The 10 Best Laboratory Inventory Management Software of 2024

a lab technician checking chemicals inventory using a laboratory inventory management software|Benchling Laboratory Inventory Management Software|LabSuit Laboratory Inventory Management Software|BIOVIA CISPro Laboratory Inventory Management Software|eLabInventory Laboratory Inventory Management Software|LabCollector Laboratory Inventory Management Software|Labguru Laboratory Inventory Management Software|LabVantage Laboratory Inventory Management Software|Quartzy Laboratory Inventory Management Software
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SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor)

SafetyCulture (iAuditor)
Audit app

Rated 4.6/5 stars on Capterra from 183 ratings

SafetyCulture logo

Why use SafetyCulture?

A quality management platform that has perfected mobile-based inspections and audits, SafetyCulture would work incredibly well for laboratory inventories as it digitizes the facility’s registry of equipment and supplies and automates the various workflows such as stock tracking and re-ordering and routine machine calibration, parts replacement, and repair. With this software, healthcare services, research centers, and testing facilities ensure laboratory best practices that benefit their company, the people they serve, and other stakeholders.

Features:

  • Create a detailed digital catalog of all supplies and equipment in the laboratory to improve routine inventory checks.
  • Monitor the facility’s environment and everything stored inside using sensors, barcodes, and GPS tags.
  • Build inspection and inventory checklists from scratch or download from the Public Library.
  • Proactively address issues through alerts and notifications sent via Heads Up and automatically generate reports with photos and videos that provide the full context of the circumstance.
  • Train personnel about effective inventory control and other best practices in a laboratory setting.

Why use Quartzy?

This comprehensive laboratory management solution streamlines all workflows, from supply inventory to tracking client requests. Quartzy also organizes salient data in a centralized dashboard, which all team members can view and access at real-time. Because of its customizability, this is used by organizations of different sizes, from start-up biotech firms to large academic institutions.

Features:

  • Inventory management with threshold notification
  • Requests processing and tracking
  • One stop shop

Why use LabCollector?

This all-in-one cloud-based laboratory management solution offers various products, including LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems) for handling samples, ELNs (Electronic Lab Notebooks) for protocols and observations, and inventory tracking with barcoding and labeling.

Features:

  • Asset, supplies, and samples tracking
  • Barcoding and sensors
  • Automated workflows

Why use BIOVIA CISPro?

Created by Dassault Systemes, BIOVIA CISPro is a chemical and material inventory management tool that enables laboratory facilities to maintain a detailed listing of all their supplies in a secure and centralized registry. With the software, technicians can use the right chemicals whenever needed.

Features:

  • Remote inventory control
  • Barcode labeling
  • SDS (Safety Data Sheet) management

Why use LabWare?

Backed by over three decades of practical and software expertise in the industry, this comprehensive management platform specifically made for laboratories is considered a leader in LIMS and ELN. LabWare automates various workflows, particularly inventory tasks, improving the organization’s productivity and efficiency.

Features:

  • Real-time lab surveillance
  • Validated, compliant workflows
  • Robust reporting

Why use Labguru?

This unified, cloud-based laboratory management solution incorporates facility must-haves like LIMS, ELNs, process automation, and inventory monitoring and tracking. With Labguru, companies don’t have to worry about idle times during operations because supplies needed are always available.

Features:

  • Data migration and integrated inventory management
  • Remote and collaborative workflows
  • User training

Why use LabVantage?

This all-inclusive laboratory management solution helps facilities manage their workflows, ensuring they adhere to industry best practices. LabVantage is deployed via the cloud, helping secure your company’s data, scale up or down quickly, and be available to users all over the globe.

Features:

  • Data management and quick retrieval
  • Automated inventory tasks
  • Embedded analytics

Why use eLabInventory?

Created by the Eppendorf Group, eLabInventory is part of the eLabNext platform. This digital solution allows employees of laboratories and other related research and healthcare facilities visualize their operations, organize their supplies, and maintain a complete audit trail of documents for compliance.

Features:

  • Remote access via mobile app
  • Complete laboratory database
  • Barcode and RFID scanners

Why use Benchling?

Specifically designed for biotechnology research and development, Benchling helps streamline the R&D processes by ensuring accurate data collection, supply and equipment management, and full collaboration among teams.

Features:

  • Data registry
  • Asset inventory
  • Automated workflows

Why use LabSuit?

This inventory management system for research facilities ensures that all supplies and requirements, from chemical reagents to samples are available when needed. LabSuit also offers vendor catalogues that host numerous manufacturers of products which laboratories can shop from.

Features:

  • Inventory management
  • Request management
  • Suppliers listing

What is Laboratory Inventory Management Software?

Laboratory inventory management software is a digital tool specifically designed to efficiently track, monitor, and manage the laboratory’s assets and supplies. With the help of digitization and automation, routine tasks like reviewing expiration dates, ordering, and re-stocking are streamlined. The system is advantageous to healthcare facilities, pharmaceutical businesses, and testing laboratories in optimizing their resources, minimizing wastage, ensuring regulatory compliance, and ultimately enhancing the efficiency of their workflows.

Benefits

Before digital solutions, laboratories would make manual inventory logs of every piece of a test tube, a bottle of reagent, or a microscope, taking note of specific chemical names, quantities, expiration dates, last maintenance or calibration work, and so on. Aside from being time-consuming, the practice was also prone to human error.

Laboratory inventory management software streamlines all these processes with the help of features like digital templates, barcode scanning, and GPS location tracking, detailing salient inventory information. Full visibility into the operations helps managers forecast demands, prevent excess and utilize resources better. Collaboration is also enhanced as notifications and alerts are sent to all relevant personnel when supply restocking or machine calibration is due.

There is no need to review paper trails when regulatory bodies request the submission of compliance documents. Thanks to automated reports generated from the digital inspection templates, technicians can efficiently accomplish the task and send complete reports with media attachments.

Best of all, laboratories can adhere to best practices like FIFO (First In, First Out) or JIT (Just-In-Time) inventory management systems, controlling costs and guaranteeing top-notch results every single time.

Key Features

There are digital solutions with laboratory-specific applications. There are also generic management platforms with functionalities that reinforce your current inventory methodology. Whichever you go for, make sure it has the essentials:

  • Checklists and templates for routine inventory
  • Real-time monitoring
  • Stock and usage tracking with barcode scans
  • Asset management
  • Usage tracking
  • Supplier management and automated reorder points
  • Collaborative tools
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Compliance assurance
  • Integration with third-party apps (LIMS laboratory information management systems)
  • Mobile Accessibility

Choosing the Right Laboratory Inventory Management Software

The digital solutions described above are all highly recommended, enabling your personnel to accomplish their supplies and equipment inventory tasks efficiently. Below is a table of all ten options for a quick review:

Laboratory Inventory Management Software Free Version Paid Plan Mobile App
SafetyCulture Yes $24/user/month* Yes
Quartzy No $159/month for 5 users* Yes
LabCollector Yes (up to three users) $3,900 licensing fee
for 5 users
Yes
BIOVIA CISPro No Contact for pricing No
LabWare No Contact for pricing Yes
Labguru No Contact for pricing Yes
LabVantage No Contact for pricing Yes
eLabInventory No €14.50 (≈$16)/user/month Yes
Benchling Yes Contact for pricing Yes
LabSuit Yes Free No

* billed annually

Eunice Arcilla Caburao
Article by

Eunice Arcilla Caburao

SafetyCulture Content Contributor
Eunice Caburao is a content contributor for SafetyCulture. A registered nurse, theater stage manager, Ultimate Frisbee athlete, and mother, she has written a wide range of topics for over a decade. Eunice draws upon her rich, multidisciplinary background to create informative articles about emerging topics on health, safety, and workplace efficiency.