemented ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ Site Connect to automate the distribution of safety letters, previously handled through over 10 million annual email notifications across 4,500 sites and 3,000 ethics committees. This has reduced manual steps in this process for staff by 70%.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n                                 A senior clinical director at the company emphasized that change management was key to the successful rollout, which included early stakeholder engagement, tailored training, and drop-in Q&#038;A sessions. Beyond efficiency gains, the transformation redefined team roles, freeing staff from manual tasks and empowering them as country-level business administrators.\n                                <\/p>\n<p>\n                                 \u201cNow that we\u2019ve seen its success, we are working toward implementing this automated safety distribution process across our trial portfolio,\u201d explains the senior director. \u201cThis will give every investigator a standardized experience regardless of study delivery model, and provide significant cost savings for us.\u201d\n                                <\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnother top 20 biopharma has been on a similar site transformation journey. In just five months, the company implemented Site Connect, onboarded 8,400 global sites, and distributed 2.6 million documents.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"leading-quote leading-quote--inline leading-quote--inline-in-content\">\n<div class=\"leading-quote__inner\">\n<p>\u201cSite Connect does much more than simply exchanging documents and distributing safety data. It also enables us to share study announcements and contacts with sites, centralize links to all of the systems they need on a given study, and give them visibility into expected and completed payments.\u201d <\/p>\n<div class=\"content-leading-quote__author\">\n<p>³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ eTMF and Site Connect system owner, Top 20 Biopharma<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tSince going live, the company reports a high adoption rate among sites, with many expressing a preference for participating in studies that use ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ Site Connect. \u201cWe have significantly improved our team\u2019s ability to track safety distribution. We know precisely who downloaded a document, and when they viewed it,\u201d explains a company executive.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"svg-takeaway-box\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" \n        src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/veeva2015\/assets\/svg\/icons\/ai-technology-spark.svg\" \n        class=\"ai-icon\" \n        alt=\"AI Spark Icon\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"box-text\">\n        <strong>A top 20 biopharma reduced cycle time by 30% and automated 70% of safety letter distribution steps.<\/strong>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<p>\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\"  class=\"number-icon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veeva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/image-how-to-become-a-sponsor-section-4@2x.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"margin-top:25px\">Better site training unlocks trial efficiency<\/h2>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tTo engage sites and streamline processes during study start-up and conduct, sponsors are looking toward optimizing site training. The global clinical capability strategy lead at one top 20 biopharma advocates for site simplicity and is focused on providing a user-friendly study training experience that meets the needs of individual sites and studies.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cI\u2019m very mindful of the fact that site staff need to spend most of their time with patients,\u201d she says. \u201cAs sponsors, we should ask ourselves: \u2018How can we \u2028be more targeted in the training we deliver and our expected outcomes?\u2019\u201d\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe strategy lead sought an automated, end-to-end training process in a validated system with these objectives in mind. The biopharma became an early adopter of ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ Study Training, which automates and streamlines training for sponsors, CROs, and sites in one system. Their team implemented a multi-method approach to study training, offering pre-requisite reading of key study documentation, recorded modules, as well as targeted virtual and face-to-face interactions where there is additional study complexity.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe team has seen an almost 100% adoption rate among site users and provides the following tips to engage sites.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin:32px 0\"  class=\"img-responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/www.veeva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/4-ways-top-sponsors-image-5@2x.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"svg-takeaway-box\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" \n        src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/veeva2015\/assets\/svg\/icons\/ai-technology-spark.svg\" \n        class=\"ai-icon\" \n        alt=\"AI Spark Icon\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"box-text\">\n        <strong>Sponsors who choose not to invest in technology can still prioritize site-centricity by establishing an advisory board or leveraging positive site relationships to gather input on trial decisions.<\/strong>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h2>A connected environment for all<\/h2>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tMaking a strategic effort to refocus on the fundamentals is the key to improving site collaboration in the long term. Engaging sites and giving them a seat at the table will lessen the transactional nature of site-sponsor relationships and streamline study execution. The site-centric approach can be straightforward: prioritize site input and foster collaboration to ensure better clinical trial outcomes for all.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ Clinical Operations provides an end-to-end environment and collaborative platform for sponsors, CROs, and sites. With integrated and automated workflows for start-up, training, execution, and close-out, clinical trials are accelerated with more efficient communication among cross-functional teams.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cThat\u2019s why we believe in ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ,\u201d concludes the top 20 biopharma\u2019s head of clinical software development. \u201cTo get an industry standard for sites.\u201d\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><a class=\"\" style=\"margin-bottom:80px;color:black\" href=\"\/eu\/site-perspectives-5-key-insights-to-become-a-sponsor-of-choice\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"takeaway-box\">\n<div style=\"float:right\" class=\"button-icon button-icon--white\" target=\"_self\"> <\/div>\n<div>Hear site perspectives on how to become a sponsor-of-choice\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a>\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover how pharma leaders boost trials through site collaboration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":83552,"parent":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-83550","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","resource-area-20-clinical-operations","resource-product-20-site-connect","resource-type-white-papers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veeva.com\/eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/83550"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veeva.com\/eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veeva.com\/eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/resources"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.veeva.com\/eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/83550\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83551,"href":"https:\/\/www.veeva.com\/eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resources\/83550\/revisions\/83551"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veeva.com\/eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veeva.com\/eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}