The promises of digital transformation for laboratories are significant. As well as enhanced processes for laboratory technicians and analysts, there’s a raft of broader business benefits too like remote working capabilities and better turnaround times. Start by building the foundations to do basics brilliantly, then accelerate your transformation with data-driven insights and emerging technologies including automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline workflows and shift from a reactive to predictive quality assurance (QA).
Here are the benefits of digitally connected QA lab
1. Save Your Time
Digital labs are able to improve workflows and system integration, enabling shorter testing times and a move towards real-time releases. You can reduce lead times of 60 to 70 percent. (McKinsey)
2. Error Reduction
For every 1000 results, a human will make on average 3-6 mistakes, increasing to 30 per 1000 if maths or stress is involved. With fewer manual errors labs can reduce the need for rework by as much as 90 percent. (McKinsey)
3. Reduce the Cost
Labs that have digitised their processes have found a range of improvements such as management of confirmatory testing and automated result entry through instrument integration, which can reduce the cost of quality control by more than 50 percent. (McKinsey)
4. Enhanced Business Value
70% of labs that have started on a digital transformation journey report achieving or exceeding the expected business value. (Accenture)
5. Future-proofed Information Security
Paper based records are bulky, insecure and near-impossible to search. Digitisation enables labs to easily prevent, report, manage and respond to data breaches.
6. Instant Compliance
Improved records and searchability can shave weeks off audit preparation time, through pre-built audit reports and barcoded record management. As a result, reports with full audit trails can be produced in minimal time.
7. Fewer Recalls
The average cost of a food product recall is US$10 million (Food Safety Magazine), rising to potentially billions in the pharma space (Allianz), so QA is an essential business function to ensure safety and protect brand reputation.
If you would like to read more about how to improve core lab operations click here, to read AI trends in laboratories here, and to learn 5 reasons why you should use a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) you can click here.
Did you know that QLIMS is officially an AWS Qualified Software partner? Want more time for science and less time on admin? If you are ready to start, OnQ Software is here to guide and support you. Please contact us here.
