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LIMS Software Solutions

LIMS Software Solutions are the most sought after software components in the laboratory. As time marches on a larger and larger percentage of the labs in the US and Canada are implementing one form of LIMS or another. Another trend that has been sweeping the laboratory testing community as well as the water and sewer treatment communities respectively is that not only is the annual number of new LIMS implementations increasing but that smaller and smaller municipalities and businesses have been acquiring LIMS Systems of one kind or another.

This dramatic change in the average size (annual revenue) of labs who are purchasing one type of a LIMS Solution or another is quite significant to say the least. This is in sharp contrast to the prevailing trends of the late Eighties and on into the mid Nineties. Back in the day only the must enormous of businesses could even touch a LIMS. Now the door has swung wide open. The playing field is opening up to smaller labs and municipalities.

LIMS Software Solution providers have been stepping up to the plate and responding to this growing need. You could also refer to it as a growing trend. Where will it end? What is the smallest size business that will acquire a LIMS? A two person lab? Since it will no doubt be a state mandated requirement by 2008, the answer is 'small'! Although it didn't seem likey to ever happen a decade ago, more and more LIMS providers are offering robust yet affordable LIMS choices. As a matter of fact, some of these applications are quite robust in value. You would expect that a smaller initial dollar figure would nean the bottom of the barrel however that's simply not the case anymore. For very few dollars in actual outlay small firms can now enjoy a true Client Server LIMS with reporting capabilities and several licensing seats.

Based on our research it is expected that by the Summer, 2006 any modest sized lab or treatment plant will be able to roll out a crisp clean full blown LIMS System (not a stripped down LIMS) for somewhere in the neighborhood of 50K or less. We've even seen evidence of some very promising products that are still in the 30K range, but we just can't expect them to stay there for long. For what the market will bear, these products will no doubt experience a price correction as time goes on. If you are a small company and need a LIMS our advice is to shop and compare, but do it soon. It can take almost a year to complete the entire process from requirements gathering (all implementations are custom to one degree or another) to installation, training and acceptance.

Can small companies survive the upcoming decade without a LIMS? You decide. We believe that the answer is 'No', resistance is futile. See what small business owners say in the article Small Businesses Depend on LIMS Software.