Web interface allows laboratory clients to remotely register analysis requests, track their progress and look up historical results
A web-based open source laboratory information management system (Lims), developed by Upfront Systems, has been deployed by Bika Lab Systems at Western Cape wine bottling cooperative Breeriviervallei Botteleringskooperasie in Worcester, South Africa.
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, says Bika.
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.
It leverages existing Plone functionality, such as groupware tools and workflow, logging, security and internationalisation and is easily combined with Upfront Systems's 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.
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.
Breeriviervallei Botteleringskooperasie provides wine-bottling and analytical services of the highest standard to estates, cooperatives and private cellars in the Western Cape, European buyers and chain stores.
Upfront Systems has developed over 40 software systems for clients ranging from small to corporate in size.
The focus is on the development of business applications, using the open source platforms, Zope and Plone.
