ZS named a Leader in 2026 IDC MarketScape for Life Science R&D RWD and RWE
Assessment recognizes ZS’s capabilities across real-world data and evidence platforms, technology solutions and consulting services
EVANSTON, Ill., Sept. 14, 2026 – ZS, a global management consulting and technology firm, has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Life Science R&D RWD/Real-World Evidence for Data Platforms, Technology Solutions, and Consulting Services 2026 Vendor Assessment (August 2026, IDC # US54122226).
The IDC MarketScape evaluates organizations based on their capabilities and strategies related to real-world evidence (RWE), data, platforms, technologies and consulting services. This recognition follows ZS's recent recognition as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Life Sciences R&D Strategic Consulting Services 2026 Vendor Assessment (May 2026, IDC #US53009826).
"Life sciences organizations are looking for more connected approaches to evidence and decision-making across the product life cycle," said Rohan Fernando, managing principal of ZS's life sciences R&D and medical practice. "As the industry seeks to generate greater value from real-world data, organizations need better ways to turn evidence into action. Through integrated evidence planning and connected evidence-generation capabilities, we help clients transform RWD into decision-grade insights that inform regulatory, medical and business decisions. We're honored that IDC MarketScape recognized ZS as a Leader in the Life Sciences R&D RWD/RWE for Data Platforms, Technology Solutions, and Consulting Services 2026 Vendor Assessment."
The IDC MarketScape notes several strengths of ZS, including the following:
- ZS continues to scale itsintegrated Medical & Evidence practice that delivers connected medical, RWE, and HEOR strategies to accelerate decision-making.
- ZS connects evidence generation to downstream dissemination, ensuring that the data that is generated supports publications, congress strategies, and field medical execution.
- ZS offers ZAIDYN Medical (its medical intelligence platform), which features OLI for Opinion Leader Intelligence, CGI for Care Gap Intelligence, SMI for Scientific Medical Intelligence, MCE for Medical Customer Engagement for medical science liaisons (MSLs), and POI for Patient Outcomes Impact analysis.
- ZS' AI-enabled Patient Radar platform identifies hard-to-find rare-disease patients and physicians. ZS reports that it helped accurately diagnose 26 new patients in 12 months for a rare disease organization.
- In Europe, ZS Data Nexus is a proprietary, regulatory-grade RWD access platform, the first RWE solution to achieve Europrivacy certification.
- ZS reports 90% NPS and 97% retention for its RWD/RWE work.
- Its most differentiated asset is the digital Integrated Evidence Planning (IEP) capability, delivered through ZS Evidence Pro. With over 250 IEPs delivered, ZS reports that IEP development time was reduced from 4-5 months per IEP to generating over 30 IEPs in 10 weeks, with a 75% acceptance rate for over 20 protocol recommendations.
As life sciences organizations face growing pressure to generate evidence that supports regulatory, medical and commercial decisions, the ability to connect strategy, data, technology and scientific expertise has become increasingly important. ZS remains focused on helping clients turn real-world data into decision-grade evidence and accelerate impact across the product life cycle.
To Learn more about ZS's evidence and medical affairs capabilities.
About ZS
ZS is a management consulting and technology firm that partners with companies to improve life and how we live it. We transform ideas into impact by bringing together data, science, technology and human ingenuity to deliver better outcomes for all. Founded in 1983, ZS has more than 15,000 employees in over 40 offices worldwide. To learn more, visit www.zs.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
About IDC MarketScape
About IDC MarketScape: IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and service suppliers in a given market. The research utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each supplier’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of technology suppliers can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective suppliers.