This paper outlines the foundational element that chart the course for pharmaceutical manufacturers who decide to take this journey and provides a vision of what that destination could look like in 10 years’ time. It outlines the current state of the industry, key challenges and barriers to adoption, and hints at the value that taking this journey will bring to patients, organizations and industry. This paper (which forms Part 1 of the Digital Technology Roadmap) looks at the problem statement and the work that has gone before.