LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems) are an essential tool for many organizations in the scientific, research, and healthcare fields. If your laboratory is still using excel sheets, manually inputting data, you’re at high risk for errors. This can be a slippery slope, as too many mistakes can be detrimental to your laboratory’s reputation. Additionally, mistakes in data and analysis can be harmful to the population affected by your work. Even publishing work that relies on your data can be retracted if your lab is unable to recall the data that was used.
That’s why it’s important to stay on the cutting-edge of technology with a LIMS; automating your processes can revolutionize the way your laboratory reaches results, while minimizing errors and boosting the productivity of you lab. It also makes it easy to access relevant information at the drop of a hat. However, selecting the right LIMS can be a daunting task, especially if you are not aware of the common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
Here are the top 14 most common mistakes that organizations make when selecting a LIMS and how to avoid them:
Failing to define clear goals and requirements
One of the most common mistakes made in the selection of a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is failing to define clear and specific goals and requirements before beginning the process. Knowing your needs is the baseline for any successful LIMS project. If you’re not crystal clear on the exact end-goal of implementing a LIMS, it can lead to a lack of direction and focus during the selection process, making it difficult to determine which system best meets the needs of the laboratory.
To avoid this mistake, take the time to clearly define the goals and requirements of the laboratory, such as data management, reporting, and workflow automation needs, before beginning the selection process. This will help ensure that the LIMS actually covers everything your laboratory needs to thrive. Every lab will be different in its priorities, but as long as you’re clear on what yours are, you’ll be set up for success.
2. Failing to involve those the LIMS will affect the most
Failing to involve all relevant stakeholders in the selection process happens more often than you’d think. This problem can lead to a system that doesn’t meet the needs of all users, resulting in poor adoption and a lack of buy-in from staff.
To avoid this mistake, it’s essential to involve all relevant stakeholders, such as laboratory managers, technicians, and IT staff in the selection process to ensure that the chosen system meets the needs of all users from the get-to.
3. Not considering your options
Not thoroughly evaluating and comparing different LIMS solutions is another mistake that can be made during the selection process. This can land you with a system that isn’t the best fit for the laboratory, leading to wasted time and resources.
To avoid this mistake, make a priority of thoroughly evaluating and comparing different solutions, taking into account factors such as functionality, cost, and vendor support. It’s better to have all the information you need up-front rather than waiting until figuring out an essential part of the package isn’t actually included. Be proactive and consider all your options before settling on a solution. This might be a good time to brush up on the different kinds of LIMS at your lab’s disposal.
4. Failing to foresee future costs
Neglecting to consider the total cost of ownership is another common mistake made in the selection of a LIMS. This includes not only the initial cost of the system, but also ongoing costs such as maintenance, upgrades, and training. Teams suffer when they fail to realize they don’t have the budget to continue maintaining their new LIMS once their initial investment has been made.
To avoid this mistake, be sure to consider the total cost of ownership when evaluating different solutions. Leaving it up to chance is a sure way to implement a LIMS that will become obsolete through lack of upkeep. Almost all software needs to be maintained to help solve bugs, regularly improve performance, and keep it up to date.
5. Failing to foresee future needs
Not considering scalability and flexibility for future needs is another mistake that can be made when deciding on a LIMS. This can lead to a system that isn’t able to meet the growing needs of the laboratory, resulting in the need for a replacement system in the future.
To avoid this mistake, spend a considerable amount of time planning the scalability and flexibility your lab might need when evaluating different solutions, ensuring that the chosen system can meet the laboratory's needs now and far in the future. A LIMS that isn’t capable of growing with you is only good if you don’t plan on growing at all. It’s possible to create a LIMS that stays sharp when it has only 2 users or 200+ users. Keep this flexibility in mind if there’s the possibility for rapid growth down the road.
6. Failing to check the legitimacy of your provider
Failing to properly assess vendor credibility and track record is another mistake we see often. As a software development company that has fixed the issues created by another company’s software, we’re familiar with the loss of time and money that goes into fixing a system that isn’t useful for a laboratory thanks to the poor service provider they went with. This can lead to a system that isn’t supported or maintained properly, or one that doesn’t actually fulfill all of your laboratories needs.
To avoid this mistake, make sure there is someone in charge pf properly assessing the credibility and track record of vendors, taking into account factors such as customer satisfaction and the number of successful implementations. Something to look out for is positive client testimonials, information that supports their expertise, and long history of succeeding in the laboratory technology field. Don’t settle for the cheapest outsourcing services to save money, as that can wind up costing you more than you were prepared for. The best option to go with a professional software company that specializes in custom LIMS development.
7. Not building a system that is up to code
Not checking for regulatory compliance is another mistake to consider when selecting a LIMS. This can lead to a system that does not meet the necessary regulatory requirements, resulting in penalties and fines.
To avoid this mistake, it’s important to check for regulatory compliance when evaluating different solutions, ensuring that the chosen system meets all necessary regulatory requirements.
8. Not prioritizing user-friendliness
Another common mistake made in the selection of a Laboratory Information Management System is neglecting to consider the level of user adoption and training required. This can lead to a system that is not well-received by staff, resulting in poor adoption and a lack of buy-in.
To avoid this mistake, it’s essential to consider the level of user adoption and training required when evaluating different solutions. This includes factors such as ease of use, user-friendly interface, and the availability of training resources. There’s no point in having a LIMS with endless capabilities of the people using it can’t figure out how it actually works!
9. Not thoroughly testing the lims (out-of-the-box)
Not thoroughly testing the LIMS before making a decision can result in a system that does not meet the needs of the laboratory, leading to frustrated teams, a backup in work progress, and feelings of distrust from those who needed the system the most.
To avoid this mistake, it is important to thoroughly test the chosen system, taking into account factors such as functionality, performance, and scalability, to ensure that it meets the needs of the laboratory. This is less of an issue if you’re using a system customized to your lab’s specific needs.
10. Only focusing on fixing short-term issues
Focusing on short-term needs rather than long-term goals is another mistake that is made day in and day out. This often results in a system that is unable to meet the growing needs of the laboratory in the future, resulting in the need for a replacement system and doubling the cost.
To avoid this mistake, it is important to have a solid idea of your lab’s long-term goals when evaluating different solutions, ensuring that the chosen system can meet the laboratory's needs now and in the future. Like we mentioned before, it should be flexible, and it should be modern to make your investment worth the cost. The latest technologies should be used unless you want a LIMS that becomes outdated within a few years.
11. Failing to ask about the extended services of your provider
Beyond checking for their legitimacy through reviews, it’s also important to consider the level of technical support offered by the company providing you with a LIMS. This can lead to a system that is not supported or maintained properly, resulting in a system that becomes dated rapidly.
To avoid this mistake, when evaluating different solutions, ask every provider you’re in talks with about the extent of their technical support. Take into account factors such as response time, availability, and the level of expertise of the support team.
12. Not considering how your LIMS needs to integrate with other systems
Neglecting to consider the level of integration with existing systems is another pitfall laboratories come across. This can lead to a system that is not able to seamlessly integrate with existing systems, making it obsolete to have implemented a LIMS in the first place.
To avoid this mistake, it is important to consider what level of integration you’ll need with existing systems. When evaluating different solutions, take into account factors such as data compatibility, API integration, and the ability to share data with other systems. A solid LIMS will be capable of seamlessly incorporating all sectors to create one cohesive and accessible system.
13. Failing to prioritize data security
Not considering the level of data security and protection offered by the LIMS is one of the most detrimental mistakes a laboratory can make. The consequence of this is a system that is incapable of protecting sensitive data, resulting in security breaches and data loss.
To avoid this mistake, make it a top priority to ensure a high level of data security and protection is offered by the system when evaluating different solutions, taking into account factors such as encryption, data backup, and disaster recovery capabilities.
14. failing to have a plan for data migration and system implementation
Not having a clear plan for data migration and system implementation is the last common mistake that can be made in the selection of a LIMS. This can lead to a system that is not able to be implemented properly, resulting in the loss or misplacement of important data, and feelings of frustration of confusion among team members. It can also be a costly mistake for budgets that don’t go far enough to undo this mishap.
To avoid this mistake, it’s important to have a clear plan for data migration and system implementation before making a decision, taking into account factors such as data transfer, system configuration, and user training.
The Takeaway
No matter how far along your laboratory may be, there are a whole host of benefits to implementing a LIMS. It could help your team avoid clerical errors, slow progress, speed up data recall, automate organization, and so much more. However, if you are considering the use of a LIMS, it’s recommended to keep this guide in your back pocket.
Management systems that are rushed or not properly vetted can wind up causing a whole new wave of complications and wasted time and money. The most recommended route would be to create a fully customized laboratory information management system that caters to your lab’s specific needs. Once you find a high-performing software development company and confirm the extent to which they can support and maintain your system once the project is complete, your laboratory will be primed to reach new heights.
Written By Natalie Mansilla
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ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.
Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.
