Labguru

Pros: Labguru is so customizable. We could relatively quickly and easily set it up for our specific needs. The ability to setup protocol templates that can be used to start new experiment pages and the ability to insert forms for information that needs to be consistently logged in experiments has made it much easier for us to log data consistently and to make our workflows more consistent and reliable. The customer service is also unparalleled - every interaction has been positive and response times are short.

Cons: We wish there was a way to automatically update inventory items that we purchase. Currently it seems like inventory items/stocks have to be added manually. The software also has a steep learning curve especially for our users that are not used to complicated software. There's a lot of help page reading, clicking around, and trial and error that needs to happen to learn the software.

Overall: Overall, I would recommend Labguru. The folks who run it are passionate about their product and passionate about helping the users use Labguru to its full potential, which raised Labguru above other ELNs we were considering.

Pros: Labguru is very user friendly. Although there are still minor things to be tweaked, I like the appearance of the LIMS as a whole and how easy it is for our internal developers to use API and customise the LIMS to fit our needs. It is great with integration with our other sample collection system. It is very easy to import in samples and link experiment and reagent usage to each sample. All actions are tracked and there is a trail log which is super useful if needed for troubleshooting and also for the purpose of auditing and eventually accreditation of our lab. I like that we can customise to get notifications when reagents are running low and when items have expired in addition to when and what maintenance are due for each equipment. Not forgetting it is easy to set up label template and print labels to stick on our lab tubes/plates during our choice of label printer.

Cons: At the moment it seems that moving items between storage location is not very specific but this is on their list of things to do to make it better.

When we have documents to upload for certain equipment, we cannot yet upload them to specific service date that is logged but only upload to the main equipment inventory page, which is ok but would be great to associate documents to corresponding maintenance event.

It would be useful to get notifications at a specified time (i.e. 1 month) prior to reagent expiring and not just when the reagents have expired. Our developer had sorted out customised emails for this (again indicating how easy to customise Labguru to suit our needs) but if this setting could be implemented in Labguru it would be very useful.

Overall: Labguru has been amazing is just what we need. If we identify where Labguru can improve on, it is easy to feedback and one doesn't need to wait long for them to implement any changes.

Pros: User friendly system for storing protocols, writing up experiments, useful inventory for cold storage, equipment, samples etc. Easy to share and witness experiments. helps to manage and organise the lab. Good support from the company.

Cons: When trying to import a large amount of data the system sometimes is slow or import fails occasionally. Sometimes the search function fails to find all documents. Otherwise, no problems.

Overall: Great service and software. Storage and ability to edit protocols easily, inventory of samples, chemicals and equipment, ELN, sharing, easy witnessing and insertion of data.