Technology and Infrastructure Archives - INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE

Integrated Digital Lab Webinar: Modern LIMS for Data, Workflow and Compliance

Sharon Williams — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:04:23 +0000

Modern laboratories are under pressure to operate efficiently, maintain compliance, and manage growing volumes of data. This webinar explains how a modern LIMS provides the foundation for an integrated digital laboratory. Webinar: Thursday 23rd April 2026| 11:00 am (BST) Free to attend: Presented by Paul Ward, Technical Consultant, Interactive Software Laboratories today operate within increasingly complex digital environments. They must work faster, collaborate securely, meet evolving regulatory expectations and deliver accurate, fully traceable results, all while managing growing volumes of data, connected instruments and diverse stakeholders. Meeting these demands requires more than incremental system improvements. It requires an integrated digital lab: a secure, unified and intelligently connected environment where data, people and processes function cohesively. Join us on Thursday 23rd April at 11:00 am (BST) for a free webinar where we explore how a modern LIMS provides the digital foundation for building this integrated future. Why integration matters for modern laboratories Many laboratories still rely on fragmented systems, manual data handling and disconnected workflows. These silos introduce risk, reduce visibility and increase operational overhead. An integrated digital lab centralises core laboratory operations within a secure, governed platform enabling: Real-time data visibility. Controlled collaboration across teams. Reduced manual intervention. Stronger compliance […]

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Achiever 5.8 API Preview: Unlocking Next Level Connectivity and Digital Workflow Automation

Sharon Williams — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:29:26 +0000

Modernising integrations with the Achiever 5.8 API Thursday 26th March 2026 | 2:00 pm (GMT) Presented by Paul Ward, Technical Consultant, Interactive Software Join us on Thursday 26th March at 2:00 pm (GMT) for an exclusive customer-only webinar where we will showcase the Achiever 5.8 API Preview, the next step in enabling connected digital operations across your organisation. This upcoming release marks a significant step forward in how Achiever connects with other systems. The new API framework introduces a modern, scalable architecture designed to support faster, more secure and more flexible integrations across a laboratory’s digital environment. During the webinar, Paul Ward, Technical Consultant at Interactive Software, will explore the expanded reach of the Achiever 5.8 API, what the updates mean for your automation pipelines, how the new APIs strengthen interoperability with instruments, applications and enterprise systems, and the role of auditability in maintaining secure, governed digital workflows. Who should attend the webinar? This webinar will be particularly relevant if your organisation: Already uses Achiever for workflows, compliance or laboratory processes. Is planning to automate data flows between Achiever and other systems. Needs reliable connectivity between instruments, applications and analysis tools. Wants to reduce manual work and increase process transparency. […]

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How a LIMS Supports Your AI Strategy

Sharon Williams — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:21:43 +0000

There is a lot of hype about Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the moment – from its potential benefits to the risks it poses in some areas. AI is already being used across multiple sectors, including diagnostics and healthcare, to analyse images and data, identifying patterns across large datasets. This helps detect diseases more quickly and, in some cases, at an earlier stage, as well as assisting in the development of new treatments. However, AI is still in its infancy, and its full potential remains largely untapped. Like AI itself, we are still learning. Over the past year, there has been a surge in software companies promoting AI as part of their solutions. Yet, it can be difficult to determine whether these features are based on generative AI or traditional AI. Generative AI enables a system to process vast amounts of data, understand it, and learn from it as a human would—creating new ideas and content. Traditional AI, on the other hand, is typically programmed by humans to automate processes, handle data entry, and generate analytics based on pre-defined parameters. Regardless of the type of AI in question, one thing is certain: AI relies on data. And data which needs to […]

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Cyber Defence in the Lab: IT’s Crucial Role in LIMS Security

Sharon Williams — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 14:37:21 +0000

In an era where data breaches and cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated, organisations must prioritise cybersecurity across all departments. One often-overlooked ally in this endeavour is the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). IT professionals can leverage a robust LIMS to bolster their cybersecurity strategies, ensuring that sensitive data is protected, and compliance standards are met. Training and Awareness The first step towards robust cybersecurity is cultivating awareness of potential cyber threats among all staff, not just IT personnel. This includes training on recognising phishing attempts, ensuring employees understand the importance of password security, and knowing how to respond to suspicious activity. Utilising resources from organisations like NHS Digital and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) can aid in educating employees about emerging threats and best practices. Centralised Data Management A LIMS centralises data from various sources, creating a unified repository for sensitive laboratory information. By consolidating data, IT professionals can better control access, monitor user activity, and implement stringent security measures. Centralised data management simplifies the identification of potential vulnerabilities and streamlines incident response. Cybersecurity is not just about preventing breaches; it’s also about maintaining data integrity. A LIMS supports data validation processes, ensuring that data entered into the system […]

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Cybersecurity and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS): A Critical Intersection for Lab Managers

Sharon Williams — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 14:28:17 +0000

In today’s digital landscape, protecting sensitive data—especially in laboratories handling valuable samples—is paramount. This responsibility goes beyond practical implications; there are significant ethical considerations and financial motivations for safeguarding laboratory data and systems, whether in clinical, food, agricultural, or environmental contexts. Fundamentally, cybersecurity is about defending digital systems, networks, programs, and data from unauthorised access and cyberattacks, which can result in the exposure of confidential records and the loss or corruption of sensitive information. The Role of LIMS in Cybersecurity Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) play a crucial role in bolstering cybersecurity in a laboratory setting. These systems are designed to manage samples, associated data, and laboratory workflows, providing a comprehensive framework for secure data handling. To strengthen cybersecurity, laboratory managers and IT professionals must harness the capabilities of LIMS alongside best practices and tools. Training and Awareness Awareness is the first step towards enhanced cybersecurity. Cyber threats can affect anyone with access to organisational systems, including LIMS users. Therefore, training should extend beyond the IT department to encompass all staff members. Regular training sessions, supplemented with resources from reputable sites like NHS Digital and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), can equip teams with the knowledge needed to recognise […]

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5 Reasons to Digitally Connect Rack Scanners with LIMS

Sharon Williams — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 16:19:52 +0000

In laboratories time is of the essence. Faster turnaround and processing times help optimise vital resources as well as preserve sample integrity. Digitally connecting your rack scanner with your laboratory information management system (LIMS) accelerates your sample receipt, analysis, and dispatch processes. Instead of expending valuable resources manually transcribing data between disparate systems, the focus is on utilising the data to inform decision-making, identify improvements and push innovation. This enhances the patient experience and gives you more time to work on the science that will improve outcomes. Lab connectivity to streamline processing Everyday lab processes such as sample receipting, testing, and dispatching, often involve handling, treating, and tracking large numbers of samples. You can reduce, even eliminate, some of the administrative overhead generated by these processes by utilising workflows in your LIMS to bulk import sample data and connect to rack scanners and instruments. Connecting directly to the source data helps improve data accuracy as well reduce processing time. In addition, digitally connecting rack scanners and instruments with your LIMS improves data quality by reducing transcription errors that often occur when manually entering and updating data. Reduce time spent deciphering faded sample labels Handwritten and printed labels can fade or […]

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5 Steps to Implementing Efficient Lab Processes in a LIMS

Sharon Williams — Mon, 15 May 2023 16:22:10 +0000

Laboratories, large and small, increasingly rely on technology and digital solutions, such as Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), to manage their lab processes and data efficiently, and securely. By connecting and automating processes, data, instruments and systems, a LIMS promotes improvements in data quality, integrity, compliance, and productivity across your laboratory. However, many LIMS implementations fail to deliver the anticipated benefits; leaving managers and laboratorians frustrated and reverting to manual, paper-based systems. But is the LIMS at fault? A digitally connected laboratory The aim of digitalising and connecting your laboratory processes and activities is to provide a frictionless experience for laboratorians. However, this does not mean that every activity should be automated or digitalised. Some activities will, appropriately, remain manual. What’s more, implementing efficient lab processes in a LIMS involves more than digitalising what you currently do manually. For instance, mapping an inefficient process into a LIMS will not make it efficient. Instead, you should identify where the inefficiencies are and redesign the process to eliminate or reduce them. In addition, unlike manual process design, considerations such as when and how users will input data into the LIMS will have a significant impact on process creation. For example, do users […]

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Modern challenges for Laboratory Managers

Sharon Williams — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:51:53 +0000

Modern working practises, coupled with the ongoing threat of cyber-attacks and the increased pressure placed on laboratory professionals and biobank mangers to comply with industry regulations such as the Human Tissue Act (HTA) and MHRA have placed the onus of responsibility on LIMS software developers to ensure their systems provide complete peace of mind for their service users. As part of our ongoing development programme, the team here at Interactive Software have recently introduced Modern Authentication for our current Achiever Medical LIMS customers. Modern authentication is also included in Achiever Medical LIMS 5.6, due for release later this year. This software development is designed to enhance and strengthen our existing system access and provide additional security features to safeguard and protect data. Modern Working The recent pandemic has changed how and where people work. The Office of National Statistics published an article in May 2022 titled: “Is hybrid working here to stay?” The article stated that the proportion of people hybrid working rose in 2022. In spring of this year, when guidance to work from home because of the pandemic was no longer in place in the UK, 38% of working adults reported having worked from home at some point […]

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Empowering Researchers and Scientists through Lab Digitisation

Sharon Williams — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 17:44:15 +0000

Many of us are familiar with the term digital transformation or digitisation. But how many organisations that are looking at digitalising the lab are actually putting the needs of the scientists and researchers at the heart of their digital transformation strategy? After all, without their buy-in and adoption any new systems and processes you implement are unlikely to be successful. Or at least not as successful as you’d hoped. Change in any environment is unsettling. It also requires effort – and not just from those overseeing and driving the changes. So, when it comes to lab digitisation placing the emphasis on delivering improvements to empower scientists may help ease the introduction and adoption of new technologies, processes, and practices. Understanding what to digitise The first step on the digital transformation journey is to understand what you do and how you work. Importantly, this isn’t yet about how you’d like to work. Instead, this means watching and listening to those working in the lab. Try to avoid digitising an ineffective process that could be improved by simply changing the process. Digitising inefficient processes doesn’t suddenly make them better. They’ll be just as bad, possibly worse. The only difference is you’ve spent […]

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Authentication and why it’s important

Paul Ward — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 09:14:34 +0000

The purpose of authentication is to confirm that a user is who they say they are. The authentication example most of us are familiar with is when signing-in to a website using a username and password. The username part of this combination is who the user claims to be. While the password is a way to confirm they are who they say they are. The website will verify the two pieces of information provided. If the password supplied matches the password for the username, sign in will be allowed. If the password doesn’t match, sign in will be denied. You can see that for anyone who possesses those two pieces of information, it would be possible to successfully claim to be someone else and impersonate their identity. This is why as a user we keep passwords secure by: Not reusing – Across different sites, services and applications Not writing down – On a Post-it note or in an email Avoiding the obvious – None of the most common Not sharing – With colleagues or family members Going long – The longer the password length, the harder it is for someone guess Methods for securing accounts and passwords There are other […]

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