Common Lab Challenges
Strategy to Provision Scarce Resources
Provide an efficient and equitable solution.
Track Equipment Maintenance Issues
Interface with the Financial System
Manage Equipment Access
Ensure that only trained members have access and that equipment under repair is not used.
Distribute Status Updates to Members
Manage Inventory
Track Equipment Usage
Monitor member use patterns, plan for preventative maintenance, evaluate the efficacy of use strategies, and recover costs.
Gather Run Time Data and Statistics
Communicate with PI's and Members
WHY
BADGER LMS?
Scalable
Suitable for any lab size
Customizable
Quick to configure
Secure
Cloud-Based application that supports VPN
The Badger Application
Provides for the efficient allocation of equipment, while supplying Lab Status in Real Time. It is a fluid interface that is instantly usable by staff and members. Using Badger LMS reduces staff overhead and creates workflows that facilitate efficiency. Enable Data Driven Managment Decisions that improve research activities and ensure Auditable Cost Recovery. Have flexibility without excessive configuration.
Equipment Utilization
Equipment
Issue
Tracking
Process
Run-Data
Lab
Inventory
Staff
Charges
Stakeholder
Reporting
Cost
Recovery
Equipment
Access
Control
Custom Upload to Financial Systems
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages of the SaaS model?
Your instance of the Badger software can be managed by us in the cloud (Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud - EC2). You do not need to purchase server hardware, and you do not need local system administration expertise. This makes your costs predictable, and eliminates upgrade headaches. Your instance can be configured and supported by people whose main job is configuring and supporting Badger instances.
How big of a commitment do I have to make before I can see Badger working with my laboratory's unique requirments?
Our deployment strategy is to create and configure a test instance and then verify that the application functions to your specifications before moving forward. At that point we could ship out interlocks and prepare for a production instance. In general, no commitment or payment is required until you are convinced that the application will meet your needs.
Aren't there disadvantages to the SaaS model? What about speed?
It is common for our prospective customers to worry that there will be additional latency using a cloud instance instead of local hardware and software. After we demonstrate the performance, concerns about latency disappear from our conversations with prospective customers. We deployed an instance to the Amazon East Coast Cloud location for a lab in Connecticut and their lab director describes response time as "instantaneous".
Our History
The Badger code base was initially deployed in 2000 at the Stanford Nanofabrication Facility as "Coral". In 2012 the Badger moniker was applied to the new application as it incorporated vast improvements. Badger has been under continuous development since and is generally deployed in the Amazon Cloud as a well supported turnkey application.
Flexible
Badger Lab Management Software allows the implementation of extensively customized lab operational parameters. Complex reservation strategies can be embodied within the xml-specified, rule-based reservation engine, resulting in efficient and equitable equipment resource utilization. Runtime data can be flexibly defined, captured and manipulated to provide process-related research information. Equipment usage rates and related runtime costs can be combined with staff consulting, training and other charges on a per-device basis. These may be rolled into monthly billings that include subscription fees and inventory charges. All cost data may be subject to lab-specific rules such as expense caps based on volume usage within a lab or by groups of equipment. Finally, automated cost recovery data can be uploaded to university financials. We can provide online account validation where supported by the institution.
High Performance
System status information is available on a real-time basis. Equipment status is graphically displayed as are lab members' currently-enabled equipment. Updates to reservation activities, historical usage information, staff charges and inventory status are pushed to active client sessions. Actions of interest, such as changes in equipment status and maintenance activities may also be disseminated via user-defined mailing lists on a per-device basis. IP-addressable equipment interlocks ensure accurate capture of equipment utilization time and serve as a positive access control system resulting in enhanced security and automatic enforcement of training requirements.
Reliable
Since the first release of Badger's predecessor product in January of 2000, new versions have been released regularly, incorporating new features and keeping the technology up to date. Java was used from the beginning, and as the language has evolved, Badger has evolved along with it. Recently this proven lab management software has become available using the SaaS model (software as a service). We use the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and the Red Hat Linux operating system. Instances can be located by region, and are unique by site.
CONTACT US
Thank you for your interest in Badger LMS. Please contact us with questions. We are happy to offer you a demonstration.
