Slingr CEO Grace Schroeder reveals how low-code LIMS empowers labs
Healthcare continues to evolve beyond the worldwide response to Covid. The immediate, widespread need for rapid testing exposed a fragmented patchwork of testing capacity, incapable of ingesting test orders via application programming interfaces (APIs), sharing data with relevant healthcare agencies or load balancing to provide faster-turnaround times.?
Innovation has been slow because healthcare solutions must adhere to strict HIPAA guidelines. A handful of software vendors provide laboratory information management systems (LIMS) to support static workflows with basic configuration options. As labs stretch to expand their role in the healthcare ecosystem, they experience the inconvenience of legacy technologies, including:
Low-code platforms are foundational technology that supports the velocity of change, allowing labs to deploy their unique automation requirements quickly and affordably.
In this Q&A, Slingr CEO Grace Schroeder uncovers precisely how the Slingr LIMS solution enables the next generation of labs.
Revolutionizing testing facilities with low-code LIMS?
Slingr: How does Slingr’s LIMS solution differ from an off-the-shelf LIMS?
Grace Schroeder: “Approximately 50% of the labs we meet with express dissatisfaction with their off-the-shelf and in-house LIMS solution, many reeling from expensive, failed LIMS implementations. In some cases, a lengthy onboarding process led to a system crash. In other cases, the LIMS was forcing new business processes that the people in the lab rejected outright.
“Off-the-shelf LIMS was designed to cater to a wide, self-service market. Because tailoring LIMS is "configuration" vs. customization, labs rarely achieve functionality that seamlessly supports their processes. Because traditional LIMS vendors seek a broad appeal, the product roadmap defaults to the lowest common denominator features. Labs reckon with the last mile of workflows with manual processes, spreadsheets, and swivel-chair activities.
"Rapid, affordable customization is the core strength of Slingr’s low-code LIMS. Pre-built components wrap all LIMS features with security, permissions, chain of custody tracking, integrations, and workflows, enabling labs to tailor their system to their precise requirements – incorporating critical features while omitting unnecessary ones.
"Because we tailor Slingr LIMS to lab specificity, there are no bloated features that interrupt new feature developments and integrations. Each lab’s roadmap is unique. For the first time, customization isn’t a dirty word.? “Creating new features is straightforward, offering labs the advantages of customized software at the cost of an off-the-shelf solution.
“Slingr gives customers the power to connect and manage their data via flexible automation and enables system modifications to meet the growing needs of modern laboratories."
What drew you to develop the first low-code LIMS?
“COVID-19 shone a light through the cracks in disease testing. Emerging from the pandemic, we understood that healthcare technology, particularly labs, needed more flexible automation that allowed immediate secure sharing of test results with growing groups of stakeholders. We all witnessed a healthcare system that struggled to stand up easy access to testing without harming non-Covid patient care. The bottleneck ultimately drove direct-to-patient testing, which existing systems could not handle.
“At Slingr, we developed a low-code powered LIMS that is more flexible and adaptable to the developing parameters of disease testing.”
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What kinds of labs does Slingr serve?
“We customize Slingr LIMS for genetic, diagnostic, cannabis, veterinary, and clinical lab settings. The power of a low-code LIMS allows us to develop automation for any lab looking for a competitive advantage.
"We have a purpose-built LIMS solution for the booming cannabis industry, projected to surge from $57.18 billion in 2023 to $444.34 billion by 2030. Because of the industry's dynamic regulatory demands, low-code LIMS has a clear advantage to adjust with variable testing methodologies compliance changes.
"Similarly, we’re seeing an expanded role for diagnostic testing labs in the modern healthcare system, estimated to grow to ?$919.4 billion by 2032. With a wide range of testing options, diagnostic labs also face unique automation challenges.
"Another critical area of Slingr’s focus is genetic testing. Advances in DNA sequencing and analysis systems have made genetic testing a viable solution for diagnosing diseases and providing preventive care in clinical contexts. Predicted to achieve a CAGR of 22.0% from 2023 to 2030 for the genetic testing sector, genetic tests rely on algorithms, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Slingr’s low-code LIMS can integrate new technologies, produce role-based reports, and operate as a foundation for further innovation.
"Slingr’s low-code approach unlocks the potential for customized automation. Finally, the efficiency of building distinct features surpasses the effectiveness of configuring mass-market products."
Navigating the future of testing: the strategic advantages of low-code LIMS?
Where do you see healthcare going in the next five years?
“The future of healthcare will involve a higher degree of direct-to-consumer testing, combined with telehealth. Analysis from McKinsey found that by 2021 levels of telehealth use by physicians were already 38 times higher than pre-COVID.?
“It is no longer acceptable to have sick patients sit in the same waiting room to get test samples. If we remove the need for contagious patients to be in the same room spreading the virus, then we have the potential to save lives.?
"The marriage of low-code LIMS and healthcare is an opportunity to grow systems that support affordable healthcare."
How can labs quickly and confidently meet changing testing, regulatory, and business demands?
“With low-code LIMS, labs can tackle unforeseen test requirements, data sources, business models, and client requests. The LIMS decision evolves from a vendor selection to a technology strategy, ONE decision that grows with the business.
"Labs must have automation that supports their ambitions. Low-code LIMS can uniquely help labs offer differentiated solutions that help them capitalize on a growing industry."
Ready to learn more about what Slingr’s low-code LIMS solution can do for your business? Schedule a demo today.?