July 10, 2025
About LabKey
Because Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) software is a foundational tool for modern labs, selecting the best ELN vendor is just as important as choosing the right feature set. ELN softwares come with a wide variety of capabilities to evaluate, all geared toward documenting, organizing, and sharing research data. The steps below will guide you through choosing the best ELN vendor for your lab’s unique needs.
Define your lab’s pain points: The right ELN vendor will offer a solution that aligns closely with your lab’s actual needs. Reflect on the challenges your lab faces and the goals you want to achieve. Consider ELN benefit categories like organization, consistency, process adherence, and scalability.
Prioritize the ELN features You Need
Make sure your chosen vendor not only offers these features but actively supports them through regular updates and clear documentation. Discuss your requirements with your team to ensure all perspectives are considered.
As you evaluate ELN providers, think critically about the type of vendor you want to work with:
Choosing the right vendor type helps ensure alignment with your lab’s growth and specialization.
Kickstart your search using the following strategies:
Track how well each solution matches your priorities and the level of support they offer.
Selecting a reliable ELN vendor means evaluating more than just their product’s feature set. Consider:
Key questions to ask vendors:
Watch for red flags: lack of documentation, infrequent updates, unclear pricing, or poor communication.
Once you’ve narrowed down your vendor list, request demos and trials. Include all key stakeholders—researchers, IT staff, lab managers—in the demo process. Gather their input and test using your actual workflows.
Evaluate the software on:
Hands-on evaluation will help you confidently choose the right ELN vendor.
LabKey is more than just an ELN provider—we’re a collaborative partner committed to helping your lab thrive. Our ELN software is integrated with several existing software solutions, providing just the right level of connected data management for your organization. Our user-friendly electronic lab notebook supports secure documentation, seamless integration with assay data and sample management, and scalable workflows.
Explore our tools and discover why labs trust LabKey as their ELN vendor of choice.