Remote Monitoring—Finding the Right System

The global pandemic made the advantages of remote lab monitoring apparent to all, but with the movement of people back to the workplace the question for many is at what level this should now remain. How much can remote lab monitoring offer me, and more importantly, what should I consider when making a purchase? After all, investing in any technology, be it a new TV for your home or a remote monitoring system for your lab, is an important decision, and we all want to make an informed choice to get the most bang for our buck.

The levels of remote monitoring available vary widely. System benefits can range from simple temperature measurements, to humidity, light, and vibration monitoring, and even lab usage stats. Low temperature sensors are the most popular investment. For prospective buyers, however, it’s about finding the right balance of remote monitoring to suit your needs, and asking yourself what you really want from your system.

Cost

Unsurprisingly, price is a big consideration for first time buyers, and it is vital to work with suppliers to get the best system for you, and your budget. Instead of offering a one-size-fits-all solution, lab monitoring service provider XiltriX offers a “tailor-made approach,” says Business Development Manager Michael Cross—allowing you to design a system to your specific requirements. Are you interested in lab usage? Or does temperature monitoring of your deep freezers give you the peace of mind you need?

Future-proofing your system is also important. “Most people upgrade because their existing system no longer meets their needs,” says Cross. So asking yourself what you need from a system now, but also are likely to in the years to come, can save money later. Making consolidated purchases should also be considered. Most remote monitoring data clouds can connect to upwards of 50 sensors, so choosing to invest with others from your organization can be very advantageous.

For those choosing to invest, it is about the “cost of not having a robust system in place,” says Kyle Detro—Monnit Monitoring Team Lead. And this is not just about the cost of ruined reagents or the loss of irreplaceable cell lines. “Downtime is a massive cost to the industry,” continues Detro, and remote monitoring can allow you to identify when equipment is likely to fail before it does, giving you the opportunity to schedule preventive maintenance, and saving valuable time and money. Remote monitoring can also speed up the process of equipment repair, often allowing manufacturers to diagnose a fault remotely and order parts in advance.

Compatibility

Can all equipment be fitted with remote monitoring? This is one of the most commonly asked questions. “Equipment compatibility is a big consideration,” says Cross. While remote monitoring essentially only requires an access point the device can connect to, information on the make and model of your equipment is essential to assess compatibility in advance of purchasing a system. Any subsequent equipment purchases also need to be considered. “People often think it is as simple as taking the monitor out of one system and putting it into another,” says Cross, but ensuring future compatibility of new equipment is essential. XiltriX promotes a “partnership approach” when purchasing or replacing equipment, working with lab teams to ensure future equipment is fully compatible. After all, you don’t want to spend the time and money investing in a remote monitoring system, only for it not to work when you replace your freezer.

Damage and usage SOPs

Another common concern of new users is if remote monitoring damages their equipment. System providers are keen to reassure that their systems are non-invasive. Furthermore, in addition to temperature monitoring, door contact sensors on equipment such as freezers and incubators can give valuable insight into how people are using your equipment. Are people opening the door too often? Are they not closing it properly? Understanding how people interact with equipment and informing usage SOPs is just another benefit of remote monitoring. Future purchasing decisions can also be informed, identifying what equipment is in heavy demand and may be worth investing in.

Remote visibility

Once your system is established, remote monitoring gives you a sense of security and peace of mind. Providing you with out-of-hours' insight, and the daytime data-driven knowledge that, despite the alarm, your freezer does not require your immediate attention. “Sensors transmit data to a central gateway,” says Elizabeth McGarry, Marketing Manager at Elemental Machines, allowing a complete view of your lab to be “accessible by anyone from anywhere in the world.”

Warning alarms can be sent via text or email to a designated person, and a chain of command can be established so that nothing is ever missed. As an additional layer of security, companies offer 24-hour back-up, and bi-directional texting can provide an instant update on an equipment status if required.

Summary

Although for many, remote monitoring may have begun as a necessity during the height of the pandemic, the advantages mean that it is here to stay—giving consumers newfound flexibility, data-driven insight, and predictive power. For those choosing to invest however, the decision is at what level this best suits their needs.

While remote lab monitoring may eliminate the need to go into the lab outside of regular work hours, does the future of remote working eliminate the need to go into the lab at all? Emerald Cloud Lab^® (ECL^®) offers what it says is the world’s only remotely operated research facility—allowing researchers to program and run experiments in a fully equipped laboratory all from the comfort of their own home. In a groundbreaking partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, the first academic cloud lab is also planned. Whether this has the potential to revolutionize research and education forever remains to be seen.