DSCSA Expert Webinar Key Takeaways: Your Toolbox for VRS, Credentials and Interoperability

In a recently co-hosted webinar, DSCSA experts Marc Blekkink (Movilitas.Cloud), Matt Campasano (Criterion Consulting), and Dr. Christiane Wirrig (Spherity) discussed practical solutions for Verification Router Service (VRS), Authorized Trading Partner (ATP) credentials, and interoperability, with the November 27, 2025 DSCSA deadline fast approaching for dispensers with 26 or more full-time employees.

Here’s what you need to know – four key takeaways from the DSCSA webinar.

1. Exception Management is costly and critical

Under DSCSA, exception management involves resolving mismatches between product shipments and the required electronic data, such as Transaction Information (TI) and Transaction Statement (TS). The two most common issues are product with no data and data with no product – both of which can disrupt operations and lead to non-compliance.

Product-no-data scenarios are especially frequent and expensive.

“If I, as a distributor, receive the product before the data, I technically and legally cannot take that product into inventory. I either have to quarantine it or turn the truck around and send it back – not pay for it. That’s costly either way.” Matt Campasano, Criterion Consulting

Matt highlighted how real-time pressures complicate exception handling:

“I get 90-minute warnings from my customers – wholesalers saying they received a truck, but there’s no data. I have 90 minutes to respond, or they’ll quarantine the shipment or return the whole truck. ”

Timely exception management is not just a compliance requirement – it’s essential in ensuring patients receive their medications when they need them.

2. From complexity to clarity: VRS vs. GLNs for secure verification

The Verification Router Service (VRS) is not a single tool but a network of interoperable systems that connects requesters and responders for product verification in under a second. It delivers fast, reliable responses and helps identify the correct manufacturer when scanning a suspect product – even if the two parties have never interacted before.

Under the DSCSA, only Authorized Trading Partners (ATPs) are allowed to participate in verifications. This brings up a critical question: how can you be sure the other party is truly authorized?

Traditionally, identity is verified using Global Location Numbers (GLNs) – but GLNs are not secure. They’re publicly accessible, easy to fake, and don’t guarantee a partner’s legitimacy.

“With GLNs, you can act like you’re someone else. GLNs are searchable, publicly accessible, and easily made up. VRS has a solution for this – that’s called verifiable credentials.” Marc Blekkink, Movilitas.Cloud at Eng IndX

To explore GLNs vs. ATP credentials in more depth, read our article, 5 Reasons Why DSCSA ATP Digital Credentials Beat GLN Allow Lists.

3. Digital ATP Credentials go hand in hand with VRS

The combination of Verification Router Service (VRS) and Authorized Trading Partner (ATP) credentials is a game changer for DSCSA compliance. While the DSCSA doesn’t mandate any specific technological approach to any of its requirements, we have seen how EPCIS has become the de facto standard for exchanging DSCSA traceability data in practice. The same goes for VRS and ATP credentials to create trust and operational efficiencies for the entire ecosystem. It saves regulators, distributors, and dispensers from having to go to multiple portals to get an answer.

DSCSA does require that verification requests be answered within 24 hours. VRS makes this easily achievable. But speed alone isn’t enough; security and trust are essential.

That’s where digital ATP credentials come in. They automate identity and authorization verification in one single check, ensuring only legitimate trading partners can participate in the VRS network.

“ATP credentials are fully integrated with the VRS systems to enable automated lookups and verify trading partner validity within about one second – no manual system could match that. Both sides know the other party is who they claim to be right at the moment of interaction. Credentials make properly authorized real-time checks possible.” Dr. Christiane Wirrig, Spherity

The exchanged digitally signed credentials are:

• Time-limited (valid for only 5 minutes) to prevent misuse;

• Audited by an independent third party to maintain a shared industry standard;

• Based on the vendor-neutral Open Credentialing Initiative (OCI) technical guidance for interoperability.

By enabling real-time, secure trading partner checks, ATP credentials provide the trust layer that the pharmaceutical supply chain needs to meet DSCSA requirements confidently and efficiently.

4. Free Movilitas DSCSA App for Dispensers

DSCSA compliance can feel overwhelming – especially for small pharmacies – but getting started doesn’t have to be. The free Movilitas DSCSA app provides a simple, fast, and secure way to:

• Access the Verification Router Service (VRS),

• Perform product verification requests,

• Use Spherity ATP credentials for secure, authorized access.

The app is available on Google Play and the App Store, with a quick onboarding process. Learn how to unlock it with Spherity’s ATP credentials in our short guide. If the solution is already available – why not use it?

The November 27 DSCSA deadline for large dispensers is here. If you're still unsure about product verification, exception handling, or ATP status checks, reach out for advice today and avoid falling behind.

Watch the full webinar recording for deeper insights – or book a meeting with one of our DSCSA experts to ensure you're fully prepared for what's next.