Keywords: Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN), Mobile Devices, Cloud Computing.
The global market for laboratory information management systems (LIMS) continues to grow, despite being a mature market, according to a new ARC Advisory Group study. While there are a number of different markets where LIMS are applied, ARC’s “Laboratory Information Management Systems Global Market Research Study” is focused on the manufacturing sector.
Technology and the users’ need to be more compliant with a growing global demand for quality products are driving this market. “The need to comply with government regulations is a key factor driving the LIMS market, as the governments of many countries, even the undeveloped countries, have enforced regulations on every industry to improve security and provide better products to the export market. LIMS helps the manufacturing laboratory professionals to understand and follow government regulations,” according to Steve Clouther, the principal author of ARC’s “Laboratory Information Management Systems Global Market Research Study”.
LIMS and ELN Looking to Become One
LIMS and the electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) are very complementary solutions within the laboratory environment, and there is a trend to bring these closer together, either as tightly integrated solutions, or with the functionality for both in one comprehensive solution. ELN is a software program or package designed to replace more traditional paper laboratory notebooks that are used by scientists and technicians to document, store, retrieve, and share fully electronic laboratory records in ways that meet all legal, regulatory, technical, and scientific requirements. Many of the suppliers already have the ELN, and some have already taken it to the one solution level.
Mobile LIMS Solutions Are on the Front Burner
While manufacturers tend to be slow adopters of new technology, many LIMS suppliers are getting prepared for the requirement – could almost say demand – for the support of mobile devices for the manufacturing laboratory. Regardless of the vertical industry, the incredible and constantly evolving features on these devices can enable technicians to easily capture new types of data more accurately and from more remote locations. The most straightforward benefit mobile devices bring to the laboratory is more data. The more data that laboratories have available, the more effective they can be, provided that the data is organized and accurate.
China Moves to Supply Quality Products
There will be robust growth for the Asian region, especially China, which is doing a lot to get its act together with regards to supplying quality products, particularly in pharma and biotech industries, to North America and Europe. There will be growth in China’s pharmaceutical manufacturing for export, as the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) adopts US and EU pharma 21cfr part 11, and MWRA manufacturing batch records, and data integrity.
For more information on this study, please visit our Market Research section.