What is the LANEXO^® Inventory Manager?

LANEXO® is an lab inventory management system for chemicals, reagents and other consumables in highly regulated (GxP-compliant) laboratories in the pharma and industrial testing markets.

The comprehensive solution includes a web app, Android and iOS apps, vendor-neutral radiofrequency identification (RFID) labels for consumables, and user access cards.

How does the LANEXO^® Inventory Manager differ from a LIMS or ELN inventory management module?

LANEXO^® is a stand-alone inventory, safety and compliance management system, which uses RFID technology for rapid digital data capture of chemicals, reagents, and other lab consumables. It includes inventory management features in combination with support for the safe storage of chemicals and compliance with GxP regulations (21 CFR Part 11 & Annex 11).

Most laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) only provide basic inventory management functionalities, and are not fully integrated into daily lab workflow. They typically use barcode labels instead of RFID technology, which poses readability risks in case of code damage. LANEXO^® is designed to be truly integrated into daily lab workflow. Furthermore, it offers bulk-scanning through UHF (ultra-high frequency) technology.

Can the LANEXO^® Inventory Manager be used in a highly hazardous environment?

The LANEXO^® mobile app can be used on explosion-proof mobile devices. LANEXO^® labels use passive RFID technology, and have been tested for chemical splash resistance. Please also refer to local regulations addressing these technologies at your site.

How long does it take to learn and start using the application?

The web and mobile applications have an intuitive, and straightforward interface that lab personnel can learn in less than a day.

What features support inventory management workflow?

LANEXO^® offers a variety of features that help increase lab efficiency and save time, such as

• RFID labels facilitate material registration and location tracking
• Smart Seal labels monitor and calculate exact opening and expiry dates
• Time-stamped event source allows a complete audit trail
• Storage compliance rules send alerts in case of incompatibility
• User permissions can be tailored to lab requirements and approval processes
• Multiple lab consumables can be added to your account via bulk upload
• Restock rules allow users to set threshold levels and ensure timely reorders
• Real-time volume tracking and consumable usage captured in audit trail
• Physical & digital inventories can be synchronized through inventory count

Can LANEXO^® be integrated with other LIMS, ELNs, LES & ERPs?

Yes, you can use our API integration to incorporate data into your existing workstreams for LIMS, ELNs, LES and ERPs. Additionally, you can export data from LANEXO^® in PDF, JSON and XML file formats.

How do I access the LANEXO^® web app?

The LANEXO^® web app can be accessed from any computer connected to the internet using a standard browser (e.g., Google Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer). Access to the LANEXO^® web app must be verified by the LANEXO^® mobile app for secure login. The LANEXO^® web app is deployed on dedicated secure AWS servers.

On which mobile devices does the LANEXO^® mobile app operate?

The LANEXO^® mobile app works on Android and iOS devices. In order to scan the RFID labels, you will need a device which offers NFC (near-field communication) capabilities. Most Android devices support NFC functionality. Apple limits NFC functionality to newer iPhone models. Older iPhone models do not have the technical ability to read NFC tags.

Note: iOS 11 allows iPhones 7, 8 and X to read NFC tags. iPhones 6 and 6S can be used to make NFC payments, but not to read NFC tags.

What is included in a LANEXO^® subscription?

Each subscription includes: validated web and mobile apps (Android and iOS), both of which are hosted in the AWS cloud; RFID labels which can be used for consumables (vendor neutral), and locations; as well as user access cards. More details here.

Do you offer trials for the LANEXO^® Inventory Manager?

Yes, we offer 3- and 6-months trials. Please contact us  to get started and for further information.

What type of subscriptions do you offer and how much do they cost?

We currently offer annual subscriptions. The price varies depending on the size of your laboratory and if you require IOQ documentation. Please contact us for further information.

What types of RFID labels come with the LANEXO^® Inventory Manager?

Our solution includes three types of RFID labels: position labels, identifier labels and Smart Seal labels, which can be affixed to designated areas or consumables.

We also provide you with RFID-based user access cards to identify individual users.

What are the functions of the different RFID labels and user access cards?

• Position labels are placed on various locations in the lab where consumables are handled and stored (e.g., lab, cabinet, shelf or box).
• Identifier labels are placed on lab items that do not require first-time opening detection, such as in-house prepared reagents, buffers or samples.
• Smart Seal labels include an opening sensor to calculate the new expiry date of a chemical or other consumable after the first opening event. The labels may be attached to Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany consumables as well as to any third-party consumables.
• Each user access card contains a unique digital signature for an assigned user, permitting them to log into the system.

Do Merck KGaA Darmstadt Germany chemical bottles come with LANEXO^® RFID labels?

No, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany chemical bottles are not pre-affixed with LANEXO^® RFID labels. The labels are only available with the LANEXO^® package, and are vendor neutral, so they can be applied to any laboratory consumables, whether from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany or from any third-party manufacturer.

Can I use LANEXO^® RFID labels in other software systems?

LANEXO^® RFID labels are specifically designed to be used with the LANEXO^® software, so that you benefit from the complete functionality of the system. If you attempt to use LANEXO^® RFID labels with other software systems, their expected functionality cannot be guaranteed.

Can I use other RFID tags with the LANEXO^® Inventory Manager?

The LANEXO^® software is designed to be operated with LANEXO^® RFID labels so that you obtain the full benefit of the system’s complete functionality. Other RFID tags might not work properly with the software. In the event that you need to use third-party labels, additional tests will need to be conducted to verify their usability.

What is the functional temperature range of the RFID labels?

The operating temperature of LANEXO^® RFID labels ranges from approximately −25°C to +70°C

What is NFC?

Near-field communication (NFC) is a technology standard based on radiofrequency identification (RFID) that does not require an internal power source to function, and that can transmit information wirelessly over small distances (approximately 1–2 cm). NFC is standard hardware on almost all major mobile devices like smartphones or tablets, making the technology easily accessible.

What is UHF?

Like NFC, ultra-high frequency (UHF) is a technology standard based on radiofrequency identification (RFID) that does not require an internal power source to function. It can transmit information wirelessly over longer distances than NFC (approximately 1–2 m).

UHF offers bulk recognition of tagged items without requiring that each individual item be scanned separately. Scanning performance varies by label size, item packaging and item content, as well as by scanning antenna size and orientation.

How can I use UHF?

You can connect a UHF reader to the LANEXO^® mobile app via Bluetooth or near-field communication (NFC). Once paired with your mobile device, the reader can bulk scan the LANEXO^® RFID labels on your consumables in a desired storage location. We recommend the handheld TSL 2128P Bluetooth UHF RFID Reader. Learn more about this UHF reader: https://www.tsl.com/products/2128p-uhf-rfid-reader/.

Find out how and where to buy a TSL UHF reader: https://www.tsl.com/how-to-buy/.

How secure is the LANEXO^® Inventory Manager?

The software communicates over HTTPS. The data transferred to the GxP cloud environment are secured via TLS/SSL encryption. For more information, please refer to our 21 CFR/security white papers.