LABORATORY SHARING AND REUSE SOFTWARE – A COMPARISON
This document provides details of four software packages that help laboratories to share, reuse or recycle equipment and resources. It originated
in the presentations and discussions at an S-Lab workshop at the University of Strathclyde in April 2013, held as part of a Scottish Funding
Council supported project base at the University of Edinburgh. An S-lab summary of the key features of the software is below, and is followed by
further details provided by the suppliers (but not validated by S-Lab – caveat emptor).
Website
Kit-Catalogue
http://kit-catalogue.com
LAB MERCHANT
www.labmerchant.com
U-Lab
http://spider.science.str
ath.ac.uk/lab/
X


WARPIT
www.warp-it.co.uk
X
X
X
Web-based


Web-based


X
Web-based
UK at present.


Booking system
development in
progress

Provides Records of Equipment Use
Integrates with other University Systems 
Provides Accounting/Invoicing to Users X
Installation Mode
University Web Server.
Hosting also available
Reach
Global

X
X
Global with UK and
European focus
Global
Cost
Classifieds: £9.99 per
advert. Runs for 90
days.
Online Auction: Free to
host. 20% commission
if sells.
Free for all researchers. £1-2,000 pa per
Costs for institutional
institution
reporting and
administration to be
confirmed.
Advertises Surplus Equipment
Indicates Equipment Availability for Use
Provides Equipment Booking
Open Source software
is free if installed
locally.
Paid hosting is
available; the cost is
dependent upon
institution size.


Forthcoming in V5
LABORATORY SHARING AND REUSE SOFTWARE – A COMPARISON
Kit-Catalogue
Highly configurable system. Apply your own institutional styling, re-label fields, hide sensitive information, etc.
Item listings can contain uploaded user manuals, case studies, research papers and embedded content (e.g. videos).
Customised inventory reports.
Delegate catalogue administration to faculty, departmental and/or individual custodian level.
API allows data aggregation by other systems, e.g. equipment.data.ac.uk (UK equipment portal).
Regional consortia sites, such as www.M5Universities.ac.uk
Supports “internal-only”, password protected catalogues.
An open source solution with a large and active user community fully engaged in future developments.
Lab Merchant
Website in 8 languages.
Classified advertising & online auctions.
Specifically laboratory equipment.
Escrow service for peace of mind when making/receiving payments.
Private message board logs all communication between buyer and seller - essential for arbitration.
U-Lab
Researcher-centric tools for lab management and equipment sharing.
Catalogue and visualise key laboratory equipment on fully customisable floor plans.
Lab floor plans can be uploaded from drawings.
Simple interface (API) allows instruments to update their status on ULab pages.
LABORATORY SHARING AND REUSE SOFTWARE – A COMPARISON
Add other ULab users to your group and delegate responsibility for data entry.
Group researchers, labs and equipment to support multi-centre research programmes.
Booking protocols by calendar or queue and managed by individuals or groups.
Flexible booking features: restrict booking to certain individuals or groups; set rules to specify when equipment is available; collect custom info
from ULab users booking your equipment; assign a qualified operator and/or sundries to a booking.
Lab diary provides a visual overview of equipment usage.
ULab QR codes can be printed and applied to equipment allowing status to be monitored by smart devices with camera
Inter or intra institutional equipment search; easily identify if equipment is bookable.
Associate hazards with equipment and generate safety reports on a lab level for safety services and rescue services
Configurable usage reports on an individual and institutional level.
Institutional tools to organise users and labs with respect to local hierarchies and building infrastructure
Support for integration with existing services i.e. asset registers, Pure etc.
WARPIT
Encompasses more than laboratories so deals with a wide range of surplus goods (including those needing repair/ refurbishment). Within labs,
covers most electrical and technical/specialist equipment; supplies; consumables; fixture and fittings; and waste materials. Also facilitates
collection of WEEE for disposal. (Currently exploring redistribution of surplus chemicals).
Resources can be given away, loaned, rented or sold inside the organisation or between organisations.
Internal private redistribution only can be specified by the administrator. Or institutions can also share with preferred partners- internal staff
always getting priority.
Many other partner members using the system, including charities, companies, central and local Government, hospitals, schools and universities.
Can integrate with storage/stock management systems; portering systems for task management; procurement systems for avoiding unnecessary
purchasing.
Effective control and management provided by secure log ins, approval and checking of external partners, pro forma legal documents (by
www.mucklellp.co.uk) for duty of care obligations and transfer of ownership.
LABORATORY SHARING AND REUSE SOFTWARE – A COMPARISON
Automatic reporting of carbon, waste and management information (finance, performance, fraud prevention etc.).
Efficient transfer ensured by communication system between parties; intuitive upload template; Easy Photo facility using stock photos; guidance
(You Tube clips); integration with smart phones.