- Free Version: Available for teams of up to 10
- Pricing: Premium plan $24/month (with a free 30-day trial period)
- Platforms supported: Available on mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why use SafetyCulture?
A quality management platform that has perfected mobile-based inspections and audits, SafetyCulture would work incredibly well for laboratory inventories as it digitizes the facility’s registry of equipment and supplies and automates the various workflows such as stock tracking and re-ordering and routine machine calibration, parts replacement, and repair. With this software, healthcare services, research centers, and testing facilities ensure laboratory best practices that benefit their company, the people they serve, and other stakeholders.
Features:
- Create a detailed digital catalog of all supplies and equipment in the laboratory to improve routine inventory checks.
- Monitor the facility’s environment and everything stored inside using sensors, barcodes, and GPS tags.
- Build inspection and inventory checklists from scratch or download from the Public Library.
- Proactively address issues through alerts and notifications sent via Heads Up and automatically generate reports with photos and videos that provide the full context of the circumstance.
- Train personnel about effective inventory control and other best practices in a laboratory setting.
Why use Quartzy?
This comprehensive laboratory management solution streamlines all workflows, from supply inventory to tracking client requests. Quartzy also organizes salient data in a centralized dashboard, which all team members can view and access at real-time. Because of its customizability, this is used by organizations of different sizes, from start-up biotech firms to large academic institutions.
Features:
- Inventory management with threshold notification
- Requests processing and tracking
- One stop shop
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Starter pack costs $159 per month for five users, billed annually (free demo available upon registration)
- Platforms supported: Web, iOS, Android
Why use LabCollector?
This all-in-one cloud-based laboratory management solution offers various products, including LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems) for handling samples, ELNs (Electronic Lab Notebooks) for protocols and observations, and inventory tracking with barcoding and labeling.
Features:
- Asset, supplies, and samples tracking
- Barcoding and sensors
- Automated workflows
- Free Version: Yes, for up to three users
- Pricing: Academic license plan costs $3,900 for five users (with a 30-day free trial)
- Platforms supported: Web, On-premise, iOS, Android
Why use BIOVIA CISPro?
Created by Dassault Systemes, BIOVIA CISPro is a chemical and material inventory management tool that enables laboratory facilities to maintain a detailed listing of all their supplies in a secure and centralized registry. With the software, technicians can use the right chemicals whenever needed.
Features:
- Remote inventory control
- Barcode labeling
- SDS (Safety Data Sheet) management
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Pricing and demo available upon registration
- Platforms supported: Web, PC
Why use LabWare?
Backed by over three decades of practical and software expertise in the industry, this comprehensive management platform specifically made for laboratories is considered a leader in LIMS and ELN. LabWare automates various workflows, particularly inventory tasks, improving the organization’s productivity and efficiency.
Features:
- Real-time lab surveillance
- Validated, compliant workflows
- Robust reporting
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Customized quote and demo available upon registration
- Platforms supported: Web, On-premise, iOS, Android
Why use Labguru?
This unified, cloud-based laboratory management solution incorporates facility must-haves like LIMS, ELNs, process automation, and inventory monitoring and tracking. With Labguru, companies don’t have to worry about idle times during operations because supplies needed are always available.
Features:
- Data migration and integrated inventory management
- Remote and collaborative workflows
- User training
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Starting cost and demo available upon registration
- Platforms supported: Web, iOS, Android
Why use LabVantage?
This all-inclusive laboratory management solution helps facilities manage their workflows, ensuring they adhere to industry best practices. LabVantage is deployed via the cloud, helping secure your company’s data, scale up or down quickly, and be available to users all over the globe.
Features:
- Data management and quick retrieval
- Automated inventory tasks
- Embedded analytics
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Available upon registration
- Platforms supported: Web, iOS, Android
Why use eLabInventory?
Created by the Eppendorf Group, eLabInventory is part of the eLabNext platform. This digital solution allows employees of laboratories and other related research and healthcare facilities visualize their operations, organize their supplies, and maintain a complete audit trail of documents for compliance.
Features:
- Remote access via mobile app
- Complete laboratory database
- Barcode and RFID scanners
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Academic plan costs €14.50 (≈$16) per user per month, available up to 50 seats (with a 30-day free trial)
- Platforms supported: Web, iOS, Android
Why use Benchling?
Specifically designed for biotechnology research and development, Benchling helps streamline the R&D processes by ensuring accurate data collection, supply and equipment management, and full collaboration among teams.
Features:
- Data registry
- Asset inventory
- Automated workflows
- Free Version: Yes. academics can use the core capabilities of the platform at no cost.
- Pricing: Customized quote and demo available upon registration
- Platforms supported: Web, Desktop, iOS, Android
Why use LabSuit?
This inventory management system for research facilities ensures that all supplies and requirements, from chemical reagents to samples are available when needed. LabSuit also offers vendor catalogues that host numerous manufacturers of products which laboratories can shop from.
Features:
- Inventory management
- Request management
- Suppliers listing
- Free Version: Yes
- Pricing: LabSuit is completely free of charge
- Platforms supported: Web
What is Laboratory Inventory Management Software?
Laboratory inventory management software is a digital tool specifically designed to efficiently track, monitor, and manage the laboratory’s assets and supplies. With the help of digitization and automation, routine tasks like reviewing expiration dates, ordering, and re-stocking are streamlined. The system is advantageous to healthcare facilities, pharmaceutical businesses, and testing laboratories in optimizing their resources, minimizing wastage, ensuring regulatory compliance, and ultimately enhancing the efficiency of their workflows.
Benefits
Before digital solutions, laboratories would make manual inventory logs of every piece of a test tube, a bottle of reagent, or a microscope, taking note of specific chemical names, quantities, expiration dates, last maintenance or calibration work, and so on. Aside from being time-consuming, the practice was also prone to human error.
Laboratory inventory management software streamlines all these processes with the help of features like digital templates, barcode scanning, and GPS location tracking, detailing salient inventory information. Full visibility into the operations helps managers forecast demands, prevent excess and utilize resources better. Collaboration is also enhanced as notifications and alerts are sent to all relevant personnel when supply restocking or machine calibration is due.
There is no need to review paper trails when regulatory bodies request the submission of compliance documents. Thanks to automated reports generated from the digital inspection templates, technicians can efficiently accomplish the task and send complete reports with media attachments.
Best of all, laboratories can adhere to best practices like FIFO (First In, First Out) or JIT (Just-In-Time) inventory management systems, controlling costs and guaranteeing top-notch results every single time.
Key Features
There are digital solutions with laboratory-specific applications. There are also generic management platforms with functionalities that reinforce your current inventory methodology. Whichever you go for, make sure it has the essentials:
- Checklists and templates for routine inventory
- Real-time monitoring
- Stock and usage tracking with barcode scans
- Asset management
- Usage tracking
- Supplier management and automated reorder points
- Collaborative tools
- Reporting and analytics
- Compliance assurance
- Integration with third-party apps (LIMS laboratory information management systems)
- Mobile Accessibility
Choosing the Right Laboratory Inventory Management Software
The digital solutions described above are all highly recommended, enabling your personnel to accomplish their supplies and equipment inventory tasks efficiently. Below is a table of all ten options for a quick review:
| Laboratory Inventory Management Software | Free Version | Paid Plan | Mobile App |
| SafetyCulture | Yes | $24/user/month* | Yes |
| Quartzy | No | $159/month for 5 users* | Yes |
| LabCollector | Yes (up to three users) | $3,900 licensing fee for 5 users |
Yes |
| BIOVIA CISPro | No | Contact for pricing | No |
| LabWare | No | Contact for pricing | Yes |
| Labguru | No | Contact for pricing | Yes |
| LabVantage | No | Contact for pricing | Yes |
| eLabInventory | No | €14.50 (≈$16)/user/month | Yes |
| Benchling | Yes | Contact for pricing | Yes |
| LabSuit | Yes | Free | No |
* billed annually
Eunice Arcilla Caburao