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South African developers deliver open source LIMS


Johannesburg, 19 Jul 2005

A Web-based laboratory information management system (LIMS), developed by Upfront Systems, was deployed by Bika Lab Systems at Western Cape wine bottling co-op Bre"eriviervallei Botteleringsko"operasie. Deployment started in February 2005 and was completed in June 2005.

The Bika LIMS Web interface allows lab clients to remotely register analysis requests, track their progress and look up historical results.

Upfront used Plone, an open source Web content management platform, as development framework. Use of open source components, such as the secure Zope object database, brings the application within reach of small and Medium-size laboratories. Bika is also available as a service in the accepted ASP model, at a fraction of the cost normally associated with LIMS acquisition.

Bika has been designed to accommodate easy customisation. Customisation services are offered by Upfront Systems, drawing on the resources of Zope developers globally. Bika is also available as a LIMS service in the accepted ASP model, at a fraction of the cost normally associated with LIMS acquisition.

It leverages existing Plone functionality, such as groupware tools and workflow, logging, security and internationalisation and is easily combined with Upfront Systems` accounting and CRM offerings, Plone Accounting and Creme, in the same Plone instance, approaching a lab enterprise solution.

Current Bika modules provide a detailed lab workflow, tracking the process from analysis request registration, through reception, job card creation, manual and automated results entry, verification and publication, non-analytical products and services, standard accounting, reporting and results queries.

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Upfront Systems

Upfront Systems is an internationally established Zope development house. http://upfrontsystems.co.za.

Bika Lab Systems

Bika Lab Systems was established in 2002 to satisfy a need for affordable and easy to use information systems and instrument interfaces for small and medium-size laboratories. http://www.bikalabs.com.