Cencora’s Ameer Ali is calling on pharmaceutical supply chain stakeholders to begin building their NDC-12 roadmaps without delay, warning that the transition requires significant preparation.
Ali, speaking in the final installment of an interview with Pharmaceutical Commerce, outlined the key steps organisations must take to ready their systems and processes for the shift.
The move to NDC-12 represents one of the most significant operational changes facing pharmaceutical distributors, manufacturers, and dispensers in recent years.
Ali’s guidance centres on three core pillars: updating internal systems, overhauling existing processes, and bringing trading partners into alignment well ahead of any deadline.
The NDC-12 format extends the current drug identification numbering system, and its adoption will touch virtually every part of the pharmaceutical supply chain from production through to dispensing.
Industry experts have long cautioned that transitions of this nature tend to be underestimated in terms of complexity, with ripple effects felt across labelling, ordering, and data management systems.
Ali’s interview with Pharmaceutical Commerce provides a practitioner-level perspective from one of the largest pharmaceutical distribution companies operating in the United States today.
Cencora, formerly known as AmerisourceBergen, is one of the biggest players in pharmaceutical wholesale distribution, giving Ali’s commentary particular weight within the industry.
Trading partner alignment is cited as a critical component of any successful transition, as mismatches between systems at different points in the supply chain can cause costly disruptions.
Organisations that delay building their NDC-12 roadmap risk falling behind trading partners who move early, potentially creating bottlenecks and compliance vulnerabilities as the transition accelerates.
Supply chain leaders are advised to conduct thorough internal audits of their current NDC data handling capabilities before engaging with external partners on transition timelines.
The broader pharmaceutical industry is watching the NDC-12 shift closely, with technology vendors and consultants already developing tools and services to support companies through the changeover.
Ali’s comments serve as a timely reminder that preparation, not reaction, is the defining factor in successfully navigating large-scale regulatory and operational transitions within pharmaceutical distribution.