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SaaS vs On-premise – Why Now is the Time to Consider a SaaS LIMS

January 02, 2024 / by Sophie Blackburn

SaaS vs On-premiseAdvancements in technology have allowed the availability and delivery of software to be quicker, more secure and more reliable. If you’re still using on-premise LIMS, here are a few reasons why you should consider switching to SaaS LIMS.

Low cost

SaaS is a subscription-based model where the application is centrally hosted.  The cost and burden of maintaining hardware and server components remains with your LIMS supplier.  You can reap the benefits of using state of the art systems at a fraction of the cost because your LIMS supplier has invested into this architecture as part of their business model and offering to their client base.  If your LIMS supplier remains on the cutting edge of technology, that means they will have processes in place to continually upgrade these systems to provide you a better service at a fraction of the cost in contrast to maintaining an on-premise solution.

Little technical knowledge required

When you have an on-premise LIMS, you’ll need to ensure you have the resources to maintain this type of system.  This includes employing people with the technical expertise, and if you have enough spare budget, you’ll consider hiring more than one person for business continuity. With a SaaS LIMS, you don’t need to hire extra technical help or be a burden on your already stretched IT department.  The software itself should be manageable through the user interface and leave the complicated stuff to your LIMS supplier.  However, don’t be completely oblivious to the technical aspects of your LIMS supplier’s responsibility and make sure you have a monitoring process or audit schedule in place.  This gives you the peace of mind that your LIMS supplier is responsibly providing you a service that not only meets your technical and security requirements but is aligned with your company’s policies.

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Scalability

Most laboratories who have LIMS or who are looking to purchase LIMS have plans for future growth.  Implementing a system that automates sample data management provides solid foundations for growth.  Therefore, implementing a SaaS LIMS will give you the best solution for scalability. With an on-premise solution, growing your system in line with the growth of your business means purchasing more resources to support that growth.  With a SaaS LIMS, your provider already has the resources to support this growth as they have an existing customer base to service as well.  Similarly, to the point above regarding low-cost, with a SaaS LIMS, you will not need to take on the expenditure for growth as you would for an on-premise solution.

There are many pros and cons between the use of SaaS LIMS and on-premise, but at the end of the day, your company should choose the best solution to meet your requirements. So many fast-growing companies choose SaaS solutions which is a means of outsourcing a supporting business function, which in turn, allows you to focus on what you do best to meet your customer’s expectations.

Topics: LIMS, Data Management, Process Improvement, best practices, process mapping, deployment projects, Laboratory Efficiency, Laboratory Management, Tips

Sophie Blackburn

Written by Sophie Blackburn