How Much Does a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Cost?

Construction inspection and material testing is all fun and giggles until it's time to spend money. We understand – the profit margins in the testing and inspection industry are limited. While many factors affect this, incurring expenses is usually a well thought out process. Today, we're exploring the true cost of implementing (or not implementing) a Laboratory and Field Information Management System (L&FIMS) in your operation.

Before we dive in: If you're new to L&FIMS, check out our guide to what L&FIMS is and how it works. You might also find our blog on choosing the right management software helpful in determining the best option for your laboratory and testing needs.

A Different Approach to Pricing

At Omnant Technologies, we believe in transparency. That's why we've made our pricing calculator available to your team 24/7. We've even prepared a detailed blog about our approach to pricing and the importance of budget predictability.

But today, we're talking about something different: the indirect costs of not having a proper laboratory management system – the things we can't easily put a price on.

The Real Cost of Manual Management

Construction Inspection and Material Testing is a professional service that relies on three key elements:

• Professional and technical knowledge
• Reliability and responsiveness
• Accuracy and consistency

Maintaining a balance between these elements is key to the success of any construction inspection and laboratory testing firm. In today's fast-paced construction industry, operations can't wait for your team to:

• Find the right spreadsheet
• Figure out when equipment was last calibrated
• Fix inconsistencies in reports that could jeopardize trust in your work

A True Story: The Cost of Certificate Tracking

Let's look at a real example that happened to one of our clients before they implemented Omnant:

A scheduler sent their senior inspector - someone with extensive experience and excellent client relationships - to conduct a welding inspection. During the inspection, the city engineer showed up with other project stakeholders and asked to see the inspector's Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification.

To everyone's surprise, including the inspector's, the certification had expired 18 months ago.

Think about the costs of this situation:

• Immediate project delays
• Damaged client relationships
• Potential regulatory issues
• Lost credibility with stakeholders
• Risk to future contracts

This isn't just a cautionary tale. It's a real incident that could have been prevented with proper systems in place. Omnant's certification tracking feature automatically notifies both inspectors and their managers when certifications are approaching expiration, ensuring timely renewals and preventing such situations.

Beyond Direct Costs

While our pricing calculator can show you exactly what implementing Omnant will cost, consider these hidden costs of not having a proper system:

1. Time Waste

• Searching for documents
• Manual data entry
• Correcting human errors
• Recreating lost reports

2. Quality Risks

• Expired certifications
• Missed calibrations
• Inconsistent reporting
• Data entry errors

3. Business Impact

• Lost clients due to delays
• Damaged reputation
• Missed growth opportunities
• Reduced competitive edge

Make the Right Choice

Yes, implementing a new system requires investment. But as our real-world example shows, the cost of not having proper systems in place can far exceed the investment in the right solution.

Calculate your pricing or schedule a demo today to see how our integrated system can transform your operations.

Contact us to learn more about securing your laboratory's future with proper management systems.