Streamlined laboratory processes, fewer errors
The IWW Water Center uses a modern laboratory information management system (LIMS) from Blomesystem (GUS Group) to comprehensively map its laboratory processes. This enables the institute to meet the growing demands for sample throughput, quality, and documentation, among other things.
The Opportunity
When it comes to detecting substances in water, the IWW Zentrum Wasser is one of the leading institutions in Germany. For many years, the institute’s testing laboratory relied on a laboratory information management system (LIMS) it had developed in-house. This system worked well for a long time, but the institute’s internal IT resources were no longer sufficient to further develop the LIMS and continuously adapt it to growing demands. In addition, IWW wanted to automate and thereby accelerate other processes that were still being performed (semi-)manually—such as the creation and distribution of test reports. Furthermore, integrating the LIMS with quotation and invoice management was a priority to eliminate the associated duplicate data entry, which, among other things, led to errors.
IT – reimagined
IWW decided to replace its in-house LIMS with LABbase from Blomesystem, a company within the GUS Group. The standard version of the solution already includes all the functionalities necessary for day-to-day operations in the IWW laboratories. In addition, LABbase could be customized to meet IWW’s specific needs using two Blomesystem tools. The supporting experts from Blomesystem were familiar with laboratory operations from their own experience and some of them had a background in the natural sciences.
Today, LABbase comprehensively handles all routine and in-house service analyses at IWW—from threshold value management, sample evaluation, and approval to report generation and the automatic dispatch of test reports. In addition, it handles quotation and invoice generation as well as communication with the customer. However, two systems remain in place for accounting and master data management, both of which are connected to LABbase via interfaces. This enables end-to-end processing of the analyses.
Ready for the Future
The IWW Water Center benefits primarily from the following advantages:
- IWW has fully and comprehensively digitized its laboratory processes.
- Workflows have become significantly faster and are much less prone to errors than before
- The growing demands for sample throughput, quality, and documentation can be met more easily and with minimal effort.
- The LABbase solution ensures future-proofing, as it includes a toolkit that enables IWW to continue developing the solution on its own.
- External systems are fully integrated into the new LIMS via interfaces.
- With the new LIMS, pricing is significantly simpler, more flexible, and largely automated.
IWW staff are relieved of many routine tasks and can focus fully on their research work.
