The range of standard software is extensive, but it does not meet the specific requirements of technical-physical testing labs
As soon as it is clear that there is a need for a laboratory management system, the second step is to select the right software. What software solutions are available? And what costs are associated with them? We provide an overview of software tools for technical-physical testing laboratories.
When it comes to laboratories, many people first think of analytical labs in the medical sector or the food industry. For these types of labs, there are various laboratory information and management systems (LIMS) - software applications that have been specially developed for these types of labs. The market is large and lucrative because there are so many analytical labs. The number of technical-physical testing labs, on the other hand, is very manageable and the requirements are very specific. This low demand has a direct impact on supply. There is no standard software for technical-physical labs. Some testing labs therefore resort to a LIMS, but the experience of many dacore customers shows that these solutions are not suitable for the needs of a technical-physical laboratory - the requirements are simply too specific.
Excel & Co.
Many test laboratories therefore work with their own databases based on Excel, Access or Sharepoint, sometimes supplemented by a self-developed web front end with connected measurement data acquisition. These solutions often require multiple maintenance. Because they cover so many different data sources, they are prone to errors and traceability is not guaranteed. Problems arise at the latest when the colleagues who set up the in-house database leave the company or retire. Moreover, Excel solutions only work on their own; as soon as other applications are added, multiple maintenance can hardly be avoided.
Some laboratories work with the QM modules and inventory management from SAP or the planning software Project from Microsoft. There is also a wide variety of standard software on the market for individual sub-areas such as CRM, project management or document management. In principle, the entire process of a test lab can be covered with a heterogeneous set of different software solutions. However, technical-physical labs do not need all the functions of any of the available tools - they still have to pay for them. Moreover, these partial solutions from different software providers cannot usually be combined with each other in a meaningful way.
In many companies, each department looks for its own solutions and does not take care of the connection to other areas of the company. As a result, sales and laboratory planning often do not fit together because the various software tools do not meet the individual requirements of the test lab.
Standard software requires configuration
At first, standard software sounds as if you just have to press a button and off you go ... Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Standard software applications usually have to be configured anyway. However, the adaptations can only ever be implemented within the scope of the software provider's capabilities. If the software provider does not specialize in technical-physical labs, this makes complex and cost-intensive consulting necessary.
Individual extensions also lead to problems every time the standard software is updated, as they are no longer usable and have to be reconfigured with every release. This is a point that makes the costs of standard software difficult to calculate.
Cost driver license model
When looking at the costs, most software solutions have a license model. Providers of standard software generally work with license fees, i.e. customers pay for each individual user of the software. This often includes a software maintenance contract, which accounts for ten to 20 percent of the license fees and must be booked.
For small companies with just a few users, such a license model can make perfect sense. For large companies with many single-user licenses, the costs quickly become very high and are difficult to calculate when purchasing.
Customized software as a solution for technical-physical labs
All in all, the standard software on offer is not convincing when it comes to the special requirements of technical-physical testing labs. As an alternative, dacore offers an individually developed laboratory management system without license fees.
We know the processes of technical-physical laboratories in detail and are aware of the diverse requirements. Based on our TestLab Plus 025 starter package, we work with our customers to develop a customized laboratory management system.
Our software development is offered as a service, at a transparent price that is calculated on the basis of a joint workshop - without license fees, regardless of the number of users and without a software maintenance contract.
At the end of the project, dacore provides the test labs with a customized laboratory management system with all the necessary interfaces (e.g. to ERP systems). If they do not want to change anything, they pay nothing more than the contractually agreed project price. If adjustments are desired or required in the future, we can continue working from the point at which the original project was completed at any time. However, we do not force customers to make updates or adjustments that are not necessary.