It’s an increasingly common narrative: organizations find themselves dissatisfied with their selected LIMS provider, noting issues like unfulfilled promises, overstated product capabilities, slow support, and unexpected hidden costs. Let’s be honest, investing in a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is no small commitment. It is a significant business venture that requires extensive planning, not just for the immediate implementation, but for long-term success.
Given the stakes, it is crucial to understand where things can go wrong so that you are better prepared to ensure they go right. That’s why we have created a list of the top five reasons why LIMS projects fall short, and more importantly, expert advice on how to avoid these pitfalls.
1. Industry knowledge and experience level
Pitfalls
- Unrealistic expectations: Customers sometimes have a limited view about what LIMS software can do, how much planning goes into preparing for a LIMS, or how long it takes to implement the software.
- Choosing inexperienced providers: Picking a LIMS vendor without ample industry experience can lead to mismatched expectations and outcomes.
Solutions
- Set realistic expectations: Understand what a LIMS can offer in terms of capabilities and implementation times and be aware of the internal resources required to support the project.
- Choose experience: Opt for a LIMS provider who is seasoned in your specific industry, whose reputation proves they can deliver on their promise. With experience comes reliability and a proven track record.
- Pre-configured solutions: Look for providers that offer industry-specific features for your applications and workflows, to kick-start your install with minimal customization.
2. Support level
Pitfalls
- Poor training: Inadequate training and user workshops can slow down user adoption, or lead to underutilization of the software’s capabilities.
- Long support wait times: Slow customer support can lead to ineffective system use or human error.
- Lacking long-term view: Some providers look purely to the installation of the immediate system, rather than working as a partner to support your ongoing digital transformation.
Solutions
- Comprehensive training: Seek a LIMS provider with comprehensive training, a variety of delivery options to suit your workforce, and an established set of learning modules.
- Five-star service: Choose a provider with a dedicated and experienced team, with clear service level agreements and procedures for escalation.
- Partner, not purchase: Look for capabilities, knowledge and R&D investment that could support your organization beyond your LIMS installation.
3. Understanding your company requirements
Pitfalls
- Incomplete requirements: Customers may not have fully rationalized the features their internal stakeholders or organization requires.
- Misaligned understanding: LIMS providers might not grasp the customer’s unique needs.
- Overselling: LIMS providers may over-promise what their software can do and the problems they can solve.
Solutions
- Thoroughly evaluate your needs: Work through your complete list of requirements before you begin to look for a LIMS.
- Industry-specific expertise: Choose a provider familiar with your field. They should understand your science, data, and organizational needs and goals.
- Trust but verify: Do your research on the LIMS provider and their product capabilities. Request references in your field of work.
4. Poor internal or external strategy
Pitfalls
- Resource constraints: Inadequate staffing and focus at the customer organization can impede the project.
- Lack of stakeholder engagement: Implementing a LIMS solution without hands-on involvement from key users.
- Ambiguous strategy: Lack of clarity on the project plans or strategy from the LIMS provider can lead to confusion and slow down the overall timeline.
Solutions
- Resource planning: Choose a LIMS provider that guides you in assessing required internal resources.
- Engage your team: Keep stakeholders and users involved at every phase, from planning to go-live and beyond.
- Transparent project roadmap: Seek providers with a clear and documented implementation plan. To secure return on investment through on-time delivery and avoid scope creep, aim for a phased implementation with a low-risk go-live, and bolster value in future phases.
5. Cost investment/budget restrictions
Pitfalls
- Competing priorities: Other initiatives within the organization can threaten the LIMS budget.
- Total cost shock: A favorable initial quote may not take full project goals into account, requiring additional unplanned work. When the time comes, upgrades can be costly, so customers are unable to make use of the latest capabilities.
Solutions
- Understand the ROI: The return on investment (ROI) for a high-quality LIMS can be significant – realizing what your business could save is an eye-opener. Check out our ROI calculator to build a compelling business case.
- Be TCO aware: The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) takes all required project phases, services and support into account, as well as expected costs for future upgrades. Ask for examples of upgrade projects for similar organizations.
The path to a successful LIMS implementation has its potential obstacles, but these challenges are not insurmountable. The key to success lies in choosing a LIMS provider equipped with extensive experience, and a deep understanding of your industry’s unique needs, a clear grasp of your specific requirements, and a proven track record of delivering on their promises. Opt for a provider that adopts a phased approach, clearly outlining expectations at each step, to ensure a smooth implementation process. When you align with such a provider, you are paving the way for a successful LIMS and ongoing digital transformation journey, both for you and your organization.
Ready to take the next step towards implementation success? Learn more or get in touch with us to kickstart your LIMS journey toward efficiency and productivity.
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