Who would have thought that even just 20 years ago, automated machines and robots would be so prevalent and available for businesses, ranging from packing, cleaning, picking and navigation, they can do an awful lot of things. Laboratories need and see benefits from robots being utilised too. Here, we will shimmy through some said advantages, and break down their benefits………

• Improved Safety – There are some dangerous chemicals being played around with in labs, so by having robots handle more of these tasks, you reduce the risk of injury to human workers. Also, the tasks involving pipetting can lead to injuries, due to its repetitive nature. By assigning a pipetting robot with more of this work, injuries caused from strains will also decrease.
• Data Management and Traceability – Being able to track and trace the work the robots do is a huge plus, and enables you to log and store details, which in turn can improve quality control and compliance. And by scaling up the amount of robotics being used in your lab, means they can be integrated into a laboratory information management system (LIMS), meaning overall data management is simpler and there is far less hassle involved. For more information on monitoring robots in real time, check out this interesting blog.
• Cost Savings – Unfortunately for us mere mortals, we cost more to run, feed, and pay a basic wage than robots do. Automation is of course cheaper, and reduces the need for our manual labour skills, saving more money in the long-term. It can also reduce waste in costs, as with precise liquid handling, for example, means that those liquids are being spilt all over the floor, which also leads to cost saving with not having to purchase more of those expensive chemicals and samples.
• Enhanced Research and Development – It really isn’t looking good for us, is it people? Well, here’s some more good news to brighten your day – automation is also more efficient when it comes to the execution of high-throughput and complex assays. These are very challenging to perform manually, so the whole process can be sped up. By being more efficient and accurate, also means that the research and development process time is reduced, so we get all those new goodies and products on the market, just that little bit faster.
• Scalability and Flexibility – If demand within your area of expertise continues to grow, robots can be introduced to scale up and integrate into the workforce seamlessly. Robots are also adaptable, and don’t have to be used to perform just one specific task, meaning they are versatile, and you can really make them work for their money. Or not, as they don’t get money I suppose, but you get my point!

Out with the old and in with the new. The world is certainly becoming more automated, and there are a huge amount of advantages that that is going to bring to everyone on this beautiful planet. Let’s hope they don’t go full Terminator on us, that’s all. Take a look at this website for more information where you are.