Practical example: Importing external laboratory data into a LIMS with AI
In everyday laboratory work, data is often generated both in-house and by external testing facilities. Drinking water analysis and specialised testing in particular produce extensive test reports that previously had to be entered into the LIMS manually – a time-consuming and error-prone process. The practical example of Dr Caroline Indorf, laboratory manager at Coffein Compagnie in Bremen, shows just how much AI-powered import interfaces can reduce this workload.
Starting point: PDF test reports and extensive manual work
Coffein Compagnie is the world’s largest decaffeination company. Alongside decaffeinated coffee, it produces pure caffeine for beverage manufacturers. The company uses external laboratories for drinking water analysis and regularly receives test reports containing numerous parameters and measurement results. Previously, this meant typing everything in manually. An employee had to carefully transfer every value – a laborious task with a high risk of errors.
Solution: Automated import with AI
With LDB’s new AI import interfaces, these reports can now be imported fully automatically. Simply upload the external laboratory’s PDF test report. The AI interface extracts all parameters, values and units. The data goes directly into the results table in the LIMS – clearly structured and ready to use. This completely eliminates manual transcription.
Result: Far fewer transcription errors, without waiting for the IT department.
Dr Indorf clearly describes the benefits:
- Significant time savings: A step that previously took hours is completed in seconds.
- Fewer errors: No more transcription errors from manual typing.
- Flexibility: The import works without a conventional interface and can be used immediately.
Her conclusion:
“We are very glad this interface exists. Previously, an employee had to type in every value. Now we save that work and significantly reduce sources of error.”Summary
This practical example shows how AI can reduce the workload in everyday laboratory operations. For laboratories that regularly commission many different external laboratories in particular, LDB provides a fast, secure solution that is ready to use immediately – without involving their own IT department or the external laboratory.
Would you also like to import your external laboratory data into the LIMS automatically? Contact us for a personal AI onboarding session and try out how AI can speed up your processes.
