10 Signs You Should Invest in a LIMS

CloudLIMS
August 16, 2018
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With the advent of new technologies every passing day, the volume of data is also gradually increasing. The global data generated from regulated operations across biobanks, clinical research, and other testing laboratories is augmenting at an exponential rate. Coping up with the massive amounts of data and leveraging it for business or research is challenging for laboratories, especially, if they do not have a standardized mechanism to process and utilize the data.

Why Should You Invest in a LIMS?

One of the most important reasons to invest in a LIMS is that it can help organize data, irrespective of the industry you belong. The rapid growth of data and the availability of information technology have led to a massive data management revolution. Below are the top 10 signs you should look out for:

Signs You Should Invest In a LIMS How Investing in a LIMS Helps
Your laboratory has limited data storage capacity & poor traceability:

  • Generating massive amounts of sample data using paperwork.
  • Abundant paper-data piles in the laboratory, limiting data storage capacity.
  • Difficulty in tracing the required information quickly by searching across enormous paper-data piles.
 A LIMS helps manage data electronically and therefore, reduces paperwork. You can quickly and accurately trace data using the built-in search tools. Furthermore, a cloud-based LIMS stores the data in the cloud that is scalable per your growing laboratory needs. Additionally, the data is accessible, 24×7, in real-time from anywhere.
Your laboratory has high operational costs:

  • Directing a significant portion of the allocated funds towards laboratory personnel for data entry and management operations.
 A LIMS is a high saver for your daily data management operations as it frees human resources from unproductive and time-consuming tasks. Furthermore, if you choose a cloud-based LIMS, you can pay-as-you-go on a monthly or a yearly basis. You do not have to make an investment in hardware installations.
Your laboratory is unable to achieve the desired productivity:

  • Leveraging human resources for manual data entry, auditing and report generation which are the key players in making major business decisions.
  • Delayed experimental analysis or Turnaround Times (TATs) over industry averages.
 A LIMS enables laboratories to accelerate operations, efficiently plan data management, and precisely implement business decisions. It allows quick generation of reports and maintains an audit trail along with a date and time stamp.
You have transcriptional data entry errors & are unable to share data (data silos):

  • Manual input of data resulting in transcriptional errors.
  • Problems with integrating data across various instruments and other data sources.
  • Poor data traceability.
 A LIMS integrates with other instruments seamlessly and optimizes laboratory data in a streamlined manner. Automated calculations in LIMS reduce errors and save time for laboratory personnel. Besides, the data can be retrieved anytime accurately.
You have sustainability issues:

  • Lack of responsiveness and business agility.
  • Your competitors are securing more orders.
 A LIMS can make your laboratory business more agile to compete in a dynamic global market.
Your laboratory data is at risk:

  • Using spreadsheets and paper-based systems for managing laboratory data.
  • Unable to restrict access to sensitive clinical information.
  • Unable to adhere to industry-specific regulations.
  • No reliability.
 A LIMS offers superior data security and reliability by complying with industry-specific standards such as HIPAA, 21 CFR Part 11 and many more. It safeguards sensitive clinical information by preventing unauthorized user access.
Your laboratory lacks scientific collaboration:

  • Need for duplication of data for sharing with partners and collaborators.
  • High sample turnaround times.
 A LIMS, specifically, that is cloud-based helps to avoid data duplication, reduces errors, enables effective collaboration and accelerated turnaround times. Additionally, it helps to achieve increased productivity, market share, and profitability.
Your laboratory has poor disaster management systems:

  • Lack of appropriate mechanisms for data retrieval and storage in case of natural calamities, fire or theft.
 A LIMS promises data continuity with disaster management by storing data on primary servers and copying them to mirror servers and ensuring timely backups. The data can be maintained even in the event of natural disasters.
You have zero customization capabilities for your data management methods:

  • No customization options with paper-based systems and spreadsheets.
  • Manual editing of older records for applying any new changes to the existing data.
 A LIMS is a highly configurable solution and allows customization per your needs. All new changes can be applied to older records, saving your time for productive purposes.
You do not have real-time data metrics:

  • No alerts and notifications for inventory depletion or sample expiry.
  • No updates to laboratory users and clients on sample processing stages.
  • No real-time display of laboratory metrics in a dashboard to address critical issues.
 A LIMS is a turnkey solution with the ability to maintain laboratory metrics in a dashboard. It helps you identify expired samples and alert you prior to inventory depletion with the help of alarms, ensuring timely replenishment of inventory. As a part of quality control, it also allows you stay up to date on the processing of samples or testing progress in your laboratory by sending automatic email alerts and application notifications so that you may address any critical issues immediately.

Are you planning to make a transition in your laboratory? Check the above signs. If you think “yes” or even “maybe” to any of them, it is time for you to invest in a LIMS. Know where your lab is headed and choose the right LIMS to see the difference.

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