Bioventus Bioness Integration Update
by Sarah Caley
As Ken Reali mentioned in his most recent CEO update, integration efforts in Valencia/legacy Bioness sites continue with pace. We are actively working hard towards some year-end work stream completions, as well as additional activities that will run into 2022. As we are all learning, integration is a challenging task – moving quickly to try to make the right decision and changes, while taking sufficient time to minimize misses and mistakes. We continue to try to find this balance, and we expect our integration of Bioness will continue to require attention and support into 2022. We have to continue these commitments while we begin to add work with Misonix and other planned acquisitions.
The IT department has a very heavy focus on the integration, and has many parallel tracked projects ongoing ranging from IT infrastructure alignment and upgrades such as server hardware, website, phone systems, to activities that involve multiple other departments – namely the planned SAP go-live for International in October 2021, and for the US in February 2022.
On the Client Services/Order-to-Cash side of the business we have been working through some faster than expected exits from this group, and we have a deep appreciation for the team in Valencia who have been taking on more work, while aiding in training and expedited transition of some activities to Memphis. Sean Hagarty, Kimberly Miller, Rita Shteinman, and many others are playing a key role in helping with this transition work. We are hiring faster than planned in Memphis, and adding some temporary support in Valencia to ensure the Rehab and Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) salesforces are getting the support and order processing continues with the quality this team has always delivered.
One of the biggest and most complex workstreams is the alignment of our quality systems and working through parallel tracks of Bioness and Bioventus European Medical Device Regulation (MDR) certification. A cross-functional international team meets regularly to plan and execute this complex dance of integration of both systems, while each company also navigates its own processes and obligations in order to continue selling in Europe under their respective CE marks.
In addition to the StimRouter trial, which has been ongoing between the Valencia PNS team and the Active Healing Therapies (AHT) sales team, we have also recently rolled out a pilot commercial trial in Florida for the L360 Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) rehabilitation device. This project is being led by Chris Teague, Joyden De Al Vega, Nicole Harris, Michelle Bychowsky and Jen Van Norman, and is off to an exciting start with solid collaboration between the AHT and Bioness Rehab sales teams.
Finally a very special thanks to Valencia production team who are always so focused on getting our products assembled, packaged and shipped. The end of the quarter is normally stressful, but with some significant delays due to FedEx/customs (likely COVID related) the team only received a shipment of product from our Israel manufacturing facility on the Wednesday, and were still able to build and ship $2.2M worth of product by Friday! This needed an orchestrated team effort, from the entire team, and also to Terri Messina for going outside of her normal duties to help support in quality control in the push.
Next week, Ken Reali will be holding our Global Town Hall meeting from Valencia as well as a legacy Bioness focused Q&A and we are looking forward to his visit to the west coast.