Lab software is an important part of any modern laboratory. With so many different ones to choose from, selecting the best software can be harder than ever. There is no such thing as the perfect software. Instead, you need to find the one that is best suited for your organization and laboratory. Thinking about these factors can make it easier to choose and find software that suits your organization’s needs.
Your Industry
The industry your lab is operating in will be an important factor when choosing software. There are different software options to support particular industries. For example, there is software to support the pharmaceutical industry that has features for compliance. There is also a variety of general-purpose lab software options that can be configured to support any business or workflow need. If you have a rapidly evolving business then you may find general-purpose software can be better since you can make frequent changes to the system.
Your Lab Type
In addition to finding lab software that is industry-specific, you may find software that can cater to different types of labs in different industries. For example, software designed for an analytic lab can be configured to allow researches at various sites to submit samples to the lab for testing.
Your Need for Flexibility
Much of the software will have similar capabilities and functions but different solutions can vary in how the capabilities and functionality are configured and provided. Some software options have a lot of out-of-the-box functions and features that are already incorporated while others need more configurations. While many organizations will find an out-of-the-box solution will be appealing since it’s easier to implement, there may be the need for more flexibility so you can control different aspects of your solution.
Your IT Architecture
You need to think about the standards your organization’s IT department has established. There are different architectures supported by commercial software, each with its own drawbacks and benefits. You need to choose software that is aligned with your business goals.
Your IT Resources
The IT resources you have available to implement and support the chosen system will be an important factor. Organizations that don’t have a strong IT department will need to choose a cloud-based system that doesn’t require a lot of resources to install and maintain, an off-the-shelf system that has functionality already configured, or a specialty tailor-made system that doesn’t require much configuration.
Your Cost Limitations
Cost will always be a factor, no matter what you are choosing for your lab. A comprehensive analysis should be done to look at as many factors as possible for each system so you can determine the most cost-effective solution for your lab.