Chris Lobo is Business IT Leader at Fresenius Kabi. In this role, he is responsible for driving forward IT solutions with a focus on applications using artificial intelligence (AI). What is his view on the potential of AI in healthcare? Which challenges does he face in implementing AI solutions? Read this interview to find out more.
My official job title at Fresenius Kabi is “Business IT Leader”. I am responsible for managing the correlation between our business needs and our IT solutions, with a particular focus on AI projects. I work closely with the segments so I can understand the business units’ requirements and translate these demands into technical specifications. As part of this process, I collaborate closely with our AI Center of Excellence (AI CoE) to develop the respective solutions. My responsibilities also include creating and evaluating business cases for AI projects together with the Corporate Development at group level (see our interview with Kilian Vornewald), ensuring they align with our strategic goals and deliver true value to the organization.
I love having the opportunity to employ AI technology to solve the real-world challenges we face at Kabi. Our recent project focusing on the development of an AI-powered assistant for our technical services team is a perfect example of how AI is transforming the way that we support patients and empower our workforce. I really like seeing how we can use AI to support their skills, enabling them to provide better service. Working on projects that have an impact on patient care and the efficiency of healthcare in general is truly motivating. I am convinced by the potential that AI has to drive innovation across different areas of our business, from sales and marketing to regulatory affairs.
Our ability to align technical solutions to business needs. Our perspective is to understand both the complexities of the company’s requirements and the potential of AI applications. We are in constant exchange with different stakeholders across the organization – from business units to the AI Center of Excellence – to ensure that our AI projects are not only technically feasible but also really help the business segments. Furthermore, we always have to keep the sensitive nature of healthcare data in mind, and as such have developed robust processes to ensure that our AI projects meet all regulatory requirements and follow the high standards of data protection applied in the healthcare industry.
I completed a degree in Computer Science Engineering in India and then went on to work for one of the top four consultancy companies in India. I then moved to Oracle, where I worked for several years. I wanted to learn languages and to move into more managerial, more leadership-oriented positions, so I completed an MBA in Germany and China, learning German and Mandarin as part of this process. I am not perfect in either of them, but I am trying to improve every day. I then completed an internship at a medtech company in Germany. That’s how I started my medtech journey in 2012, which led me onto a pharmaceuticals company producing oncology products, and then to Fresenius Kabi in 2020.
I think working at Fresenius offers an incredible opportunity to be at the forefront of healthcare innovation, because it unites so many areas of healthcare which usually you would find in different companies but not under one roof. If you are passionate about using technology to make a difference to people’s lives, this is the place to be. The team spirit here is fantastic – you work with great people and have the chance to keep growing. Working in a company the size of Fresenius means that the solutions we develop can have a global impact. Kabi is especially interesting, as here we have both the ability and the ambition to achieve great things. Change is driven right from the top. And the coffee is good!
We successfully implemented AI solutions that directly benefit patients and improve our operations. That makes me proud. The AI-powered assistant we developed for our technical services team is a great example. Or working on reducing the time needed for documentation, so staff can better focus on their core work – this has so much potential. It is not just about using advanced technology; it is about how this enables us to provide a better, faster service to staff and patients, ensuring critical medical equipment is always operational. I also very much enjoy the culture of innovation within the company, encouraging ideas from all levels and collaboration between different teams. The fact that we are able to take these innovative ideas from concept to implementation – all while navigating the complex regulatory landscape of healthcare – is something I find truly rewarding. When you come to the office and know that the work you are doing is leading to something positive, it’s really motivating!
Thank you for the ínterview Chris!