Laboratory informatics can be used to manage inventory, keep track of maintenance schedules, maintain staff training records, monitor instrument status, and store valuable experimental data. Many companies offer easy-to-use, innovative solutions in addition to custom, so you have the exact capabilities you need. For a list of informatics manufacturers, see our online directory: LabManager.com/informatics-manufacturers
7 Questions to Ask When Buying Laboratory Informatics Solutions:
- What functions do you need from your informatics solutions?
- How many users require access to the software?
- What kind of security and user access control features do you require?
- Can the vendor work with you to configure the software to fit your exact needs?
- Can the software be scaled up as your needs grow?
- Will the software integrate with the instruments in your lab or software already in use?
- What support and training are available from the vendor?
Scalable Inventory Management
Unless you’re a small research team with only a few instruments, chances are your lab has outgrown Excel for managing inventory. Dedicated inventory management platforms not only foster scalability, they also streamline communication and offer automation. Learn more here: LabManager.com/inventory-management-software
Always Have a Backup Plan
Integrate the files associated with your informatics platforms into your lab’s data backup plan. At minimum, you should have a dedicated onsite backup location (e.g., a server with a high data capacity) and an offsite solution, such as a cloud-based backup service provider.
