No matter what type of LIMS project I work on, the customer will eventually ask me about one of the great mysteries of the Laboratory Informatics world. That is:
Question: Can it be true that everyone can be # 1 in LIMS?
Answer: Yes. In this posting, I explain that plus I prove that Fermat’s last theorem is actually false!! (I’m serious about the former but just kidding about the latter, actually.)
First of all, there are several different groups that give awards, such as “Scientific Computing” and “Frost and Sullivan.” Second of all, each group gives multiple awards. One software vendor might be # 1 in customer service, another in on-time project delivery. As such, a number of awards are given out each year.
I’ve noticed that most or all software vendors will list in which years they won which awards. If they do not do this, then that would be a time to question the award, further. After all, being the # 1 product in 1999 isn’t meaningful in 2009. Having worked for a LIMS software vendor in a past job, and alongside the software vendors for quite a few years, I have not yet noticed one to be making a false claim, but will admit I ignore most of this type of information. Overall, I don’t find it as interesting as the features offered and the software vendor’s track record with customers.
Meanwhile, I should tell you that I am # 1 in LIMS!!! After all, mine is the only laboratory informatics consulting business in Burlington, Massachusetts, USA. Even if it weren’t, I feel safe in saying that it would still be the best one in town. 
[...] http://theintegratedlab.com/2009/06/im-1-in-lims-answering-one-of-the-great-mysteries/ [...]
[...] Here is an article recently written by another LIMS blogger with a slightly different take: http://theintegratedlab.com/2009/06/im-1-in-lims-answering-one-of-the-great-mysteries/ [...]