Researchers in life sciences industries, like pharmaceuticals and biotech, often record their research data in handwritten, bound notebooks. Researchers need to document this information because it details who did the research, when, under what conditions, and the results.
Your team has to track this information to protect the validity of the research, provide defensible evidence in the event of an audit, and to protect your IP. However, paper notes results in analog content in a digital world.
This leads to a host of problems, such as:
- You have no replacement copies in the event of theft, damage, deterioration, or document loss.
- It’s difficult for your team to access and share this research data with others.
- Researchers can’t quickly search the document for specific information.
- Bound notebooks aren’t secure, opening your IP up to unauthorized access.
Paper documentation is convenient during research, but it’s a nightmare if you want to use that data. How can you get the best of both worlds?
The simplest answer is the best answer
You don’t need a complex system to solve this problem. In fact, the simplest solutions are often the best.
Your research team can continue to collect information in their lab notebooks. Once a book is full, you simply scan the contents of the notebook and store it inside a quality content management platform.
This allows you to collect handwritten information in a digital format. Secure your information from unauthorized access, make documents easily accessible, and comply with retention and compliance rules with this simple solution.
The benefits of lab notebook scanning
Even if you’ve been properly archiving your lab notebooks, these archives can quickly become a mess. If the archives aren’t in good shape, you can’t find what you’re looking for at all.
Scanning old notebooks helps research companies solve the problem of lost or misplaced notebooks. Quickly search for specific words or data within your digital files, locating misplaced information. This reliably allows you to satisfy audit requirements and provide proof of your IP too.
When you opt to digitize lab notebooks, you’ll enjoy perks like:
- Collecting raw data for digital storage, including notes, sketches, and diagrams.
- Creating searchable documents from paper notes.
- Protecting your researchers’ work with scanning policies.
- Securely sharing lab notes with colleagues, auditors, regulators, and other authorized individuals.
But lab notebook scanning is about more than IP, security, and compliance. It’s also about getting rid of paper! DTI has seen plenty of well-organized file rooms packed with notebooks. However, your team isn’t able to use this information because it’s packed away in a closet, taking up valuable real estate in your building.
You work hard to gather your data. Don’t let it simply take up space. Instead, organize your lab notebooks with secure lab notebook scanning. Get in touch with DTI now to learn more about the process of scanning lab notebooks for your organization.
