The sample shapes the LIMS like the river shapes the valley

An effective LIMS is able to keep up with the dynamics of the relationship between laboratory and customers in order to map the requirements of process digitization in a future-proof manner.

Before digitizing laboratory processes, their efficiency must be increased. However, the focus must also be on customer closeness, interfaces and on legal framework. Digitizing a business process is more than only executing analog steps digitally. Under the guidance of the LIMS manufacturer and together with the laboratory, the foundations are laid to convert its work processes to digital and optimize them. A very close and interactive collaboration in the project is required to combine the LIMS manufacturer’s digitization know-how with the laboratory’s process knowledge. For this to succeed, an agile project methodology and a very innovative LIMS concept are required, with tools that also allow the laboratory to shape the LIMS. Laboratories that have developed this LIMS knowledge are able to integrate physical, digital and legal requirements into the LIMS. These laboratories have the prerequisites to develop new business models themselves. Digital technologies help the laboratory to expand or completely redesign the relationship with its customers. These technologies also help to adapt products to more dynamic customer needs in a differentiated way.

The LIMS is the central software for digitizing laboratory processes. The LIMS is shaped by their mapping. If the LIMS is not adaptable or has limited adaptability, it only really maps the intended laboratory process well. Laboratories with their own unique laboratory processes have to bend in order to use a non-adaptive LIMS. This also applies when laboratory processes change or new processes are added. A limited LIMS adaptability not only costs initial effort, but also limits the future development of the laboratory and leads to an evolutionary standstill.