The Current Price of LIMS
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25 Jan 2022, Cape Town Open Source LIMS a better deal than everIn recent experience by Bika Lab Systems* and small to medium size laboratories, it was found possible to implement and support Bika through year one for as little as $15,000 This is achieved in optimal conditions where users have time to explore training content and forums online and experiment in a sandbox test server - thereby limiting the need for much training or support. Not always possible in busy labs Drawing in super-users earlier during setting up their LIMS, transfers a lot of knowledge and the lab benefits from lowered support costs No desktop installations are required, Bika requires a browser only Full ISO 17025 ready functionality More savings can be hadProject inputs are broken down overleaf, using averages for a 10 - 15 user system Costs are service based - only hours really consumed are billed, savings might be had. Hard-working labs using fewer hours benefit, e.g. through taking over configuration tasks and using online resources for voluntary free support Big labs?Bigger labs have more users to train and support, and are likely to have more instruments for which interfaces will need to be coded Own server installations may be preferred. Built in enterprise CMS, Plone, Bika easily scales Savings on licence fees - Bika can be used by unlimited users - are often utilised towards further customisations the lab require for an even better fit. Such improvements provide much organic marketing benefit for sponsors * Bika Lab Systems is the primary sponsor of the Bika Open Source LIMS project. Bika Client Sponsors
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A project budget given these assumptions, would look like this: Implementation $12,000Cloud InstallationBoth Test and Production Servers The secondary LIMS is used for acceptance testing, thereafter as e-learning sandbox for users to uninhibitedly test real life scenarios without interrupting production Optionally installed on the lab's server of choice, + $2,000 Configuration50 Hrs. This depends a lot on the lab’s complexity. Single-discipline LIMS with narrow diversity of sample types, services and specifications are easy to configure Hours might be adjusted after analysis of requirements, hopefully downwards The quote assumes much of the setup data to be available in spreadsheets, and super-users to take questions Training2 x 90 Minutes screen-sharing Acceptance Support32 hours. Assistance with learning how to use the LIMS, leading up to an Acceptance Notice and going live LIMS Analysis, Project Management and AdminProprietary vs Open Source pricingRegardless of customisation required, ill fitting and bloated proprietary LIMS will always make for expensive implementations. See a post on LIMS price feedback from lab managers and industry professionals, Bika user list
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Year 1 post Implementation $3000Hosting12 Months Support2 Prepaid Support buckets of 15 hours each Over time, in-house skills grow strong, diminishing support requirements. Labs use prepaid support buckets only when necessary. Customisations - OptionalUnidirectional instrument interfacesHighly recommended for their great return - interfaces halve labs' turnaround and go a long way towards eliminating transcription errors Instruments not interfaced earlier, depending on complexity, $1500 - $2500 each for importing from instrument spreadsheets. The lab must provide examples of export files and the capacity to test the interfaces Bidirectional, $2500 - $3500 MiscellaneousCOA and label templates, etc. $115 ph
As always, the iron triangle rears its head - labs need time to fully exploit the above model. Fast and Good is not Cheap For affordability, slow down
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