Benchling: A delightful way of managing data with a full suite of features in the automated lab setting
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
We currently use Benchling within one of our departments that uses automated lab instrumentation and needed a data solution that would integrate with the lab instrumentation. We have used Benchling as a way to move the data off the instruments as well as storing data through user entry through electronic lab notebooks. The general business problem that Benchling helped us solve was providing an electronic and automated way of processing large volumes of data in a structured and searchable way.
Pros
- Excellent easy to use and beautiful UI
- Great customer support and training
- Has no code ways of retrieving and depositing data
Cons
- Some of the integrations can be a bit spotty so it depends on what kind of data source you are integrating
- Sometimes new users are not always aware of all the various functionality that Benchling has - can do better to provide more user awareness of more complex features
Likelihood to Recommend
Benchling is especially well suited to groups or contexts where there are many users who do not have a coding background but need a seamless and structured approach to data. Benchling is particularly useful in cases where there are data flows from instruments and other devices where the data can be deposited in an automated fashion. It is likely less appropriate or useful to users who are just looking for a general data warehouse solution.
