Nowadays, along with the constant development of new technologies, the IT services provide an even more considerable support in accelerating industry processes (making them more efficient), determining which companies create or lose value in their industry. Laboratories are also affected by this phenomenon that normally follows a well-worn path: as new trend emerge, disruptive entrants will appear with their products and services embraced by early adopters.
As an example, the era of the handheld calculator, which lasted about a decade, was replaced by the arrival of the desktop personal computer that quickly surpassed calculators. Since then the computer industry has created a chain of faster and smarter versions of the PC, with each new generation changing the lives and way of working of its users a little more. And just as the handheld calculator quickly found a place in the lab, personal computing in its various forms has become a basic element of laboratory activity. Nowadays modern laboratories are being equipped with highly automated systems driven by complex software algorithms and this has exerted a profound impact on the productivity of lab operators.
This has certainly come to the aid of today’s laboratory manager, who are challenged with delivering high standards of services with fewer resources and must face constant pressure, which is also caused by factors such as the need for better quality control in industrial settings, and increasing government regulations.
To survive in this increasingly competitive environment, laboratories must produce results quickly, with fewer errors and at lower costs. Automation offers a solution to these requirements. In fact, if data are digitalized completely using information management systems, a complete experiment can be planned and documented within seconds. Effectively, this means that highly skilled laboratory personnel spend less time performing redundant and low value tasks and more time conducting experiments. Closely related to these benefits are the ability to process larger numbers of samples per unit of time, a reduction in human errors caused by repetition and lower labor costs.
Since the benefits of automation are paramount, it is hard to foresee a near future without labs having embraced the possibilities the current digital era provides.
If you are curious to find out more about the impact of digitalization on test laboratories, download our free e-book “Developments and prospects of growth of the Laboratory Informatics”.
