Biotech is such a versatile industry!

It is sometimes misunderstood as something related only to cells, medicine, or research.

But nowadays, it’s more than anyone could expect!

Why?

Because there’s not just research, but also a lot of futuristic developments happening in the field that are going to change the course of nature!

Gene editing, personalised medicine, stem cell research, synthetic biology, and bioinformatics are just a few of the exciting examples you should know about.

If they achieve what they’re aiming for – what a miracle that would be!

A true “Eureka Moment,” right?

It seems like all the scientists and people involved in the industry are up to something huge!

But something seems to be holding them back.

And that is technology!

No, we’re not talking about the machines or computing capabilities this industry already has – they have that, and there’s more to come!

However certain industry challenges where technology needs to be utilised are multi-location lab management or data-related challenges that can significantly hold back a company’s laboratory management.

Do you know what these terms mean?

Let us give you a brief…

Imagine a biotech company running several labs or production sites in different locations.

These sites might focus on various tasks, like researching new drugs, testing them in clinical trials, or manufacturing vaccines and treatments.

Managing all these sites together is called multi-site operations where a Lab Management System is used to have central access to all information.

• • Research and Development (R&D) – One lab might focus on the early stages of drug discovery, while another handles clinical trials or production. This setup helps speed up the process of bringing new medicines to market.
• • Global Clinical Trials – Biotech companies often need to test their drugs in different countries. This allows them to see how treatments work in people from various backgrounds and meet regulatory requirements in each country.
• • Biomanufacturing – Companies often have multiple sites for producing biologic drugs (like vaccines). By spreading out production, they can scale up faster, manage supply chains better, and meet global demand.
• • Quality Control – Different labs might be responsible for ensuring the drugs meet safety and quality standards specific to the regions where they’ll be sold.
• • Collaborative Research – Multi-site setups also allow companies to partner with other research centers or universities, sharing data and expertise to innovate faster.
• • Precision Medicine – Biotech is increasingly focusing on personalized treatments, which need data from many sources. Having multiple labs helps collect and analyze this data to develop more targeted therapies for patients.
•  Now you know the landscape where biotech works – so let’s get to know some of the challenges that are making it difficult for the industry to achieve its goal and the rising need for custom LIMS software!

There are many challenges that the industry is facing in such a decentralized setting but some of the major challenges are –

• • With multiple labs in different locations, data can get siloed.
• • This makes it hard for teams to access the same information when they need it.
• • Different formats, systems, and storage methods at each site can lead to inconsistencies and delays when trying to compile or analyse data.

• • Managing lab equipment and inventory across sites can be a logistical headache.
• • Labs might end up with surplus supplies in one location while running short in another, or equipment might go unused because it’s not tracked efficiently.
• • This can slow down research and increase costs.

• • When teams are spread across various locations, ensuring that everyone stays aligned is challenging.
• • Time zone differences, varying workflows, and communication gaps can cause delays, confusion, or even errors in critical research or production processes.

• • Different countries and regions have their own sets of rules for biotech labs.
• • These regulations can vary widely, and it’s a challenge to keep up with and meet all these requirements when operations are spread out.
• • Failing to comply with local regulations can result in costly penalties or delays in product approvals.

Certain industries have access to a wide range of off-the-shelf software solutions that can address their needs quickly.

However, in an industry like biotech, the available options aren’t as broad as they should be.

That’s why opting for a custom solution for laboratory management or a Custom Laboratory Information Management System is often the best choice!

And beyond that, there are several other compelling reasons to consider this approach!

A custom LIMS acts like the “brain” of your multi-site operations.

It brings all your data, processes, and workflows followed at your varied operational sites into one system, giving you a bird’s-eye view of everything happening across your labs.

Updates and research data derived from multiple labs are centrally stored on your custom LIMS software helping one avoid juggling different software systems or spreadsheets for each site.

You can understand it better by learning about healthcare data challenges and how Data Engineering in Healthcare and custom data solutions can help unify these issues.

With all your data on cloud servers, the custom LIMS enables data from any lab to be instantly updated and shared with other locations.

This means that teams don’t have to wait for manual reports or updates, – they can access up-to-the-minute information from the system, which speeds up decision-making and collaboration.

Customizing your Laboratory Information Management System as a centralized platform for all your operating centres ensures that all labs are following the same protocols by automating and implementing standard procedures.

It’s like bringing everyone on the same page and making them write the same thing every day!

This consistency reduces errors, improves efficiency, and makes sure that quality control is maintained, no matter where the lab is located.

Whether your company is adding new lab locations or expanding its research projects, a custom LIMS can grow with you.

Since it’s a custom or bespoke solution, the control lies in your hand to expand when it is needed or take down if not.

But these solutions are built to scale, meaning you can add new users, processes, or locations without needing to overhaul the entire system.

Adhering to global security controls and standards, your custom LIMS Software helps you stay compliant by ensuring data security and providing audit trails for regulatory checks.

You can set automatic updates in the form of notifications, depending on your needs to consistently inform you – when and how you need to take any action!

The best part is that you can easily track transactional information on who accessed what data, when, and how it was used – crucial for meeting regional and international regulations.

Instead of relying on manual inventory tracking, a custom LIMS system or a solution with laboratory inventory management features, let’s you monitor equipment and stock levels in real-time across all locations.

You’ll know exactly what’s available, what needs to be ordered, and when maintenance is required, reducing downtime and costs.

These are some of the modules we would like to suggest if you are planning to develop a custom solution to manage your multi-location lab operations.

To make things clearer for you, and help you make a decision, we have jotted down some reasons why you as a Biotech owner should think of investing in such a Custom LIMS solution in 2025.

As biotech companies continue to expand internationally, managing multiple labs across different countries is becoming the norm. A custom LIMS makes it easier to coordinate these labs, allowing for centralised control even as the company scales globally.

With Biotech research generating more complex data than ever – especially in areas like genomics and precision medicine – keeping everything organised and compliant is harder than ever. Custom LIMS can simplify this by ensuring that all data is properly stored, managed, and easily accessible for audits.

Remote work is here to stay, even in industries like biotech. Custom LIMS supports this shift by enabling teams to access data and manage lab operations from anywhere, ensuring that work continues seamlessly regardless of location.

Now you can assess the rest!

Because we know that to find a pre-built solution that can do all that at once – even if not made yet – won’t be able to handle such a complex nature of work!

Sooner or later – there will be a need for a custom solution!

So, it’s better to analyze your needs and invest in something that not only makes sense to your business but also keeps your day-to-day operations running smoothly, no matter where you are globally!

There is a lot that we wanted to write – but reading that much content can surely bore you soon – so…

Connect with us – and tell us what you are stuck with!

And let’s see what we can devise and develop for you!