Published: 13 Jul 2026(Updated: 24 Jul 2026)

•8 min

•8 min read

•Sebastian Schneider •0

Software built for the way scientists work: A practical perspective on digital bioprocessing

Life science researchSoftware

Digitalization is becoming essential for modern bioprocess development, but many laboratories still struggle with fragmented data, disconnected equipment, and inefficient workflows. Drawing on experience in both academic research and biotechnology environments, Sebastian Schneider shares how eve bioprocess software helps scientists integrate laboratory systems, improve process visibility, simplify data management, and create more connected bioprocess workflows.

Overview

Meet Sebastian Schneider

Before joining INFORS HT, I spent several years working in academic research. During that time, I encountered many of the same challenges that scientists across bioprocess development face today: managing data from multiple systems, maintaining process visibility, ensuring reproducibility, and finding efficient ways to document and analyze experiments.

Since joining INFORS HT, I have had the opportunity to work with users from a much broader range of organizations, including academic institutions, start-ups, biotechnology companies, and industrial process development teams. What has become clear is that many of these challenges are not unique to academia. Regardless of organization size, scientists are often looking for practical ways to digitalize workflows, connect laboratory equipment, and make better use of process data.

Bioprocess software is designed to help scientists manage process data, monitor cultivations, integrate laboratory equipment, document workflows, and improve reproducibility throughout process development. As laboratories become increasingly digitalized, connected software platforms play an important role in reducing manual work and improving data accessibility. Based on my experience, eve® bioprocess software helps scientists address many of these challenges by providing a connected environment for planning, monitoring, documenting, and analyzing bioprocesses. Rather than focusing on unnecessary complexity, it delivers practical tools that support day-to-day laboratory work while helping organizations build more efficient digital bioprocess workflows.

Integration and central orchestration

A central requirement in many laboratories is the ability to manage a heterogeneous equipment landscape. Most bioprocess development environments consist of devices from different manufacturers that have been added over time. Running these systems in parallel typically leads to fragmented data, disconnected workflows, and increased manual effort.

With eve®, users can integrate not only INFORS HT bioreactors but also third-party devices, including incubator shakers, analytical instruments, pumps, and balances through standardized interfaces. This creates a centralized platform for bioprocess monitoring, equipment integration, and process control.

From my experience, having access to process information within a single system improves transparency and reduces the effort required for manual data collection. This becomes increasingly valuable when running multiple experiments simultaneously or when several team members need access to the same information.

Remote access and process visibility

Bioprocesses rarely fit within normal working hours. Cell culture and fermentation processes often continue overnight or throughout weekends, making continuous physical presence impractical.

Because eve® is web-based, process data can be accessed through a standard browser. In many installations, access is managed through existing IT infrastructure via VPN, allowing authorized users to monitor experiments remotely from everywhere in the world.

This capability provides greater flexibility while also improving process visibility. Team members can review process performance, follow ongoing cultivations, and access relevant information without being physically present in the laboratory.

Alarm management and process reliability

Remote access becomes particularly useful when combined with automated alarm management. Thresholds can be defined for critical process parameters, and notifications can be sent automatically when predefined limits are exceeded. This helps ensure that process deviations are identified quickly and allows users to respond when necessary. In practice, this reduces the need for constant manual supervision while still enabling timely intervention when required. For sensitive biological systems, early detection of process deviations can help prevent process failures and reduce the loss of valuable experimental time and resources.

Recipe design and knowledge retention

An important aspect of any process development environment is the ability to capture and reuse knowledge. In many organizations, valuable process expertise is distributed across notebooks, spreadsheets, and individual team members. Over time, this can make knowledge transfer and process standardization more difficult. The recipe-based approach within eve® provides a structured way to define, document, and reuse process workflows. Instead of relying on informal communication, process knowledge can be embedded directly within the software. Standardized digital recipes can also improve reproducibility by ensuring that process workflows are executed consistently across experiments, devices, operators, and sites. While this is particularly helpful in academic environments with frequent personnel changes, the same principle applies to growing biotechnology companies and larger development organizations where consistency and traceability are equally important.

Data export and analysis

For scientific research and process development, access to well-structured data is essential. eve® provides flexible options for exporting process data for further analysis, modelling, reporting, or documentation. Data can be transferred to external analysis tools without extensive manual preprocessing. This simplifies data handling, leaves less room for errors, and allows scientists to spend more time interpreting results rather than preparing datasets.[

Integrated digital bioprocess workflows

One aspect that I have come to appreciate more since working with eve® is the value of having multiple workflow steps connected within a single software environment.

eve® combines experiment planning, process execution and monitoring, data storage, and analysis within the same platform. By connecting equipment, process data, documentation, and analysis within a single platform, eve® helps create a more connected digital bioprocess workflow across the entire development lifecycle. This continuity reduces fragmentation between different stages of bioprocess development and improves traceability throughout the experimental lifecycle.

Whether working in an academic laboratory, a start-up, or an established bioprocess development organization, having a connected workflow can significantly reduce administrative effort while improving data consistency.

Installation and IT considerations

From an operational perspective, centralized installation simplifies system management. The software is deployed centrally and accessed through a browser, eliminating the need for software installation on individual workstations. This reduces maintenance requirements and simplifies updates and version management. For organizations with limited IT resources, this can help reduce administrative overhead while maintaining consistent system performance across users. This architecture also supports collaboration across departments and locations by providing consistent access to process information through a centralized platform.

Use in regulated environments

For organizations working in regulated settings, documentation and compliance considerations become increasingly important. eve® provides validation documentation that can support implementation within regulated workflows. Even when formal compliance requirements are not yet necessary, having this documentation available can help organizations prepare for future growth and changing regulatory expectations.

Conclusion

My first exposure to digital bioprocess software came from the perspective of an academic researcher looking for practical ways to improve process management and data handling. Since then, I have seen many of the same requirements emerge across a wide range of bioprocess organizations. Regardless of whether the work is being performed in academia, a start-up, a biotechnology company, or an industrial environment, scientists benefit from having better visibility into their processes, easier access to data, and more connected workflows.

From my perspective, eve® bioprocess software provides a practical approach to digital bioprocessing by bringing together device integration, process monitoring, alarm management, data handling, and workflow documentation within a single platform. As bioprocess development becomes increasingly data-driven, connected software platforms are playing a growing role in helping organizations improve efficiency, reproducibility, and collaboration. The result is a more structured and connected way of working that supports both day-to-day laboratory activities and long-term process development goals.

Looking to simplify your bioprocess workflows?

Whether you are managing shake flask studies, fermentation processes, cell culture development, or scale-up activities, fragmented data and disconnected systems can quickly become a challenge. As projects become more complex, the need for connected workflows, centralized process information, and reliable documentation becomes increasingly important. eve® bioprocess software helps connect laboratory equipment, centralize process information, and support more efficient digital bioprocess workflows. If you would like to learn more about how eve® can help integrate laboratory equipment, improve process visibility, and simplify bioprocess data management, our team would be happy to discuss your specific requirements.

Learn more about eve® bioprocess software

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