LIMS are evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements and the changing needs of modern laboratories. Keeping up with these trends is crucial for laboratories looking to enhance their efficiency, data management, and compliance. In this article, we’ll explore some of the trends in LIMS.

To begin with, understanding the fundamental role of LIMS and its significance for laboratories is essential. Laboratories across the globe use a management system to manage data, inventory, and user permissions and this system is known as the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). LIMS provides seamless access to data, which can then be categorised and structured into various reports as required. A comprehensive LIMS can handle a wide range of laboratory data, from initial log-in procedures to result reporting. Let’s have a look at the latest trends in LIMS together.

1. SaaS LIMS

First trend could be SaaS, or Software as a Service. It has emerged as a leading trend in the LIMS industry, transforming the way laboratories manage their data. With SaaS-based LIMS, laboratories can enjoy the benefits of easy access, seamless scalability, and reduced IT infrastructure costs. This trend reflects a shift towards more agile and cost-effective solutions, allowing labs to focus on their core activities without the burden of managing complex IT systems. As more laboratories embrace the cloud-based model, SaaS LIMS is poised to revolutionise data management in the industry. 

2. Integration with IoT and Automation

Integration with Internet of Things (IoT) devices and automation systems is transforming how data is collected and managed in laboratories. LIMS can now seamlessly integrate with IoT devices and instruments, enabling real-time data monitoring and analysis. This integration improves efficiency, reduces manual errors, and accelerates decision-making processes.

3. QR Codes

QR codes are revolutionising sample tracking and management in laboratories. By incorporating QR codes into their LIMS, laboratories can easily track samples throughout the testing process. QR codes enable quick and accurate identification of samples, reducing the risk of errors and improving traceability. With the ability to store a wealth of information in a compact format, QR codes are enhancing data management in labs, making workflows more efficient and improving overall productivity. 

4. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Trend in LIMS

The potential applications of AI in laboratories are extensive and can work alongside human efforts. Labs rely on extensive data use and constant analysis, and integrating AI and machine learning can significantly benefit these operations. AI algorithms can process large amounts of data quickly and accurately. In laboratories, this means accelerated data analysis, allowing researchers to obtain meaningful results in a fraction of the time it traditionally takes. 

To learn more about AI in labs, read our blog here. 

5. Compliance and Data Security

With increasing regulatory requirements, compliance and data security are top priorities for laboratories. Modern LIMS solutions offer robust features for ensuring compliance with regulations such as FDA, ISO, and GLP. They also provide enhanced data security measures, such as encryption and access controls, to protect sensitive information.

Data security is paramount in laboratory settings, and cloud-based solutions like AWS offer advanced security features to protect sensitive information. AWS provides a secure environment for data storage and transmission, utilising encryption and access control mechanisms to safeguard data from unauthorised access or breaches. Additionally, AWS offers compliance certifications, ensuring that data management practices align with industry standards and regulations. By leveraging AWS services, laboratories can enhance their data security posture and mitigate potential risks associated with data management. 

Did you know QLIMS has these features? From cloud-based convenience to seamless automation and QR code integration, QLIMS is your gateway to enhanced efficiency and data security. Want to see it in action? Fill the form below, or send an email today and experience firsthand the difference QLIMS can make in your laboratory. Let’s embark on this journey together towards smarter, more efficient lab management!

Optimising Core Lab Performance:
Omics Challenges Meet LIMS Solution

In the dynamic realm of core labs, where the focus is on unravelling the mysteries of omics—proteomics, genomics, and sequencing—the quest for groundbreaking discoveries is ceaseless. Core labs play a pivotal role in revealing new drug targets, diagnostic methods, and personalised drug therapies, driving the advancement of medical science. This brings to mind the big question “How to improve core lab operations?”.

However, to be effective partners to their customers, core labs must navigate the challenges of being better, faster, and more cost-efficient. The cornerstone of success in this quest lies in turnaround time—a critical factor that defines customer satisfaction. To elevate their commitment, core labs are adopting a bold approach: guaranteeing their work with strict deadlines. If a deadline is not met, a discount on the project becomes a testament to their accountability.

The key to achieving excellence is the use of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS). LIMS plays a crucial role in improving efficiency and innovation in core labs. It offers a strong foundation for automation, helps address key challenges, and provides a range of benefits.

Maximising Efficiency through LIMS Automation

A LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) helps laboratories to ensure the quality and integrity of their results by managing the details and necessary elements of conducting work in a core lab. The best LIMS generally come with pre-built workflows that are compatible with common instrumentation, so labs can start managing runs in the system from the get-go. 

Additionally, LIMS can offer powerful application programming interfaces (APIs) based on familiar and standard scripting tools that lab staff can use to create custom workflows specific to their needs.

By standardising workflows and vocabularies and integrating systems for seamless data transfer, LIMS virtually eliminates data entry errors that may occur due to manual entries.

In essence, LIMS emerges as the catalyst for progress in core labs, offering a holistic solution to the challenges posed by the omics revolution. As core labs strive to strike the delicate balance between being good, fast, and cost-effective, LIMS stands as a technological ally, propelling them toward new frontiers in scientific exploration.

Join us on a journey where the convergence of omics and LIMS reshapes the landscape of core labs, fostering innovation, efficiency, and excellence. Stay tuned for more insights into the dynamic interplay between technology and scientific discovery! 

To learn more how we can improve operations and run your core lab like a business fill the form below, contact us today!

As laboratories continue to grapple with an increasing volume of data, implementing a solution becomes a necessity. LIMS is a solution designed to help laboratories manage their data effectively. With the increasing volume of data generated in labs, LIMS offers advanced features to streamline workflows and improve data accuracy. From sample collection to analysis, LIMS ensures seamless integration of data across the entire laboratory workflow. By adopting LIMS, laboratories can improve their efficiency and pave the way for scientific breakthroughs. In this blog article, we will dive into how LIMS optimises data management in laboratories.

Data Management Benefits with LIMS

Let’s Move Beyond Traditional Notebooks

Navigating through the maze of lab data stored in notebooks can be a challenging task. While it may seem easy to jot down numbers or attach result printouts, the real challenge arises when you need to retrieve that information months later without any hassle. This becomes crucial when compiling reports or facing audits. Managing lab data often involves manual transposition into spreadsheets or databases, followed by constructing control charts and turnaround time calculations, which is a time-consuming and error-prone process. However with the introduction of a cutting-edge Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), these inefficiencies can be transcended.

LIMS not only takes the hassle out of data management but also enhances control and accessibility. No longer do you need to manually transfer results; LIMS can seamlessly integrate with instruments and other systems. This integration brings forth a wealth of functionalities, significantly reducing the likelihood of manual data errors. Moreover, it fosters interdepartmental collaboration by providing convenient access to manufacturing data for easy comparison with lab data. In essence, LIMS doesn’t just simplify; it revolutionises lab data management, freeing your team from tedious manual tasks and empowering them to focus on what matters most—accelerating scientific progress.

Understanding the Data Lifecycle

Successful data management begins with a thorough understanding of the data lifecycle. LIMS takes a comprehensive approach, starting with the initial stage of sample collection. The system facilitates the seamless entry of sample data, ensuring accuracy and eliminating the risk of manual errors. As samples progress through various stages of processing, LIMS maintains a detailed and traceable record, capturing every step in the laboratory procedures.

Automating Workflows

A key strength of LIMS lies in its capacity to automate workflows, addressing the challenge of diverse laboratory processes. By optimising tasks such as sample preparation and analysis, LIMS not only reduces manual effort but also minimises the potential for errors, contributing significantly to enhanced data accuracy.

Upholding Data Integrity

Data integrity is of paramount importance, especially in regulated laboratories. It involves protecting and ensuring the compliance of data and records with regulatory standards. LIMS plays a crucial role in upholding these principles by providing a solid foundation for adhering to industry regulations and ensuring quality assurance. It ensures data integrity by meticulously documenting sample journeys and implementing strict quality control measures, making it an essential component of the laboratory workflow.

Did you know QLIMS has been at the forefront of lab management for a quarter of a century? You can read one of our case studies with Comvita, one of the largest honey companies, here and discover how QLIMS revolutionised their processes, making data-driven decisions a breeze and boosting productivity by 20%.

Our extensive experience has empowered numerous laboratories, transforming their data management and accelerating scientific progress. If you are ready to revolutionise your lab’s efficiency, just fill the form above to learn more!

Data has become one of the most valuable assets for any organisation, and laboratory data is no exception. However, accessing laboratory data has been difficult so far due to the use of outdated applications and architectures that underpin many LIMS applications.

Business intelligence (BI) and artificial intelligence (AI) are now supporting the field of data science, making data analysis tools more accessible. QLIMS has traditionally managed all laboratory data to become the source of truth.

Tools such as QLIMS BI can help organisations visualise this data and convert it into knowledge, which can take their organization to the next level.

Continuous Development and Agile Methodology

QLIMS is under continuous development, driven by agile methodology. Our full-time software engineers prioritise high-value feature additions through agile sprints, ensuring responsiveness to evolving customer needs. 

Our team follows a sprint-based approach to work, which means that we break down our work into two-week cycles. This helps us stay responsive to any changing customer needs and priorities. Also, before we deploy any code to clients, we ensure that it undergoes rigorous manual and automated testing for both new functionality and regression issues.

Ready to embark on a journey of enhanced laboratory efficiency and data-driven decision-making? Explore the transformative capabilities of QLIMS Business Intelligence today. Contact our team to schedule a personalised demonstration and learn how QLIMS can unlock the full potential of your laboratory data. Empower your scientists, streamline operations, and revolutionise your laboratory management with QLIMS.

Are you on the hunt for the perfect Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for your business? Look no further. Here are three compelling reasons why QLIMS stands out from the crowd. 

1. SaaS as a Solution

QLIMS is not just a traditional LIMS; it’s a state-of-the-art Software as a Service (SaaS) solution. What does this mean for you? This means that you no longer have to deal with the challenges of on-premise installations and can enjoy the benefits of cloud-based accessibility. With QLIMS, you can effortlessly manage your laboratory data from anywhere and at any time.

Traditional software installations can be a lengthy process. SaaS QLIMS changes the game with fast deployment, getting your lab up and running within a few weeks. It streamlines laboratory work by offering efficient workflows for sample preparation, validation, approval, and reporting activities.

2. Best-in-class Interface and Visualization Focus

QLIMS prides itself on delivering an unparalleled user experience. Our user interface is not just good; it’s best-in-class. With QLIMS, you can ensure that users can effortlessly manage and visualize data. The focus on visualization sets QLIMS apart by providing an efficient and visually engaging data presentation.

In addition, configurable options further enhance user interaction, allowing the system to be tailored to meet the specific needs of your laboratory. QLIMS is not just a data management system; it ensures that your data is presented in a way that promotes quick and informed decision-making.

3. Flexible Configuration

One of QLIMS’s defining features is its flexibility – a characteristic achieved through a configuration-centric approach. Unlike systems that require extensive customization through complex coding, QLIMS provides a non-code, configuration-based solution. This allows users to shape QLIMS to fit their business needs seamlessly.

The difference lies in giving users tools for configuration, not complex customisations. QLIMS grows hand-in-hand with your business, adapting to changing industry standards and evolving workflows without the need for extensive coding efforts. The power is in your hands, making QLIMS an ideal partner for laboratories seeking not just a solution, but a growth enabler.

Essentially, QLIMS goes beyond the traditional to offer a comprehensive solution to suit the needs of the modern laboratory. With its SaaS architecture, user-friendly interface and unparalleled flexibility through configuration, QLIMS is a testament to innovation in the field of Laboratory Information Management Systems. 

Choose QLIMS today and take your laboratory operations to new heights! 

The discipline of materials science requires the study of the properties, composition, and structural properties of solid materials. Materials science laboratories play a crucial role in the development and modification of materials to achieve desired properties and improved performance characteristics. Within this context, Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) emerge as invaluable tools, supporting material science laboratories in their critical roles.

Material Science laboratories are data-rich environments where vast amounts of information and numerous samples are generated and managed regularly. Researchers conduct experiments, collect data on material properties, compositions, and structures, and store various samples for analysis and future reference. This data and sample management can quickly become overwhelming without the right tools and systems in place.

LIMS Supporting Material Science

At this stage, LIMS comes on the scene, providing invaluable support to Material Science Labs as they struggle with the data and sample management challenges. LIMS efficiently organize data from experiments, making it easily searchable.

Additionally, it streamlines the management of sample inventories, ensuring proper storage and tracking of materials. With LIMS, Material Scientists can maintain data integrity, streamline workflows, and optimise their research efforts, ultimately accelerating progress in the field of material science.

However, the journey of material science labs doesn’t stop at data and sample management. Material Science labs must also ensure that they comply with regulations and standards. LIMS helps laboratories to meet these standards, and streamline reporting. As an example, the ISO 17025 standard encompasses fundamental criteria for the proficiency of laboratories involved in testing. Given the complex nature of many materials characterization studies, ensuring the precision and accuracy of results is extremely important.

In conclusion, LIMS revolutionises the world of material science laboratories by simplifying data and sample management, ensuring compliance with rigorous standards, and fostering the acceleration of research and innovation. With LIMS as their trusted partner, material scientists can focus on what they do best—pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery and advancing our understanding of the materials that shape our world.

Feel free to reach out to our dedicated team to discover how QLIMS can transform your material science laboratory.

In the dynamic realm of laboratory management, where innovation is the name of the game, embracing modern solutions is not just an option—it’s a necessity. Among these groundbreaking innovations, SaaS (Software as a Service) LIMS, which our QLIMS exemplifies, has emerged as a game-changer.

Here are the five reasons why SaaS LIMS is essential for laboratories,

Seamless Accessibility 

With SaaS QLIMS, gain direct access to all laboratory activities, from sample tracking to results analysis, anytime and anywhere. This accessibility breaks down physical barriers, boosting productivity and accelerating decision-making.

Security and Data Integrity

SaaS QLIMS prioritizes data security with features like data encryption and web application firewall. Your sensitive information remains safeguarded, ensuring data integrity and regulatory compliance.

Streamline Laboratory Workflows 

Traditional software installations can be a lengthy process. SaaS QLIMS changes the game with fast deployment, getting your lab up and running within a few weeks. It streamlines laboratory work by offering efficient workflows for sample preparation, validation, approval, and reporting activities. Manual processes are replaced with automated efficiency, ensuring smoother lab operations. 

Reduce Reliance on Your Internal IT

Boost your productivity by avoiding wasted time waiting for internal IT resources to set up infrastructure and systems in today’s fast-paced laboratory environment. By utilizing a vendor-managed cloud solution, you eliminate the need to wait for your internal IT. This expedited setup process ensures that you can start reaping the benefits of SaaS QLIMS without unnecessary delays.

Improved Resource Utilization and Streamlined Operations

SaaS QLIMS allows laboratories to enhance resource utilisation, balance workloads more effectively, and streamline operations. This leads to increased efficiency, greater backup and disaster recovery capabilities, fewer audit failures, and consistently tracked key performance indicators (KPIs).

Interested to learn how QLIMS can help your laboratory? Contact us now.

In this LIMS case study, we delve into how Comvita faced the challenges of rapid growth and evolving regulations head-on. Let’s discover how QLIMS revolutionized their processes, making data-driven decisions a breeze and boosting productivity by 20%. 

About Comvita

Comvita is a natural health products company, based primarily around bee products. Since it was founded over 40 years ago, the company has a strong emphasis on science and research, with a focus on natural products with known benefits, such as Manuka honey, Propolis, and Olive Leaf Extract.

With over 40,000 hives in New Zealand and an 800,000 olive tree farm in Australia, they control their supply chain from source to shelf, setting a high standard for traceability. The company has expanded its reach to global markets, including China, Asia, the US, and the UK, each with unique regulations and governance procedures. Comvita has divided its operations into two crucial teams, the analysis and Quality Control team.

The Challenge 

Facing rapid growth and increasing data demands, Comvita’s lab and quality control teams were hampered by manual processes, relying on Excel spreadsheets and Word documents. The Lab Manager explains, “For us, the catalyst very simply was scale.”

With new regulatory MPI requirements for Manuka Honey, adopting a new solution became imperative. He notes, “The business went through a very rapid growth curve which meant the amount of data entry and testing required became so large it was difficult to support.”

The Solution

Comvita began by reviewing the business’ requirements and evaluating software solutions, under Project Manager. Being able to prove the traceability of all ingredients from end to end was key.

QLIMS cloud hosted with:

• Worklist Module
• CAPA Module
• Sample Splitting and Collation Module
• QLIMS Bridge for instrument integration
• Custom Comvita Quality Control Module

The Results

The big win for Comvita since the introduction of the QLIMS has been the speed and decision-making benefits provided by greater data availability, with information from the lab instruments imported straight to the database, and into BI reporting.

The lab manager says, “The biggest improvement we’ve noticed has been in productivity. We believe that QLIMS has contributed a time saving of 20% for our lab technicians.”

“We’ve also linked QLIMS to our ERP system via the cloud, allowing us to run Business Intelligence dashboards. This means people are able to slice the data as they need to make decisions in real-time, – You can’t do that if the data is in a spreadsheet.”

Your path to streamlined lab operations begins with a simple click, so don’t hesitate to contact us today.

Welcome to the second part of our series on QLIMS Business Intelligence. In our previous article, we focused on Dashboards, Visualisations, and the powerful Kibana. In this second part of our QLIMS series, we will delve into the platform’s SaaS solution, maintenance, and development.

Accessing laboratory data has been a challenge due to outdated LIMS systems. But modern tools like Business Intelligence (BI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have made data science more accessible. QLIMS serves as a comprehensive tool to manage all laboratory data, and in this article, we’ll explore how its Business Intelligence capabilities help organizations convert data into knowledge.

QLIMS SaaS

The QLIMS SaaS solution seamlessly brings together the dozens of services offered by Amazon Web Services in their world-class data centres to offer a coherent LIMS solution to you. 

Get the low latency of CloudFront CDN, the security of Cognito User Pools, and the scaling of ECS Fargate powering up your lab. Then let OnQ Software take care of implementing and administering them. 

Some of the AWS technologies used by QLIMS include:

• AWS CloudFront – accelerated content distribution from more than 200 global edge locations.

• AWS ECS Fargate – scalable computing that requires more resources during times of heavy usage.

• AWS RDS for Microsoft SQL Server.
• AWS Elasticsearch Service – dedicated search engine for rapid navigation)

Development 

QLIMS is continuously developed by a team of full-time software engineers who follow the Agile methodology. Development tasks are prioritized based on user needs, with high-value features given top priority. Work is done in two-week sprints, which allows for greater responsiveness to changing customer needs. All new code undergoes rigorous manual and automated testing before deployment to ensure functionality and regression testing are thoroughly conducted.

Maintenance and Updates

QLIMS SaaS solution eliminates the need for customers or their IT teams to worry about maintenance tasks and software updates. Continuous updates are applied in a rolling manner, typically without any downtime. If planned downtime is necessary, it is scheduled outside of business hours. For enterprise customers, the system is separated at the infrastructure level, giving them complete control over planned upgrades and maintenance.

For more information you can access our QLIMS Business Intelligence brochure and contact our friendly team.

Data has become an invaluable asset for organisations, including laboratory data.  However, accessing laboratory data has been a challenge so far because many LIMS applications rely on outdated technologies and systems. But with the advent of modern data analysis tools like Business Intelligence (BI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), the field of data science has become more accessible. The primary function of QLIMS is to serve as a comprehensive tool to manage all laboratory data, serving as the single source of truth. In this blog article, we will explore QLIMS Business Intelligence which helps organisations to visualise the data and convert it into knowledge. This is the first part of our series on QLIMS BI. Stay tuned for the second part.

Dashboards and Visualisations 

QLIMS offers Business Intelligence dashboards and visualisations that are powered by Kibana, an open-source data visualisation and exploration platform. Kibana is capable of analysing and presenting data in various forms such as charts, graphs, maps, and tables. It will take your laboratory data to the next level in line with our core philosophy of empowering scientists.

No need to include your IT department for extracting data in an understandable format, these in-built tools help you to become the owner of your knowledge.

Also, dashboards can be used to analyse live data and give direct insights into laboratory operations. Enterprise customers can set up their own dashboards and visualisations. A short training will empower you to become more data-driven. 

For more information you can access our QLIMS Business Intelligence brochure and contact our friendly team.