The End of the 200-Page Spec: Why RTSM Setup is Finally Evolving

For decades, implementing a Randomization and Trial Supply Management system has been the ultimate bottleneck in RTSM setup. Sponsors have traditionally faced a grueling process that demands an exhausting amount of time, effort, and technical oversight. But the industry is shifting.

At Atreo, we believe that setting up your IRT shouldn't feel like a second job. Here is how we are moving away from the "legacy" headache toward a faster, more visual, and 100% configurable future.

The Problem: The "Black Box" of Legacy RTSM Setup

In the past, RTSM systems were built on the back of a specification document—often a 200-page technical tome that was impossible to visualize. Sponsors would spend three to four weeks trading dozens of emails, arguing over "soft-coded" vs. "hard-coded" windows, and signing off on a piece of paper hoping the final product matched their vision.

By the time you reached User Acceptance Testing (UAT), the system was already built. If it wasn't what you needed, it was often too late (and too expensive) to change.

The Solution: The "Squarespace" of Clinical Trials

We’ve taken a page from the most successful modern software industries. Think about how Squarespace revolutionized web design: you don’t write code; you use a visual interface to build exactly what you see.

Our Studio Configuration Tool brings that same "System Design Experience" to RTSM setup. Instead of starting with a blank document and a list of requirements, we show up to your kickoff meeting with your system already built.

Why a "Visual-First" Approach Wins:

• Day One Acclimatization: Your team works within the actual platform from the very first meeting. You get to see the system, touch the workflows, and understand the user experience immediately.
• No More Spec Fatigue: We eliminate the intimidating 200-page spec document. You aren't signing off on a "theory" of how the system works; you’re signing off on the system itself.
• Drag-and-Drop Fluidity: Using pre-built tools and validated functionalities, we create systems seamlessly. It turns a "clunky" technical chore into a fluid, and—dare we say—fun design process.
• Flush Out Errors Early: By interacting with the live tool early, we catch downstream challenges and edge-case errors that would have been missed in a static Word document.

100% Configuration vs. Custom Coding

The word "configuration" is touted by many legacy providers, but it often only applies to the interface. Under the hood, they are still using older, rigid codebases.

At Atreo, configuration is 100%. We use a multi-tenant codebase where 50–60 systems run on the same version of the same proven code. When we flip a "switch" in our Studio tool, we know it works because it has been pre-validated. In contrast, "bespoke" or custom-coded solutions are risky. A piece of code written specifically for your protocol today might not handle a complex scenario 12 months down the road. We prefer tried, tested, and robust software over unproven custom builds.

A Sea Change for Clinical Teams

Our clients are finally witnessing how easy IRT can be. We can "drop in" pre-validated solutions at a day’s notice, meeting urgent requirements that legacy providers simply can’t touch.

It’s about time that RTSM caught up with the rest of the software world. If you are tired of the outdated process of setting up IRT systems, experience the Atreo difference.