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In today’s life sciences landscape, quality management systems (QMS) must do far more than simply manage documents. They need to streamline workflows, support regulatory compliance, and enhance supply chain operations—all with the extensibility and scalability the modern market demands.

While MasterControl has transferred over their on-premise “Classic” to a cloud-based quality management system, the shift did little to improve upon its core functionality.

In, MasterControl touts the features their cloud offering promises yet warns users against trying to customize the software system as it could limit functionality and complicate upgrades.

The MasterControl cloud platform is hosted on a single-tenant architecture, which limits its customization options, raising long-term costs and creating validation challenges for the highly regulated industries it caters to.

, by contrast, was cloud-native at its very beginning, a fully extensible solution designed to support complex QMS and PLM needs in an agile, scalable way.

Here, we’ll explore 3 specific pitfalls of the MasterControl platform—and how Propel is purpose-built to meet the demands of modern product quality, regulatory compliance, and commercialization.

1. Limited Customization

The medtech industry is rife with startups and high-growth businesses that require flexibility to adapt to unique and evolving business requirements. Here, MasterControl’s architecture falls short.

While they highlight their “configure rather than customize” approach, the reality is that these are very limited configuration capabilities, which often lock customers into rigid workflows that can’t fully support complex business needs.

MasterControl’s Limited Configuration Model: According to MasterControl, their solution is designed with pre-set “configuration parameters” that allow certain options to be switched on or off without custom code. This may sound convenient, but it restricts businesses to out-of-the-box capabilities and predefined workflows.

The platform’s inability to support in-depth customizations means any deviation from MasterControl’s default configurations can disrupt validation and create challenges during system updates, ultimately delaying customers from accessing new features. This trade-off is significant, especially for fast-moving, innovative companies that require tailored processes for regulatory compliance, production records, and document control.

Propel’s Extensible, Low-Code/No-Code Advantage: Propel, by contrast, empowers businesses with an extensible, cloud-based quality management system that’s built on a low-code/no-code framework. With Propel, users don’t need to rely on developers or complex coding to adapt the platform. Instead, domain experts, system admins, and even business users can leverage user-friendly tools like Salesforce Flow and App Builder to create workflows, automate processes, and tailor the QMS to the exact needs of their teams. This flexibility supports rapid product development, supply chain management, and regulatory compliance by empowering users to configure the system on their own terms.

Propel’s Unmatched UI Configurability:

• No Interruption in Upgrades: Unlike MasterControl, which can delay customers’ access to new features due to configuration restrictions, Propel’s “clicks not code” approach allows for seamless upgrades across customizations. Businesses can stay current with new features without sacrificing functionality or facing validation setbacks.
• Reduced Costs and Faster ROI: Propel’s low-code/no-code tools mean businesses don’t need extensive development resources to achieve deep customization, which cuts down on both time and costs. As a result, companies can realize a faster return on investment while reducing dependency on technical support.
• Enhanced User Adoption: When users can tailor workflows to their exact needs, they’re more likely to engage with and adopt the platform. This enhanced user experience leads to higher productivity and helps drive business needs forward.

By democratizing customization, Propel provides a QMS system that adapts to each organization’s unique challenges. Unlike the MasterControl platform, which limits businesses to pre-configured settings, Propel enables companies to transform and optimize their workflows, ultimately fostering greater scalability and cost savings.

2. Tailored, Role-Based UI vs. MasterControl Vaults

In the medical device field, a one-size-fits-all user interface (UI) falls short. Complex systems can overwhelm casual users, requiring extensive training and support.

This is where a role-based UI becomes essential, allowing organizations to tailor the system to specific roles, making it easier for all users to access exactly what they need without extra training.

MasterControl’s Vaults: With MasterControl, permissions are handled through a “vault” system, designed to give different teams access to specific objects in the system. However, this approach creates a rigid, overly segmented structure that doesn’t adapt to the unique needs of each role. Instead of streamlining processes, it often forces users into siloed, restricted workflows, hampering engagement and making it difficult to respond to evolving business needs.

Propel’s Role-Based UI Advantage: Propel’s cloud platform offers a highly adaptable role-based UI, which is essential for industries where workflows need to be specific yet intuitive for roles across the organization. The Propel platform maximizes engagement by allowing users to access the exact processes, dashboards, and data they need, enhancing productivity without overwhelming casual users. This makes Propel particularly valuable for companies navigating complex product development and quality event management processes.

3. Outsourced Key Functionalities: Reporting and Search

Effective quality management requires efficient document control, powerful real-time data collaboration, and seamless integrations with key related data sources like ERP and PLM. Yet, the MasterControl cloud is very limited as a document management system and not capable of achieving even the most basic PLM capabilities such as complex product structure, full BOMs, and AML levels—all with revision-controlled redlining. 

Moreover, MasterControl outsources two critical functions—reporting and search—creating limitations for companies that need robust analytics and seamless search capabilities. 

Outsourced Reporting and Search:

• Basic Reporting: Instead of a comprehensive reporting suite, MasterControl relies on , a third-party solution that demands skilled developers to use JReport tools to create and visualize users’ reports.  Furthermore, MasterControl offers an that relies on nightly dumps of data, delaying accuracy and risking compliance. For organizations needing configurable, real-time data to support workflows in areas like compliance, customer complaints, and supply chain management, this delayed static reporting simply doesn’t measure up.
• Search Functionality: MasterControl also outsources search functionality to , adding a third-party dependency that’s less adaptable to specific QMS needs and harder to configure for specific workflows. Today’s enterprise users are security-conscious and therefore do not want to rely on third-party, open-sourced analytics and search engines to handle their data. Instead, users prefer a seamlessly integrated global search engine, analytics, and AI that weave natively into the fabric of a common platform.

Propel’s Built-In Reporting and Search: Unlike the MasterControl cloud, Propel offers native, configurable reports and dashboards, with real-time analytics designed to support complex business needs such as regulatory compliance, CAPA, FDA audits, and product development. Propel’s global search further enables seamless data access, allowing teams to make informed decisions without thinking twice about finding what they need, the moment they need it.

Going Further: Propel’s AI-Driven Quality Management 

The “MasterControl quality excellence system” is fundamentally a legacy platform in a cloud-hosted shell, which hinders its ability to adopt new, leading-edge technologies such as AI.

AI will become a very powerful tool in quality management, reducing incident-to-resolution times, making safer, more effective products, and speeding time to market. These advantages will be huge, especially for companies in GxP-regulated industries where efficient, compliant workflows are essential.

Propel is at the forefront of this innovation with our Propel AI Assistant, based on Salesforce’s. Propel’s AI capabilities transform the user experience by making it possible to interact with their QMS and PLM data with natural language queries, creating a whole new paradigm for UI and extensibility.

Propel Brings Quality Management into the Modern Era

Unlike MasterControl’s system, Propel was born as a cloud platform.

With scalability built-in, Propel is designed to allow continuous improvement throughout the entire product lifecycle. This is not just about the immediate cost savings of avoiding outdated systems—it’s about positioning your organization to handle regulatory changes, streamline workflows, and respond to market demands without needing complex or expensive re-configurations.

Still facing resistance to change? See How to Convince Your Boss It’s Time to Get Off MasterControl for key arguments that can help drive the decision forward.

With Propel’s extensibility, companies can configure the platform to their needs using clicks, not code. Our SaaS architecture is adaptable, meaning organizations in highly regulated sectors like life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and medical device manufacturing are well-prepared to face future challenges without being tied down by outdated technology.

Propel isn’t just another QMS solution—it’s a forward-looking, cloud-native, and AI-enabled platform that’s ready to support your journey toward operational excellence.

Explore the unmatched power of cloud-native QMS.