Life science research and development is accelerating at a rapid pace, so laboratories need to take the necessary steps to keep up with the latest trends. One of the best ways to do that is to stay on top of the latest IT trends to make sure they have the best technology running their lab.
Remember, technology advances rapidly and it’s going to continue to do so. If you think about it, handheld calculators only found their way into laboratories about 30 years ago. This seems like a million years ago at this point, but it really wasn’t that long ago.
New inventions pop up all the time. Researchers need to stay on top upgrades in IT technology to ensure their lab is running smoothly and quickly to keep pace with other research and development firms in the industry.
So, whether you’re setting up a lab in your home or running a more professional organization, it’s in your best interest to use the three IT trends we are sharing with you today. So pay attention and incorporate them into your laboratory environment when necessary.
1. Using the Latest Animal Research Software
Animal research software has advanced tremendously throughout the years since they first started developing it. You may not even realize it, but there are so many new bells and whistles to certain forms of animal research software that it’s easy to overlook them.
As an example, did you know that the latest research software has the ability to make your lab much more organized? Did you know that this software is easily customizable to make it simple to improve your workflow and generate reports and improve on other time-consuming tasks?
Another interesting fact is this software is also capable of integrating with databases that already exist. So you’re not going to have to start over from the ground up with this latest form of IT technology. On the contrary, you’ll be able to integrate it with your existing platforms seamlessly, which makes this software even more valuable for researchers all over the world.
2. Integrating Time Tracking Software into Your Research Laboratory
Many researchers forget that running a lab is about so much more than performing scientific research. If you want your lab to be successful, you have to take care of your employees properly as well. Otherwise there will be dissension and problems among the ranks.
A simple way to track hours for certain projects for your employees is to implement a strategy using time tracking spreadsheets. Once this spreadsheet system is in place, you can then integrate it with time tracking software which makes it easy to determine employee hours, discover how much time they spent on a particular project, generate paychecks quickly and easily, and so much more.
Sure, you may decide to focus on improving the functionality of your animal research laboratory with IT solutions. Just remember that other practical IT solutions exist for other facets of your business as well, just like the time tracking spreadsheet system we’ve recommended.
3. Advanced Automation Systems
Last but certainly not least, there are new ways to implement automation systems into a laboratory to make them run smoother and function faster and better. The latest trend is laboratory robotics systems.
These systems will handle much of the physical work and even perform data processing. Obviously, this will allow your laboratory to continue processing data 24/7 and no longer rely on humans, which will certainly help avoid setbacks and cut down on human error.
Final Thoughts
Research laboratories are changing all the time. To make sure your lab continues to stay relevant, it’s important to stay on top of the latest IT trends. Please incorporate the suggestions we’ve shared today into your laboratory to continue to compete and stay relevant with other researchers in the field.
