A Unified Approach to Laboratory Data Management

Modern laboratories generate vast amounts of data, and managing this data efficiently is critical for accuracy, compliance, and productivity. Traditional methods often require using separate systems for electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) and laboratory information management systems (LIMS), leading to data silos and inefficiencies. By integrating these systems, labs can streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and improve data integrity.

ELN vs. LIMS: What’s the Difference?

Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN) and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) serve different yet complementary functions in a lab setting. While ELNs focus on recording experimental procedures, observations, and data in a flexible, narrative format, LIMS is designed for structured data management, sample tracking, and regulatory compliance.
Key Differences:

• ELN: Ideal for capturing unstructured data, research notes, and collaboration among scientists.
• LIMS: Optimized for structured workflows, sample tracking, and regulatory reporting.

The Importance of Integration

Integrating ELN and LIMS provides a seamless workflow that bridges the gap between research documentation and structured data management. The benefits of an integrated system include:

1. Improved Data Integrity: Automatically transferring data between ELN and LIMS reduces transcription errors and ensures consistency.
2. Enhanced Collaboration: Scientists and lab managers can access and share data without switching between disparate systems.
3. Regulatory Compliance: A unified system simplifies documentation for audits and regulatory requirements.
4. Increased Efficiency: Automated workflows eliminate redundant data entry and streamline lab operations.

SciCord’s Role in Improving Workflows

SciCord offers an integrated LIMS/ELN solution that combines the best of both systems. Designed to enhance lab efficiency, SciCord’s platform provides:

• Singular Data Repository: all data is stored within one solution
• Customizable Workflows: Tailored solutions to meet specific lab needs.
• Compliance Support: Built-in tools for regulatory documentation and audit trails.
• Cloud-Based Accessibility: Secure access to data from anywhere.

Integrating ELN and LIMS is a game-changer for modern laboratories, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and compliance. SciCord’s innovative solutions empower labs to optimize workflows, reduce errors, and enhance collaboration. Embracing integrated systems is not just an upgrade—it’s a necessity for the future of laboratory operations.

Clinical trials demand airtight sample tracking, defensible data, and workflows that scale across sites and sponsors. Modern LIMS provide single-source sample and data management reducing manual touchpoints and improving regulatory confidence.
When sponsors, CROs, and investigative sites adopt LIMS early in study design, onboarding, and execution, they avoid common start-up delays, minimize rework, and produce cleaner submission packages for regulators.

Why LIMS is Critical in Clinical Research

Clinical research faces unique pressures that make digital infrastructure not optional but essential:

• High Stakes – Outcomes from clinical trials affect patient safety, regulatory approval, and the future use of therapies.
• Global & Multi-Site Complexity – Trials often involve multiple clinics, labs, CROs across regions; consistency across sites is vital.
• Stringent Regulatory Requirements – Authorities like FDA, EMA, ICH-GCP demand traceability, audit trails, and data integrity.
• Large Data & Sample Volumes – Many timepoints, sample types, and data points that grow exponentially with trial size.

We’re excited to officially launch SciCord 3.1 (Boron FR1), a powerful feature release designed to make your lab more collaborative, intelligent, and efficient.
This release builds directly on Boron (R3.0) and is fully compatible with existing validated environments. It’s available now to all customers as part of our standard subscription. No additional cost, just more capability.

What’s New in 3.1?

Live Dashboards & Dynamic Visualizations

Explore and interpret your data in real time with configurable dashboards — no static reports required.

Extended Signature Workflows

Route approvals to internal and external reviewers — without needing DocuSign or third-party services.

Synchronized Document Editing

Enable seamless, audit-compliant collaboration on documents with real-time co-editing.

Enhanced Identity Management

Log in with your organization’s credentials via OAuth 2.0 (OIDC / ROPC support).

Smarter Navigation & Search

Clean new object views, better filtering, and intuitive navigation to save you time.

Why It Matters

In the meantime, SciCord 3.1 ensures you’re operating on a platform that’s current, secure, and ready for what’s next.

Selecting the right Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is an important step for any lab moving toward digital transformation. The right platform can improve data integrity, streamline workflows, and support compliance. Below, we outline the most widely used LIMS and ELN platforms in 2025, highlighting both their advantages and potential challenges to help labs make an informed choice.

A Flexible LIMS Informatics Solution Platform

SciCord helps laboratories streamline their documentation and compliance with an Informatics Platform including a hybrid Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN) and Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) solution. Its cloud-based platform simplifies implementation and maintenance, reducing the total cost of ownership and allowing organizations to focus on science. SciCord’s unique spreadsheet paradigm provides a no-code engine enabling rapid deployment-often within 30 days-requiring minimal IT overhead and supporting GxP and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance.

SciCord offers a hybrid approach by combining ELN and LIMS capabilities in a single platform. Its spreadsheet-driven design gives scientists a familiar interface while also ensuring structured data capture.

Key Features:

• Quick deployment, often within weeks
• Configurable workflows with a no-code approach
• Support for GxP and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements
• Cloud hosting on Microsoft Azure with enterprise-grade security
• Positive user feedback on usability, stability, and customer support

Why labs consider SciCord: It can reduce the time and IT resources needed to implement a LIMS compared with traditional enterprise platforms. Many organizations report efficiency gains in inventory management and compliance tracking.

Strong ELN, Limited as a LIMS

SciNote is a cloud-based electronic lab notebook (ELN) that incorporates built-in inventory management, compliance tracking, and team collaboration tools. It is designed primarily for research labs looking to digitize experimental documentation and streamline inventory tracking. Although SciNote focuses on ELN functionalities, it lacks the full-fledged LIMS capabilities needed for complex sample and workflow management in regulated environments.

• Cloud-based ELN with collaboration and inventory tools
• Suited for academic and research labs
• May not provide the full LIMS functionality required in regulated environments

Compliance Strength, but Complex

The STARLIMS platform (Abbott Informatics) is focused on compliance in regulated environments such as clinical, environmental, and manufacturing labs. It integrates mobile-friendly features and cloud capabilities, allowing data collection beyond traditional lab boundaries. STARLIMS stands out for strong regulatory compliance tools and quality manufacturing data management. However, some users find its reporting interface complex, which can make performance metrics visualization and data interpretation more challenging for non-expert users.

• Well established in clinical, manufacturing, and environmental labs
• Strong compliance and mobile features
• Some users find reporting and analytics more difficult to navigate

Comprehensive, but High Investment

Thermo Fisher’s SampleManager is a comprehensive enterprise-grade LIMS solution combining LIMS, ELN, SDMS, and LES functionalities. It excels at managing procedural workflows and integrating with instruments, equipment, and other enterprise systems. Its strength lies in delivering scalability, regulatory compliance, and robust security across large organizations. The tradeoff is a high upfront investment and a complex licensing structure that may be prohibitive for smaller or mid-sized labs.

• Enterprise solution with LIMS, ELN, SDMS, and LES
• Robust integration with instruments and enterprise systems
• Higher upfront costs and licensing complexity can be challenging for smaller labs

Web-Only Flexibility

Labguru is an integrated, cloud-based platform offering ELN, LIMS and inventory management. It enables labs to centralize data, streamline operations, automate workflows, and enhance collaboration. Note that Labguru’s entirely web-based model requires a strong network connection, which contrasts with some competitors that offer dedicated apps to avoid data loss during outages.

• ELN, LIMS, inventory management, and workflow automation combined
• Scripting tools for customization
• Entirely web-based and reliant on network stability, no offline use

Broad Functionality, but Implementation Demands

LabWare is a globally recognized heavyweight in the LIMS market, with comprehensive solutions tailored for complex laboratory environments across many industries, including biopharma, clinical research, food and beverage, forensics, and more. Known for robustness and extensive integration capability, LabWare provides enterprise-grade compliance and workflow management. However, its user interface is often described as outdated, implementations can be lengthy, and its pricing model may not suit smaller labs or those requiring rapid deployment.

• Used across many industries with strong compliance features
• Highly customizable and integration-friendly
• Often requires lengthy implementations and the interface feels dated to some users

Configurable, but Support-Intensive

LabVantage is a provider of enterprise laboratory software known for handling high-volume datasets and offering industry-specific configurations, especially for pharma and manufacturing labs. Its platform supports compliance and data governance but has drawbacks such as an older interface and significant reliance on vendor support for customization. Enterprises appreciate its ability to transform raw data into actionable insights, though smaller labs may find it complex.

• Offers industry-specific configurations
• Designed with pharma and manufacturing in mind
• Customization may depend heavily on vendor support; interface is not as modern as some cloud-native tools

Flexible, But Tied to Agilent Ecosystem

Agilent SLIMS is a lab execution system that combines LIMS with ELN and LES (Laboratory Execution System) capabilities, designed to streamline workflows and improve operational efficiency. The platform is available for cloud hosting-either by Agilent or customers-and on-premises installations, providing flexible deployment models

• Combines LIMS, ELN, and LES
• Supports ISO 17025 and multiple hosting options
• Particularly attractive for labs already using Agilent instruments

Popular ELN for Research, Limited at Scale

Benchling is a popular cloud-native ELN favored by biotech and pharmaceutical companies for its collaborative real-time data entry, molecular biology tools, and integrated inventory and workflow management. Although it excels in early research environments, users note its scalability constraints for complex enterprise operations and challenges related to data migration once fully adopted. Benchling stands out for its user interface, molecular biology focus, and workflow orchestration in life sciences R&D.

• Strong for biotech and early-stage R&D
• Cloud-native with APIs and collaboration tools
• Some reports of scalability issues in enterprise deployments and data migration challenges

Modular and Accessible but Niche

LabCollector is a modular, cloud-based LIMS designed to adapt easily to different lab environments including academia, pharma, and R&D. It offers independent modules (sample management, inventory, document tracking) that integrate with support for sample tracking and audit trails.

• Modular design
• Attractive for small labs
• May not deliver the same level of robustness needed for larger enterprises

Final Thoughts

Each of these LIMS solutions brings a different balance of features, costs, and complexity. For organizations prioritizing speed of implementation, ease of use, and integrated ELN-LIMS functionality, platforms like SciCord are often considered a strong option.

Every lab is different-but when comparing the top LIMS software in 2025, SciCord clearly stands out. It combines the compliance and structure of a LIMS with the flexibility of an ELN, all in a user-friendly, cloud-hosted platform.

Looking for a more nuanced comparison between our competitors?

Overview of SciCord Capabilities

SciCord is a next-generation laboratory information management system (LIMS) designed to streamline data management, enhance compliance, and improve overall lab efficiency. Unlike traditional LIMS, SciCord integrates native spreadsheet functionality with a no-code platform, providing a flexible and user-friendly solution tailored to modern laboratory workflows.
Key capabilities of SciCord include:

• Native Spreadsheet Integration: Combines the familiarity of spreadsheets with robust LIMS functionalities.
• No-Code Configurability: Enables users to tailor workflows without programming expertise.
• Regulatory Compliance: Supports audit trails, electronic signatures, and data integrity.
• Seamless Collaboration: Allows teams to work efficiently across departments.
• Scalability: Adapts to the needs of small research labs and large enterprise operations.

Native Spreadsheets vs Traditional LIMS

Traditional LIMS often require rigid, structured data entry and complex configurations, making them challenging for dynamic laboratory environments. SciCord’s native spreadsheet approach offers a more intuitive and adaptable alternative.
Advantages of Native Spreadsheets:

• User Familiarity: Scientists and lab personnel can leverage existing spreadsheet skills without extensive training.
• Flexibility: Unlike traditional LIMS that impose strict data entry forms, native spreadsheets allow for easy customization and real-time calculations.
• Rapid Implementation: Reduces the time and cost associated with setting up and configuring a traditional LIMS.

In contrast, traditional LIMS solutions can be cumbersome, requiring IT intervention for modifications and updates. SciCord’s spreadsheet-centric model bridges the gap between structured data management and ease of use.

Benefits of No-Code Configurability

SciCord’s no-code configurability empowers laboratories to modify workflows, data structures, and reporting templates without relying on software developers.

Key Benefits:

• Customization Without Coding: Labs can create and adjust workflows based on evolving needs without technical expertise.
• Increased Agility: Enables rapid adaptation to new research projects, regulatory requirements, and operational changes.
• Cost Efficiency: Reduces dependency on external IT resources, lowering maintenance and support costs.
• Enhanced Productivity: Scientists and lab managers can focus on research rather than software constraints.

By combining native spreadsheets with no-code configurability, SciCord delivers a powerful, flexible, and user-friendly alternative to traditional LIMS, revolutionizing the way laboratories manage and analyze data.

SciCord stands at the forefront of laboratory informatics by offering an innovative approach that merges the power of native spreadsheets with no-code configurability. This unique combination allows laboratories to streamline workflows, enhance compliance, and improve overall efficiency while maintaining the flexibility needed to adapt to evolving scientific and regulatory demands. By reducing reliance on IT and empowering lab personnel with intuitive tools, SciCord paves the way for a more efficient, cost-effective, and data-driven future in laboratory management.

A Decade of Innovation in Digital Lab Transformation, now validated.

We’re thrilled to share that SciCord has been included in two 2025 Gartner Market Guide reports for both Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELN) categories.

This marks our second recognition in the ELN category — and, for the first time, we’ve also been named in the LIMS category. We believe it’s a meaningful milestone for our team, our customers, and the broader scientific community we support.

Being named a Representative Vendor in both categories reflects SciCord’s strong alignment with industry needs and continued contribution to its evolution.

A Platform Built for the Digital Lab of the Future

At SciCord, we’ve spent the last decade building a unified, cloud-native platform that brings ELN and LIMS functionality together — not as disconnected modules, but as a seamlessly integrated system purpose-built for regulated pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical environments.

We believe scientists shouldn’t have to choose between usability, compliance, and scalability. With SciCord, they don’t.

What the Gartner Market Guides Emphasize — and How SciCord Delivers

At SciCord, we’re proud to deliver on these expectations. Below are just a few examples of how our platform addresses the critical capabilities Gartner highlights — among many others that continue to drive value for our customers every day.

Fast Time-to-Value

Gartner highlights the importance of platforms that enable rapid digital transformation:
“This shift is essential to enable high-performing digital lab strategies requiring access to AI capabilities, made possible by advancements in both programming and platforming, particularly API management and low-code programming.”
With no-code configuration and an interface scientists already understand — the spreadsheet paradigm — SciCord can deliver validated solutions in weeks, not months.

Efficiency Through Automation

Lab efficiency isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a competitive advantage.
“Workflow management: Automates laboratory workflows, including sample processing, testing and reporting. This helps to reduce errors and increase efficiency.”
SciCord automates lab workflows, approvals, and reporting — delivering 30%+ gains in operational efficiency for most customers.

Compliance by Design

In highly regulated environments, right-first-time data entry isn’t optional — it’s essential. As highlighted by Gartner, “Validation and regulatory compliance: Provides a method and module for ensuring the quality, accuracy, and compliance of laboratory operations. For instance, the pharmaceutical industry requires GxP compliance in manufacturing and 21 CFR Part 11 compliance in research, but also regulator access to systems and report generation.”
SciCord is built from the ground up for GxP and 21 CFR Part 11. Features like real-time audit trails, role-based permissions, and e-signatures ensure your lab stays compliant without slowing you down.

Scalable SaaS with Minimal IT Burden

Modern labs need to scale and adapt without the overhead of custom infrastructure.
“Cloud-hosted and SaaS offerings […] are dominant for new or modernized deployments.”
SciCord’s cloud-native architecture eliminates the need for heavy IT support, reduces technical debt, and grows with your organization.

Helping Customers Accelerate What Matters

Our customers span global pharma leaders, growing biotechs, and everything in between. What unites them is the need to move fast — while staying compliant and keep costs in control.

By digitizing and unifying laboratory operations, SciCord enables:
– Faster submissions and drug approvals
– Improved collaboration across global teams
– Standardized processes with full traceability
– Streamlined data integrity and audit readiness
– A lower total cost of ownership with measurable ROI

Looking Ahead

To us, Gartner’s recognition validates the work we’ve done, but more importantly, it inspires us to keep pushing forward. As the demands on R&D labs evolve — from AI integration to increased regulatory scrutiny — SciCord will continue to lead with innovation, agility, and an unwavering focus on scientific outcomes.

Whether you’re replacing legacy LIMS and ELN systems or starting your digital journey, SciCord offers a future-ready path that’s built to scale, built to comply, and built for scientists.

Ready to Transform Your Lab?

Gartner, Market Guide for Laboratory Information Management Systems, 16 April 2025
Gartner, Market Guide for Electronic Laboratory Notebooks, 5 May 2025

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

Ensuring Compliance in the Digital Age

Data integrity is a critical component of regulated industries, particularly in pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, where precise and accurate record-keeping is essential. Organizations must comply with stringent regulatory frameworks, such as FDA’s 21 CFR Part 11 and EU Annex 11, which mandate secure and traceable data management practices. Failure to uphold data integrity can result in regulatory penalties, product recalls, and compromised patient safety.

Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELN) play a crucial role in safeguarding data integrity by providing automated, secure, and transparent solutions for data capture and management. This article explores the key tools within LIMS and ELN platforms that ensure compliance and improve data reliability.

Key LIMS and ELN Tools for Compliance

Automated and clear Audit Trails

Audit trails are essential for tracking changes, ensuring accountability, and preventing unauthorized modifications. LIMS and ELN systems maintain a complete, timestamped record of data modifications, detailing who made changes, when they were made, and the reason behind them. This feature is vital for compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations.

Secure Electronic Signatures and Access Controls

Regulatory guidelines require that electronic records be protected from unauthorized access or alteration. LIMS and ELN platforms implement secure user authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access controls (RBAC). These security measures ensure that only authorized personnel can access or modify data, thereby reducing the risk of data breaches and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

Data Validation and Standardization

To maintain consistency and accuracy, LIMS and ELN platforms integrate built-in validation rules that prevent data entry errors. These tools ensure adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and enable real-time data validation, reducing discrepancies and improving data quality.

Case Study: Pearl Therapeutics’ Regulatory Triumph

In 2015, Pearl Therapeutics, later acquired by AstraZeneca, embarked on developing innovative inhaled formulations. Facing resource constraints, the company prioritized enhancing laboratory throughput and implementing data trending and visualizations to inform development strategies. They adopted the SciCord Informatics Platform, integrating LIMS and ELN functionalities, to streamline their data management processes.

Challenges Addressed:

• Complex Formulation Variables: Managing multiple physical constituents in metered dose inhalers required extensive characterization through numerous formulation batches and stability trials.
• Intricate Sample Preparation: Ensuring unbiased test results necessitated meticulous sample preparation and analysis.
• Advanced Data Analysis: Simulating lung function involved complex calculations, requiring seamless data transcription from instrument reports to specialized software.
• Data Trending and Visualization: The need for robust data trending and visualization capabilities to understand formulation and stability impacts.

Impact of LIMS and ELN Implementation:

• Efficiency Improvement: The review process saw a remarkable efficiency improvement of over 30%.
• Enhanced Data Management: Structured data and custom reports enabled robust trending and visualization capabilities.
• Streamlined Operations: Validated solution integration across all operational functions facilitated efficient management across multiple sites.

This case study underscores the transformative impact of implementing LIMS and ELN platforms in enhancing data integrity and compliance. (Read more)

The Future of Data Management in Regulated Industries

As technology evolves, new advancements in data management are shaping the future of compliance and data integrity. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are increasingly being integrated into LIMS and ELN platforms to enable predictive analytics, anomaly detection, and automated data classification. These innovations help organizations proactively identify compliance risks and enhance data-driven decision-making.

Moreover, the adoption of blockchain technology is gaining traction for secure and tamper-proof record-keeping. Blockchain’s immutable ledger system ensures that laboratory data remains unaltered and fully traceable, adding an additional layer of security to digital records.

Strengthening Compliance with SciCord’s LIMS and ELN Solutions

Maintaining data integrity is not just about regulatory compliance, it’s about ensuring scientific reliability, product quality, and patient safety. By adopting advanced LIMS and ELN platforms, organizations can enhance data accuracy, reduce compliance risks, and improve operational efficiency.
Ready to improve your data integrity and compliance? Explore SciCord’s LIMS and ELN solutions today!

Challenges of Finding and Implementing an ELN and LIMS

The best solution for a company transitioning from paper to an electronic system is to select a hybrid ELN plus LIMS solution. The ELN and LIMS components in a hybrid solution are integrated by a single vendor and should provide optimum transparent communication. Most organizations do not implement hybrid solutions for a few reasons:

1) Hybrid solutions combining best of class ELN/LIMS are rare.

2) The desirability of deploying both ELN & LIMS is not initially understood.

Typically, when confronted with phase III compliance challenges, organizations choose to deploy a LIMS. Although excellent at organizing samples and results, LIMS does very little to reduce compliance/data volume issues at the bench. To address these issues. ELN functionality is required.

SciCord Drives a More Efficient Lab

The SciCord Informatics Platform provides a comprehensive, quick-to-implement, compliant solution – including LIMS and ELN functionality – to minimize costs, improve productivity, and reduce IT footprint.

The table below illustrates an optimum distribution of functionality. The allocation attempts to create a contiguous workflow and utilize the strengths of each solution.

Combining the Benefits

The strength of an ELN solution is the ability to easily document laboratory work. In addition, ELN solutions facilitate co-working and sharing of documentation between colleagues. Most ELN solutions do not support definition of Samples, Analyses, and Structured Results which are required for later stages of development. Work flows (document and sample review & approval cycles) are largely absent from ELN offerings as is adherence to GMP compliance regulations. By and large, an ELN is relegated to very early development or must be paired with a LIMS to effectively support later pharmaceutical development stages.

The strength of a LIMS is management. Samples, Users, Instruments, Resources (solutions, standards), Structured Data, and Application Integration are all managed effectively by LIMS. LIMS software is at the center of an information web with the ability to process and report data as required by later drug development stages. The very structured nature of LIMS however hampers the ability to effectively capture lab data at the bench. Implementation and maintenance of a LIMS is also difficult for smaller companies without dedicated IT resources.