A quick snapshot of the latest offerings from the major LIMS vendors.

The latest ELNs now support the convergence of instruments, software and R&D workflows in an electronic lab environment.

Reliably tracking samples as they make their way throughout the scientific process is difficult yet absolutely necessary. Nevertheless, transcription errors, wrong versions of files or other mistakes are all too common and can lead to delayed product rollouts—or may even result in a product never making it to market.

As sites and tools for online networking and collaboration evolve, they are gaining a permanent place in most laboratories and businesses.

My lesson to you is this: come up with an offbeat title like this, give it to the editor of a periodical in jest, and the next thing you know, youll be writing an article to match. Still, the title is true. Informatics permeates the modern lab.