Training in pharma, medtech, and life sciences is at a critical juncture — and it’s not because of poor leadership or a lack of resources. It’s because the systems underpinning learning and development are no longer fit for purpose.
That’s the central message of a new meta-study, The Readiness Gap: What 12 Industry Studies Reveal About the Future of Training in Pharma, Medtech & Life Sciences. Drawing from a dozen independent research reports published between 2022 and 2025, the study paints a stark picture: training today is still largely based on legacy technologies, outdated models, and a misplaced confidence in "completion" as a proxy for job readiness.
And in industries where safety, compliance, and innovation are non-negotiable, that’s a risky gamble.
Completion ≠ Competency
The most piercing insight? Most companies still equate training “completions” with job readiness. But according to the data, completing a module or attending a class tells us little about whether an employee can actually perform — especially in clinical, technical, and regulatory-sensitive roles.
From APQC’s benchmarking reports to the Skillnet Ireland future skills study, the conclusion is clear: training must evolve beyond tracking activity to verifying competence. Compliance records don’t ensure patient safety. Certificates don’t prevent product recalls. Only demonstrated, verifiable competence can do that.
This shift is already underway. At AstraZeneca, for example, Realizeit is powering adaptive compliance training that personalizes the learning path based on what employees already know versus what they still need to master. The result? Less time wasted, greater engagement, and a clearer picture of workforce readiness — including where operational risk may still reside.
Technology Lag Is the Root Problem
Pharma, medtech, and life sciences are all making massive strides in automation, AI, and digital transformation — everywhere except training. As one study notes, while AI is reshaping drug discovery and manufacturing, L&D systems are still anchored in paper evaluations, rigid LMSs, and static content libraries.
This technology lag is more than inefficient — it’s a liability. Without intelligent, adaptive platforms, companies can’t personalize training, identify gaps, or equip frontline supervisors to plug gaps in real time. The result? A workforce that looks ready on paper but may not be in practice.
AstraZeneca again provides a telling example. By consolidating multiple point-solutions into a single, unified system with Realizeit, they can now verify job-readiness more accurately and consistently at scale. Whether for new product launches or GenAI fluency, their teams’ complete dynamic assessments validated through multi-tiered certification models.
A Blueprint for Action
The meta-study doesn’t stop at diagnosis — it outlines five practical, company-level strategies that can close the readiness gap:
- Adopt Intelligent, Data-Driven Training Systems –Platforms must move from reactive content delivery to proactive, data-driven capability development.
- Make Competency Development Central to L&D – Define what job readiness means for every role and validate it with ongoing assessments online and in the field.
- Empower Supervisors with Guided Tools – Supervisors are critical in verifying on-the-job competence, yet most lack the tools or support to do so consistently.
- Integrate Learning with Operational Metrics – Link training to business outcomes like safety, quality, and productivity. If it doesn’t impact operations, it’s not working.
- Tailor Delivery to the Work Environment – One-size-fits-all doesn’t cut it. Systems must work offline, adapt to sterile or mobile settings, and speak the language of frontline teams.
The System Built for This Moment
This is where Realizeit enters — not as another LMS, but as a true competency development and assurance system. Realizeit is uniquely designed to close the gap this meta-study exposes. It continuously measures what workers know, what they don’t know, and what they need to do about it. It delivers targeted training, enables field-based verifications, and gives leaders a real-time view of their workforce readiness — by role, by site, and by skill.
In a world where complexity is increasing, compliance is tightening, skill demands are shifting, and the cost of mistakes is rising, Realizeit helps companies convert training into an operational advantage.
Because in these industries, job readiness shouldn’t be assumed — it needs to be assured.
