Opinions expressed by CSols Inc. contributors are their own. Over the past 20+ years, I have implemented numerous laboratory information management systems (LIMS) from multiple vendors, always as a customer. One of the earliest lessons I learned is that return on investment (ROI) is NOT a benefit of a LIMS. I start with this because… Read More

People have been asking, “What is a LIMS?,” practically since LIMS was invented. (We’ve asked it ourselves!) In 1998, Dr. Alan McLelland of the Institute of Biochemistry, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, penned his famous—at least in informatics circles—essay offering four viewpoints on this question; those of the analytical staff, the laboratory manager, the IT group, and… Read More

As clients go through the process of getting approval for laboratory informatics purchases, CSols experts often field questions like, “How much does a LIMS cost?” or “Is an ELN worth the investment?” or “What is the ROI for LIMS?” The answer to these questions will change for every client based on their business goals and… Read More

The topic of the “cost of LIMS” or the “true cost of LIMS” or “saving costs with LIMS”, have all been previously discussed in a number of forums and mediums (blogs, white papers, webinars, videos, etc.).  Interestingly, these discussions tend to focus on hard costs and measurable cost savings with only the occasional reference to… Read More

Laboratory organizations have a myriad of reasons for choosing to implement a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).  The key reasons can vary dramatically depending upon the industry and type of science being conducted in the laboratory as well as the type of laboratory to be automated and managed with the LIMS.  That being said, we… Read More