LIMS Software Options for the SMEs

LIMS software is not only useful to big corporations, but also for small and medium businesses. Many businesses have begun transitioning from legacy PMS to modern LIMS. It helps companies save money and time, which is not possible with the legacy paper management systems.  Let’s take a closer look at the advantages provided by LIMS to small and medium industries.

LIMS Software Advantages to SMEs:

SMEs always have to look for methods that keep the overall costs in control. Many LIMS vendors offer the lite version of their LIMS that are less costly alternatives to fully fledged LIMS software. LIMS developers offer customized version of LIMS which can be easily integrated in the laboratory.  LIMS software is capable of automating major tasks performed in a laboratory and thus reduces the workload of staff. This helps SMEs divert the manpower available in laboratories toward core business activities and improve productivity. Besides automating tasks, LIMS software is also capable of instrument calibration, which is critical in order to achieve accurate results.

SME laboratories face greater challenges such as managing samples and laboratory instruments, which includes instrument validation and maintaining the records. Without LIMS software, the small laboratories face difficulty in sample and material storage.  Though every difficulty also has a solution in the market, SMEs have tight budgets and cannot afford to buy independent laboratory systems for managing sample and data and instrumentation calibration and maintenance. 

LIMS software comes as a blessing for such small SMEs as LIMS is an all-in-one tool that can manage and handle a majority of laboratory tasks without straining the company’s budget.

Different LIMS Software Options for SMEs:

Many LIMS vendors offer web-based LIMS that are ideal for small and medium industries.  LIMS is now available in the SAAS model at a very low cost in comparison to regular LIMS.  These LIMS-on-demand provide three ways to access the LIMS software:

1)      Standard Full License:

The Standard Full License LIMS model is the complete LIMS. These systems are completely independent and can be integrated with other IT systems spread across the organization. These systems are costly, and only big companies are able to bear the cost as it also involves high implementation costs.

2)      Cloud-based SAAS delivery:

The Cloud based SAAS delivery model is becoming more popular with small and medium enterprises. SMEs can access the lab management software from remote servers. In the SAAS model, SMEs don't need to house the servers or associated computers on site. Such LIMS model is useful for sales force automation.

3) Hybrid model:

The hybrid model has some characteristics of regular LIMS and some characteristics of the cloud based SAAS LIMS model. For example, some users in the laboratory work on the server while some users in the laboratory work on programs that are installed on laboratory computers.

As technology improves, the SAAS model of LIMS will offer SMEs with virtually limitless applications, networking, and storage options. SMEs can greatly benefit from the modular design of cloud based LIMS where they can add or customize the LIMS software module to suit their lab requirements.