Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) Playbook Offers Roadmap for Using Site-Based Tools in Pharma-Sponsored Trials

RealTime eClinical Solutions co-authors industry-first guide for sponsor-site collaboration on technology choice.

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — When sites use the technology they know best, trials move faster, data is cleaner, and compliance risk drops. That’s the vision behind the new Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) Playbook, a practical, field-tested guide developed by the Decentralized Trials & Research Alliance (DTRA) for making site-preferred tools the norm in pharma-sponsored trials.

Co-authored by leaders across the clinical research ecosystem, including Rick Greenfield, founder and chief strategy officer of RealTime eClinical Solutions, the playbook distills years of experience from sponsors, CROs, technology providers, and research sites into a clear roadmap for enabling site-based technology adoption without compromising sponsor oversight or data quality.

“There is a frequent misperception that research site staff are opposed to technology,” said Craig Lipset, co-founder of the Decentralized Trials & Research Alliance. “What staff reject is having study-specific, unfamiliar technology pushed upon them for trial after trial. This is particularly true in cases where sites already have existing technology capability. The BYOT Playbook lays the groundwork for sponsors and CROs to more consistently support sites in using their existing technology in trials, improving adoption, quality, and satisfaction.”

Why BYOT matters now

For decades, sites have had to navigate trial setups where sponsors dictate technology, often forcing research teams to work in unfamiliar systems, duplicate data entry, and adjust workflows mid-study. However, this inefficiency costs time, budget, and accuracy.

The BYOT Playbook empowers clinical research sites, sponsors, and CROs to adopt a Bring Your Own Technology approach. This allows sites to use their trusted, validated systems while maintaining compliance and data integrity within pharma-sponsored trials. The BYOT Playbook outlines how to:

• Identify sponsor-site alignment on technology capabilities.
• Standardize data exchange to protect interoperability and compliance.
• Integrate existing site tools without disrupting study timelines.
• Measure ROI from site-led tech adoption.

“Sites are already investing in high-quality technology that integrates with their workflows,” said Greenfield. “The BYOT approach recognizes that letting sites leverage these systems doesn’t just make their work easier—it accelerates trials and benefits sponsors.”

The playbook features case examples demonstrating how site-based tools, from CTMS to eSource platforms, can plug into sponsor systems using industry standards like HL7® FHIR® and CDISC ODM. It also offers change management strategies to help sponsors embrace a BYOT-friendly mindset while maintaining data integrity and regulatory readiness.

A Collaborative Effort

The BYOT Playbook reflects the expertise of workstream leads Brandon Maggio (GSK), Rick Greenfield (RealTime eClinical Solutions), and Joe Dustin (Dauntless eClinical Strategies), with contributions from members representing Medable, BMS, Syneos Health, Medidata, GSK, Eli Lilly; and advisors including Jane Myles (DTRA), David Enarson (Mayo Clinic), and Craig Lipset. Their combined experience ensures the playbook is both practical and scalable across the research ecosystem.

The DTRA Bring Your Own Technology Playbook is available now for download here: https://www.dtra.org/bring-your-own-technology

About RealTime eClinical Solutions
RealTime eClinical Solutions is a leading eClinical technology provider reshaping clinical trials with its comprehensive eClinical platform. Purpose-built for clinical research sites, site networks, AMCs, sponsors, and CROs, the platform empowers modern-day clinical trial workflows from trial award and study start-up through to trial execution. The suite includes CTMS, eReg/eISF, eSource, participant payments (SitePay/GlobalPay), engagement solutions (Text, eConsent, and MyStudyManager™ Participant Portal), and Devana for study start-up, pipeline management, and performance metrics. RealTime recently introduced TrialAlign, an advanced site selection, feasibility, and trial performance analytics platform. Visit www.realtime-eclinical.com.

About DTRA

The Decentralized Trials & Research Alliance (DTRA), a nonprofit organization, was convened to enable collaboration of stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of patient-focused, decentralized clinical trials and research within life sciences and healthcare through education and research. It works to make research participation accessible to everyone, enabled by the consistent, widespread adoption of appropriate decentralized research methods. Follow DTRA on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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SOURCE RealTime eClinical Solutions