1*Strategic Global Project Manager Sourcing & Procurement Management, Presidency University. Email: twindeepthy@gmail.com
2Associate Professor, School Of Management, Presidency University. Email: edwin.t@presidencyuniversity.in
India's pharmaceutical industry plays a critical role in global healthcare; however, its supply chain faces persistent challenges including counterfeiting, fragmentation, regulatory complexity, and operational inefficiencies. The increasing demand for transparency and compliance has accelerated the adoption of advanced digital technologies. This study aims to evaluate the role of blockchain, serialization, and artificial intelligence (AI) in strengthening India's pharmaceutical supply chain and to examine emerging patterns of technological convergence. A comprehensive review design was employed. Relevant peer-reviewed literature was systematically identified using structured keyword searches across recognized academic databases. Eligible studies were screened, thematically classified, and synthesized into key technological domains including blockchain-enabled traceability, serialization and regulatory compliance, AI-driven optimization, and integrated digital ecosystems. The findings indicate that blockchain enhances transparency and trust through decentralized, tamper-resistant record systems; serialization ensures product-level authentication and regulatory alignment; and AI improves predictive analytics, inventory optimization, and disruption management. A major pattern identified is technological convergence, where integrated blockchain–serialization–AI frameworks generate greater resilience, efficiency, and compliance synchronization within Supply Chain 4.0 architectures. Advanced digital technologies function as structural enablers rather than isolated tools, offering India's pharmaceutical sector a pathway toward improved transparency, global competitiveness, and long-term supply chain resilience.
Keywords: Pharmaceutical supply chain, Blockchain, Serialization, Artificial intelligence, Supply Chain 4.0, Digital transformation
How to cite this article: Deepthy C, Edwin TS. Evaluating the Role of Advanced Technologies in Strengthening India's Pharmaceutical Supply Chain: A Focus on Blockchain, Serialization, and AI. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(16s): 209-216. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.16s.22
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None