Two days, one exhibition stand, a spot on stage and plenty to talk about
It’s nearly time to pack our bags, dust off our exhibition shoes and head to Birmingham for one of our favourite dates in the laboratory calendar. On the 4th – 5th November, the Interactive Software team will be back at Lab Innovations, NEC Birmingham, showcasing Achiever LIMS, catching up with familiar faces and meeting new ones.
And this year, we are doing more than exhibiting. We’re also taking to the Future of Laboratories Stage alongside our customer, Tropic, to talk about something close to our hearts: helping laboratories make better use of their data without making life more complicated.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the lab… spreadsheets…
We have all been there. A spreadsheet for sample tracking. Another for results. A shared folder full of documents. Perhaps a few manual processes that have somehow become essential to keeping everything running. And, of course, that one spreadsheet everyone relies on, but nobody wants to touch.
Spreadsheets have their place. They are flexible, familiar and often the starting point for laboratories finding their feet. But as sample volumes grow, workflows become more complex and demands on laboratory teams increase, those once-helpful spreadsheets can start creating more work than they save. Suddenly, finding the right information takes longer than it should. Maintaining traceability becomes harder. And valuable time is spent chasing data rather than getting on with the science.
That’s where a more connected approach can make a real difference. And it’s exactly what we will be talking about at Lab Innovations this year.
We are taking to the Future of Laboratories stage with Tropic
The Integrated Laboratory: Building a Digital Strategy That Delivers Real Returns
What does successful laboratory digitalisation actually look like? Not in theory. Not in a glossy presentation full of ambitious promises. But in a real laboratory, with real people, real samples and real challenges.
On Thursday the 5th November, Sharon Williams, Director here at Interactive Software, will be joined by Elliott Atkins, Project Manager at Tropic, a gene-editing company developing disease-resistant crops. Together, they will explore how laboratories can move away from disconnected processes and towards a more integrated way of working.
Sharon will discuss why a successful digital strategy should start with the outcomes a laboratory wants to achieve, rather than the technology itself. She will look at how bringing data, workflows and people together can create a stronger foundation for efficiency, traceability and future growth.
Elliott will bring the customer perspective, sharing Tropic’s experience of moving to Achiever LIMS as its operations scaled. From recognising the need for change to navigating the implementation process and putting a more structured approach into practice, it’s an opportunity to hear what the journey really involves.
- The Integrated Laboratory: Building a Digital Strategy That Delivers Real Returns
- Thursday 5th November, 10:00–10:45am
- Future of Laboratories Stage, Lab Innovations, NEC Birmingham
- Sharon Williams, Interactive Software, and Elliott Atkins, Tropic
If your laboratory is considering a LIMS, planning its next stage of growth or simply wondering whether there’s a better way to manage all that data, this is a session worth making time for.
And when we’re not on stage? You’ll find us on Stand M64
Of course, we couldn’t come to Lab Innovations without bringing Achiever LIMS along.
Throughout the two-day exhibition, our team will be on Stand M64, ready to chat about laboratory data management, demonstrate Achiever LIMS and answer those questions you have been wanting to ask.
Whether you are completely new to LIMS, thinking about replacing an existing system or exploring how to connect your laboratory processes more effectively, we will be happy to show you how Achiever LIMS can help laboratories:
- Bring sample information, results and workflows together in one central system.
- Reduce reliance on spreadsheets and repetitive manual data entry.
- Improve sample traceability and maintain clearer audit trails.
- Support quality management and regulatory compliance.
- Adapt workflows as laboratory requirements change.
- Spend less time searching for information and more time focusing on the work that matters.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to arrive with a fully formed digital strategy or a detailed list of requirements. Sometimes the best conversations start with, “We’ve got this one process that’s driving everyone mad…”
Why we love Lab Innovations
There’s something particularly valuable about getting laboratory professionals together in one place. Lab Innovations brings together scientists, laboratory managers, researchers and technology providers from across the industry. It’s a chance to discover new ideas, compare approaches and have conversations that don’t always happen during a busy working week.
For us, it’s also an opportunity to listen.
We want to hear what’s changing in your laboratory. What’s working well? What’s becoming difficult to manage? Where are the bottlenecks? And what would make your team’s working day that little bit easier? Those conversations help us understand the challenges laboratories face and how Achiever LIMS can continue to support their changing needs.
So, whether you are coming to explore new laboratory technology, looking for ideas to improve your processes or simply fancy a conversation about life beyond spreadsheets, make sure you stop by and say hello.
See you at Lab Innovations!
Event details
Lab Innovations 2026
4th – 5th November
Hall 2, NEC Birmingham
Achiever LIMS – Stand M64
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