Employee Spotlight: an interview with our Deputy CEO, Emil Swanepoel

Technology is reshaping industries at a rapid pace - from AI-powered automation to data-driven innovation and next-gen digital platforms.

Our Deputy CEO, Emil Swanepoel is leading this transformation at Central Pharma, driving initiatives to position us for long-term success. We met up with Emil to explore technology’s role in our business growth and the trends he believes will define the next era of progress…

Your Vision
Q: Emil, how do you see technology transforming the future of our industry?

A: What we're experiencing right now isn't just change, it's a fundamental restructuring of how industries operate, and pharmaceuticals is no exception. The pace of technological advancement is genuinely staggering. There is very little we can imagine today that AI cannot, in some form, already begin to deliver and we're talking about a timeframe of weeks, not months or years. What makes this moment so significant is the nature of what's being transformed.

Historically, technology replaced manual, physical labour. Now, for the first time, we are augmenting and in some cases replacing, cognitive work. Brain power, not muscle power, is being automated, and the speed at which this is happening is unprecedented. At Central Pharma, we're leaning into this shift with real conviction. In the past, the cost of bespoke technology was a significant barrier. Building our own CRM system, for example, would have meant lengthy outsourcing projects and substantial investment. Today, that same system could be developed in a single night.

The cost of adapting technology precisely to your business model has effectively disappeared. Looking ahead, I'm confident that the traditional reliance on dedicated IT functions will diminish significantly because the tools to build, manage and evolve systems will be in the hands of every individual across the organisation.

Q: What drives your passion for advancing technology within Central Pharma?

A: At its core, I’m passionate about problem-solving, and technology is the most powerful problem-solving tool we’ve ever had. Whether it’s self-driving systems, data mining, production automation, or AI-assisted decision-making, I’m constantly thinking about how we can apply these capabilities to make our organisation smarter, leaner, more effective and drive quality to another level. For me, it’s never technology for technology’s sake. It’s about using innovation with purpose, removing friction, unlocking efficiency and ultimately delivering a better outcome for our customers, our teams and our business. That’s what drives me every day. 

Strategy and Innovation
Q: Can you share some of the exciting technology initiatives currently in progress at Central Pharma?

A: We're at a genuinely exciting inflection point. For the first time, we have the ability to take the full breadth of information flowing through our business, across every function, and make it available in real time, at your fingertips. That alone is transformational for how we make decisions and serve our customers.

One of the most significant initiatives we're offering to customers right now is our AI-powered customer portal. Integrated with our AI-driven inspection systems, it gives customers total, real-time visibility across the supply chain. It's designed to feel as if every department, quality, production, logistics, compliance, sits within your own organisation.

For the first time, our customers can manage their supply chain with that level of integration and oversight, without the traditional barriers of access, delay or opacity. Our AI inspection systems also ensure that the highest quality products are delivered with the least amount of resource, effort and cost on both sides. It's a genuine win-win! and a platform we believe will redefine expectations in contract pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Q: What role does collaboration play in driving innovation both internally and externally?

A: Collaboration isn't optional, it's essential if we're going to realise the full potential of these new technologies. Internally, that means breaking down silos and ensuring our teams are aligned around shared goals and shared tools. Externally, it means taking the time to genuinely understand our customers' pain points.

The best technology implementations don't add complexity - they dissolve it. To get that right, you have to listen carefully, understand the real problems, and then demonstrate clearly how the solution will make life easier, not harder. That's the standard we hold ourselves to at Central Pharma.

People & Culture
Q: Technology often requires a cultural shift. How do you ensure teams embrace change and feel empowered by new tools and processes?

A: The key is making the benefit tangible and immediate. People embrace change when they can feel it improving their day, when technology visibly takes the pain away rather than adding new burdens. Our approach is to weave innovation into everyday workflows gradually and purposefully. We don't implement technology for its own sake; we implement it to make tasks simpler, faster and more rewarding. When people experience that firsthand, when the system does the heavy lifting and they can focus on higher-value work, the cultural shift follows naturally. Empowerment comes from seeing that technology is working for you, not against you.

Q: What skills do you think employees in the future will need to thrive in a technology-driven company?

A: The ability to clearly articulate requirements will become one of the most valuable skills in any organisation. Those who can precisely verbalise what they need, who can communicate specifications clearly and translate business problems into solvable briefs, will be the ones who get the most from AI tools and automated systems.

Beyond that, a genuine affinity for technology will be essential. Not necessarily deep technical expertise, but curiosity, adaptability and a willingness to learn. The most effective employees of the future will be those who see technology as a partner and know how to direct it effectively.

Looking ahead…
Q: Which Technology trends excite you the most over the next 3-5 years?

A: We are living through the AI equivalent of the Industrial Revolution, and I mean that without any exaggeration. What we're seeing unfold in real time is a transformation as profound and as far-reaching as any in human history. The first major wave has been language - large language models that can write, reason, analyse and communicate. We are now entering sensory phase like vision and other neural inputs, where AI can see, interpret and act on what it observes. The next frontier will be sensory and robotic integration - AI that can physically interact with the world around it. Each wave builds on the last, and the cumulative effect will be extraordinary. For Central Pharma, each of these developments represents an opportunity - to raise quality, reduce cost, and deliver more value to our customers. It's an incredibly exciting time to be in this industry.

Conclusion
Innovation isn't a department at Central Pharma, it's embedded into our strategy, our culture and our day-to-day operations. Under Emil's leadership, we continue to explore how the latest advances in AI and automation can deliver smarter, stronger and more sustainable growth for our business and our customers. To stay informed on our latest thinking and technology developments, follow us on LinkedIn.

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