SpectraLIMS blog https://spectralims.com/blog/ Practical articles on laboratory software, LIMS, integration and laboratory execution. en Custom LIMS for a small lab: build vs. buy https://spectralims.com/blog/custom-lims-small-laboratory/ https://spectralims.com/blog/custom-lims-small-laboratory/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT Small laboratories Custom LIMS, SaaS LIMS or spreadsheets? Honest trade-offs for small labs, when custom is wrong, how to scope a minimum viable LIMS and what to ask vendors. Excel to LIMS: how to move a lab off spreadsheets https://spectralims.com/blog/spreadsheets-to-lims/ https://spectralims.com/blog/spreadsheets-to-lims/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT Small laboratories A practical guide to replacing lab spreadsheets with a LIMS: where Excel falls short, what to migrate, a phased plan, choosing software, mistakes to avoid. Extend or replace your LIMS: a practical decision framework https://spectralims.com/blog/extend-or-replace-lims/ https://spectralims.com/blog/extend-or-replace-lims/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT LIMS strategy Should you replace your LIMS or extend it? A practical framework covering the real costs of replacement, what extension can fix, and when replacement is right. Laboratory customer portal: a practical build guide https://spectralims.com/blog/laboratory-customer-portal/ https://spectralims.com/blog/laboratory-customer-portal/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT Portals How to plan a laboratory customer portal: online sample submission, tracking, results and CoAs, LIMS integration, multi-tenant security and a phased rollout. Laboratory execution systems (LES): a practical guide https://spectralims.com/blog/laboratory-execution-system-guide/ https://spectralims.com/blog/laboratory-execution-system-guide/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT Lab execution What a laboratory execution system (LES) is, how it differs from LIMS and ELN, what guided execution looks like at the bench, and how to drop paper worksheets. Laboratory instrument integration: approaches and trade-offs https://spectralims.com/blog/laboratory-instrument-integration/ https://spectralims.com/blog/laboratory-instrument-integration/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT Integration A practical guide to LIMS instrument integration: file-based, serial, CDS and middleware, standards and APIs, plus data mapping, failures and data integrity. STARLIMS implementation and modernization challenges https://spectralims.com/blog/starlims-implementation-modernization-challenges/ https://spectralims.com/blog/starlims-implementation-modernization-challenges/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT STARLIMS Common STARLIMS implementation and modernization challenges, from master data and custom code to upgrades and UI migration, with practical guidance.