Thermo Fisher Scientific Works With Microsoft to Web-Enable its LIMS Solutions, Giving Customers Maximum Flexibility

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, announces that it is Web-enabling its laboratory information management systems (LIMS) offerings by utilizing Microsoft’s ClickOnce deployment technology to create a solution that combines the rich functionality and performance of the desktop client delivered via the simplicity of a Web interface.

A JupiterResearch report titled ‘Smart Client Applications: The Best of Both Worlds—The Desktop and the Web’ states that “IT decision makers seek software applications that leverage the transport capabilities of the web, but also leverage the power of the desktop for superior usability.” By Web-enabling its LIMS, Thermo Fisher provides customers a hassle-free deployment strategy, as well as easy maintenance and transparent updates from a central point on the network.

“With Web-enabled Thermo Scientific LIMS, organizations now have access to a full-featured LIMS with an efficient and cost-effective deployment mechanism,” said Dave Champagne, vice president and general manager of Thermo Fisher Scientific, Informatics. “This announcement underscores our strategic relationship with Microsoft. We are implementing Microsoft technologies, such as the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0, SQL Server, Office Open XML, Windows Presentation Foundation and Office SharePoint Server to future-proof our customers’ IT investments.”

Historically, the deployment of LIMS applications has followed a two-step client-server process: the product is first installed on the central server, and then individually on each of the client workstations. With this new Web deployment functionality, the Thermo Scientific LIMS is installed once onto a central server. A URL is then sent to designated users, enabling them to run the application securely and transparently in a separate “sandbox” on their machines, minimizing its impact on the rest of the system, thus enabling easier validation and mitigating the risk of application conflicts so often associated with client installations. This “zero-touch” process means that IT departments do not need to install these files individually for each user, saving significant time and resources.

Global organizations are seeking applications that take advantage of the flexibility of the Web, while still harnessing the full power and rich user experience of desktop clients. Thermo Scientific LIMS enabled by Microsoft’s ClickOnce software has been introduced in response to customer demand, and delivers the core functionality that IT departments require while using fewer computer resources.

“Life sciences customers are seeking to take advantage of the Web, but still want the rich functionality of a desktop client,” said Paul Mattes, managing director of Microsoft’s U.S. Health and Life Sciences Group. “Thermo Fisher Scientific’s solution strikes a great balance, by delivering a scalable and secure back-end server, connected to desktop clients via a Web-based interface.”