Blog Summary
The booming US cannabis market, projected to reach over $40 billion by 2023, is held back by the industry's reliance on manual processes and outdated laboratory information management systems (LIMS). Traditional LIMS solutions are rigid and force labs to conform to pre-built workflows, which can be overwhelming and hinder modernization. A bespoke low-code LIMS, in contrast, is the best foundation for a rapidly changing industry. It offers a flexible platform that aligns with a lab's unique processes, streamlines operations, improves data accuracy, and ensures continuous regulatory compliance. Low-code also makes it easy to integrate with other operational systems and continuously improve efficiency as new needs arise.
Key Questions Answered by the Article
What is the primary problem with traditional, off-the-shelf LIMS for the cannabis industry?
Traditional LIMS are built with a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn't match a cannabis lab's actual processes. This forces labs to change their established workflows to fit the software, which is inefficient and can overwhelm staff, slowing down or even halting modernization efforts.
How is a bespoke, low-code LIMS a better solution for cannabis testing labs?
A bespoke low-code LIMS offers a flexible and customizable foundation that aligns with a lab's existing workflows, rather than forcing a change. It is built to adapt to the certainty of change in the industry's dynamic regulatory environment and can be easily integrated with a lab's other operational systems.
What are the key benefits of using a low-code LIMS?
The key benefits include increased efficiency by streamlining processes, improved compliance by easily adapting to new regulations, and enhanced collaboration with stakeholders through a secure API. A low-code LIMS also provides a foundation for continuous automation and incremental improvements, which is critical in a fast-growing and ever-changing industry.
One of the biggest problems is the reliance on manual processes and outdated laboratory information management systems (LIMS). Traditional LIMS are built on rigid platforms with configuration options designed to appeal to the masses. They have out-of-the-box data models and workflows that often fly in the face of a lab’s actual processes. Labs that choose out-of-the-box solutions must adapt their workflows to the design of their software. The need to train workers on software AND new business processes can be overwhelming enough to kill a lab’s modernization ambitions.
What's the answer?
A bespoke low-code LIMS offers a comprehensive solution to streamline operations and bring efficiencies to cannabis testing businesses. With functionalities explicitly designed for the unique needs of cannabis testing, a modern LIMS enhances sample management, facilitates regulatory compliance, ensures efficient testing processes, and enables collaboration among stakeholders.
In addition, a low-code LIMS makes integrating with all the lab’s operational systems, including accounting, CRM, order sources, websites, and messaging, easy.
Why low-code?
Unlike out-of-the-box LIMS solutions, a low-code LIMS is a foundation for continuous automation and improvement. When a product on the world wide web can satisfy a new requirement, the low-code platform integrates it. If not, the feature is added to the application.
With a low-code solution and solid application support, a lab can incrementally improve operational efficiency as they identify them - even if they’re not known issues today.
The future of cannabis testing
A bespoke, low-code LIMS is the only solution that can truly meet the needs of this rapidly changing industry. Here are some of the reasons why:
- Increased efficiency: A low-code LIMS can help you streamline testing processes by aligning software with existing workflows. Reducing errors saves time and money, improves the accuracy of your results, and becomes an integral part of your brand.
- Improved compliance: A low-code LIMS helps ensure that your testing meets all regulatory requirements – even as they change. In the cannabis industry, with state regulation, this is essential.
- Enhanced collaboration: With a permissioned, secure application programming interface (API), a low-code LIMS supports collaboration with other stakeholders in the cannabis industry, such as cultivators, retailers, and regulators.
If you are a cannabis laboratory, I encourage you to explore low-code LIMS. It is the best technical foundation for a dynamic and evolving industry.
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