4 Ways to Upgrade Your Research Lab’s Tech-Knowlogy

Why, in this ever-changing digital world, are some high-tech industries still operating in relatively low-tech ways? Now, we love a good nostalgic flashback as much as the next guy, but when it comes to the biotech, pharma, and medical worlds, we just don’t understand the stronghold to the – let’s say, “tried and true” – methods of doing things. Research labs and scientists still record research and notes on full-blown computers, and even paper. Blood products and supplies often are still ordered through brokers and paper catalogs. Even complex quality control processes are run manually or using outdated software. In fields where so much innovation and discovery is happening – not to mention, is expected to happen during the next century – why is it still so common for these industries to continue to cling to their low-tech and no-tech methods? Isn’t it about time for an upgrade? Here are 4 top-notch ways to bring your lab operations into the 21st century: 1. Move to online purchasing options to save time and money Online shopping has become the norm for both personal and business. Why should STEM organizations be any different? (Yeah, we can’t think of a reason either!) Wouldn’t it be great if every industry had an easy button? Well, you can. More and more product vendors and service providers for science and business are taking to the internet to market and sell their wares. Everything from beakers to blood products are now available with the click of a button. Even major projects, such as contract manufacturing, can be researched, quoted, and agreed upon online. Some providers host their own e-commerce stores directly on their company websites. But, for an even easier sourcing experience, you might want to try the new trend in online marketplaces for life sciences. Similar to sites like Amazon.com, these online marketplaces put products and services from a wide variety of providers at a single URL address. There are more online providers of lab equipment and services than anything else, but some marketplaces like BioMarketplace.com, even offer easy online access to providers of biological materials. 2. Update your quality control using the most up-to-date software As you know, for many bio, pharma, and medical industries, quality control processes are extremely complex. Whether you’re maintaining QC processes for your equipment, biological materials or products, we bet we can all agree that the processes can cause quite the headache, especially when not properly maintained. In order to more easily keep up with your QC requirements, we suggest streamlining your QC processes with specialized software integration. There are plenty of options in the way of software providers, but the best ones we’ve seen allow for full customization across all processes for an entire organization. 3. Move to a scan-and-track software for tracking just about everything How often do you go to look for a sample, or a file for that matter, and it’s not where you thought it would be? What about those times when you need to know the history of a sample – where it has been, who has handled it, and what tests it has undergone? Now we ask you, are your tracking methods stacking up? If these situations seem at all familiar to you, you might want to try moving to a scan-and-track software for all of your tracking needs. Today’s easy customization allows software services to help you keep track of everything from files to equipment to test tubes. Usually these scan-and-track software systems connect to handheld scanners, but if you’re really forward thinking, check out the software options that allow your team to scan using mobile devices! 4. Empower your note taking and research recording with cloud based software because you are a forward thinker and you’ve outfitted your team with mobile devices, why not move note taking and research collection to the digital realm as well? Apps like Turtl and Laverna let your team take notes in a simplified interface with easy and quick access and sharing. But unlike their popular cousin, Evernote, these two options (and we’re sure there are more like them out there) are encrypted, helping you protect your valuable notes and information. Moreover, you may want to look into cloud based file storage while you’re at it. rnOf course, there is always the favorite argument for continuing with hard copy methods – loss. With most digital interfaces, the risk of losing your material is something to be aware of, but that’s why we offer a simple solution – regularly back it up. Consider it quality control for your business. Schedule regular system back-ups to make sure you never lose again. Going digital doesn’t necessarily mean that paper and writing will complete disappear because you simply can’t get away from those essentials. But upgrading to the digital era will open up opportunities, save time, and improve efficiency, among other benefits.