LIMS Projects: Accounting for Infrastructure and Environmental Costs
Often, when organizations choose a new laboratory information management system (LIMS) or other informatics system, the vendor’s promotional materials and demonstrations focus on the features and benefits. This is an accepted, and sound, business practice. However, if the client organization’s decision makers are unaware of the necessary support infrastructure for the new system or other considerations that should be in the RFP, complications will arise after the system selection is made.
You wouldn’t buy a car without factoring in the costs of insurance and maintenance, nor buy a house without looking at its energy footprint. It should be the same with an informatics project—potential buyers should evaluate the current infrastructure to see what might need to change—but often it is not. New software systems, especially complex laboratory informatics solutions, frequently require new or upgraded infrastructure. However, the lack of infrastructure planning in the budget can cause unexpected delays, or outright project cancelations.
Because infrastructure is so commonly overlooked, this blog post will help organizations budget appropriately for laboratory informatics projects. A successful lab informatics project requires a holistic view of costs, with infrastructure playing a crucial role. Although the examples here are focused on LIMS implementation, these considerations apply to any laboratory informatics project.
