The other day, my Jeep sent an “oil life alert” to my phone and then provided directions to the nearest dealership. It even offered to schedule an appointment for an oil change. This being the first new car I’ve owned in a while, I was impressed with what I have now learned is simple table stakes in modern vehicle tech.
Today’s cars generate enormous volumes of data and advanced technology is enabling the automobile industry to harness it productively. This data-tech combo has fundamentally transformed the automotive industry from a purely mechanical business into a software-defined, technology-driven ecosystem.
For customers, apps act like digital vehicle supervisors, delivering vital data directly to their phones. Continuous sensor data means modern cars can detect potential malfunctions and even predict maintenance needs before minor issues escalate into drivers standing on the side of the road, waiting for tow trucks in the rain (why is it always raining when cars break down?).
On the development side, car manufacturers can leverage customer usage data to build better vehicles. Tesla, for example, can analyze braking behavior, charging habits and even road conditions to understand how customers are using their cars. On the manufacturing side, gone are the days of post-assembly inspection and all-manual quality checks. Modern automotive plants now use inline sensors, machine vision and predictive diagnostics to detect defects during production instead of after the fact.
Sound familiar? It should. Big data and advanced technology have reshaped most industries, and oral solid dose is no exception. As you’ll read in this issue’s roundtable, OSD development is shifting away from experience-driven production and end-stage testing toward highly monitored, data-rich, predictive systems designed to optimize quality and performance in real time.
As OSD products grow more complex, this data infrastructure is becoming essential for maintaining control. Datasets generated during development are helping manufacturers predict formulation behavior, identify stability risks sooner and optimize processing conditions before scale-up. Real-time monitoring, such as PAT, allows manufacturers to track critical process parameters inline rather than relying solely on end-product testing. This ongoing data collection opens the door to more efficient approaches, including continuous manufacturing.
Consumer preference and familiarity have long made OSD the dominant dosage form, and now, technology is supporting its steady future growth. As for my Jeep…I still haven’t changed the oil. I’m holding out for the day it drives itself to the shop — and maybe even stops at the pharmacy on the way home.
Speaking of steering through years of change…
With this issue, we extend our best wishes to Associate Publisher Bonnie Kaye as she begins her retirement. Bonnie has been with Tablets & Capsules since its earliest days and remained a steady presence through its transition from CSC Publishing to CompareNetworks in 2021. Like a finely-tuned engine — delivering reliable performance and a snappy response — she has helped keep the publication running smoothly through every turn and transition. While this marks her final issue, her contributions to the brand will continue to resonate long after she’s taken the keys out of the ignition.