How To Choose the Right LIMS Software for Your Laboratory

Choose the Best LIMS Software

The LIMS market is worth 1072.7 million and is expected to reach USD 1440.2 million by 2027, according to Brand Essence Market Research. With that much money being spent on LIMS software, it’s no surprise that the question of which one to choose arises.

Overloading yourself with a long workload of paperwork can be very daunting. It can also be a waste of time that could be used elsewhere.

There are many options out there for LIMS software, but which one is right for your laboratory? In this article, you will learn what it is, the benefits it offers, and how it can help streamline your processes.

What is LIMS Software?

LIMS stands for Laboratory Information Management System. This system allows you to automate your lab processes. It is meant to make your workflows efficient while ensuring quality and compliance. The system can help you manage samples easier than doing it manually, so you can have clearer and real-time visibility of all your data. With LIMS, you can standardize your end-to-end workflows and procedures while ensuring accurate controls.

The LIMS software provides you with the necessary tools to effectively manage and control vital lab processes and information.

Evaluating Your Lab Processes

Knowing what LIMS is and how it can help you with your processes in the lab is important. You can now examine your processes to determine which areas require assistance.

Usually, these places will have a consultation that you can book to get an idea of what they would be able to do. This will help you make a list of what you like about that place. Make a list of which ones you like and do not like. Take the ones you like and weigh the pros and cons. If they will not help you automate workflows that you need to automate, then you can cross them off the list.

What Is Your Lab For?

Depending on the type of lab that you have, it can depend on how well the lab management software will help you. Every lab’s interpretation of what LIMs do may differ.

This is the one that it is important for you to keep in mind. Getting the wrong LIMS software that does not meet and adapt to your unique business needs can be burdensome, particularly with your product launches and meeting regulatory compliance.

Evaluate the Costs

Finding LIMS software in your budget is great, but the ones that aren’t within it could be better. Sometimes, the one in your budget could be the best one for you.

It depends on the lab’s needs. It also depends on how many people are usually working in the lab as well. This is because some software companies require you to buy a license for each person that uses it.

There are some factors that can cut down on the cost of the software. If you have an IT team around the lab, you can have the general version and have them make the customization themselves.

If you don’t, then you can get the full software that makes it easy to make what customizations you need at the time. Cloud-based LIMS enables minimal installation costs, reduced or no maintenance costs, zero upgrade costs, and minimal license costs. Once you become a LIMS user, you have access to professionally crafted software designed for your lab without the need for in-house servers and data lakes.

Overall, be aware of your budget but also give it some leeway so you can help your lab run more efficiently.

Look for a Rapid Implementation

You will need to be aware of the implementation of the lab management software, so you are not caught off guard.

If you have an IT team, then you could have an on-site type of implementation. However, this can be the most expensive option. This is because there is more to it than just having the software.

You will need to have the license to have the software installed so the IT team can take care of their part. You will need to stay on top of updates to make sure everything is safe to use.

If it was not an on-site ordeal, then it would most likely have automatic updates on a schedule.

There is another option that still requires a license but can be less expensive. That is cloud-based. The only thing you are supposed to purchase with this option is the software itself, or you can develop it. Purchasing cloud-based software can save you time rather than having to develop it yourself. You will have a remote server. With the license, you will be able to upgrade the software, so you can keep it running as you desire.

Also, look for software that is built on a low-code platform that enables laboratories to have rapid customization and configuration depending on their current business needs. Labwise XD, for example, is built on a low-code platform that allows businesses to pay only for what they need.

Look Into Data Security

Like with anything that deals with computers and the internet, you need to be sure that you can keep your data safe. Usually, in certain laboratories, there is a certain level of security that needs to be in place.

This means that you will need to make sure your documents and what you put into the software are safe and secure. The software should only allow those that have permission to use it. You will also need to make sure there is a way to encrypt the information.

If you have an IT team, you will need to make sure they are changing the password in a timely manner. This is because 50% of IT doesn’t secure their networks as they should. So, make sure that you have a policy where they will have to update the password to keep it secure. If you don’t have an IT team, you need to stay on top of security when needed. This will keep the information from falsification or deletion. Life sciences, the one that generates a vast amount of data every day, makes it one of the six most vulnerable industries to cyber-attacks.

Xybion LIMS encrypts your data and provides excellent security for your backups. Authentication procedures ensure that only verified users log in, and that all logins are tracked for simplified security audits.

Gather Your Requirements

While we talked about evaluating lab processes, there is more that you should consider. Your requirements should fit with the LIMS software that you choose to get.

This means knowing the features that you would need the most. In your search, you might find features that you didn’t think you needed.

Look for a Unified LIMS Solution

The last thing that you want is to find LIMS software that will not collaborate, so you can meet your lab management needs. Having a siloed environment makes it hard on everyone.

Risks of a siloed environment:

No collaboration
Redundancy of work
Bad customer experience
Unaligned priorities
No growth
Gatekeeping information

That is why you need to find the one that promotes and creates collaboration and allows teamwork. Having an interconnected system can mean that your end-to-end lab operations will run smoothly. Your co-workers won’t be doing the same work that only needs to be done once. Having systems that are unified on a cloud or all in one place can help keep things together.

That way, you are not paying for different pieces of the system separately and spending more money than needed.

The Advantages of LIMS Software

This software has a lot of value that can help labs streamline their processes. It can also help them save time, so they can focus on the needs that need to be taken care of. It can be simple to learn, so there wouldn’t need to be a lot of teaching on how to use the software.

It will eliminate the unnecessary workflow of you doing everything manually. This will allow you to gather your data more quickly during audits. LIMS will ensure the accuracy of your reports by not allowing data that is not good anymore.

It will allow you to be flexible and scalable, so you can adjust as your lab grows.

Your Way to Success is with an All-in-One LIMS Software

Now that you know more about LIMS software, you know how to choose the best one. You can make the right choice with the one you use.

Look for an all-in-one digital laboratory management software that can help you keep things in one place and have access to more software than just LIMS. At Xybion, our digital unified lab operations with cloud-based LIMS, Quality Management, and ELN enables your lab to be competitive and efficient in the next generation of digital lab management.

So how about trying our Labwise XD for free? You can do this by booking a demo with our leading industry experts to empower your laboratory through an interconnected system with the flexibility, speed, and regulatory compliance.

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Ready to learn more?

How To Choose the Right LIMS Software for Your Laboratory

Choose the Best LIMS Software

What is LIMS Software?

Evaluating Your Lab Processes

What Is Your Lab For?

Evaluate the Costs

Look for a Rapid Implementation

Look Into Data Security

Gather Your Requirements

Look for a Unified LIMS Solution

The Advantages of LIMS Software

Your Way to Success is with an All-in-One LIMS Software

Ready to learn more? Book a demo!

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