Scispot

What is scispot

Scispot is a cloud-first laboratory automation and data platform built to bridge experimental protocols, lab hardware, and enterprise data systems. It combines electronic lab notebook (ELN) style experiment authoring, workflow scheduling and orchestration, LIMS-style sample and inventory tracking, and instrument integrations so teams can run repeatable, auditable experiments at scale. Scispot places emphasis on connecting lab instruments and robotic platforms to the cloud so experimental metadata, raw data, and results are automatically captured and linked to samples and protocols.

Scispot is commonly used by academic groups, biotech startups, and translational teams who need to reduce manual data transcription, maintain regulatory-compliant records, and enable reproducible workflows across people and instruments. The platform is designed to accommodate both bench-level automation (single-instrument runs) and larger automated pipelines that combine liquid handlers, plate readers, and other lab equipment.

Because Scispot integrates data routing, storage, and analytics hooks, it also serves as a central data substrate for downstream analysis pipelines and data warehouses. That makes it suitable for teams that want to combine experimental metadata with analytics platforms or machine learning workflows.

Scispot features

What does scispot do?

Scispot provides a set of tightly integrated features focused on three broad capabilities: experiment orchestration, sample and inventory management, and data integration.

• Experiment orchestration: graphical and code-driven protocol editors, scheduling, step-by-step run execution, run history and versioning, automated instrument commands, and conditional branching for complex workflows.
• Sample and inventory tracking: sample lineage, plate and tube location tracking, barcode support, inventory thresholds and reorder alerts, and batch metadata to support traceability and compliance.
• Data integration and storage: automatic capture of instrument outputs, attachments, and metadata; connectors to object storage (S3), data warehouses, and analysis platforms; structured export formats for downstream processing.

Additional features commonly included:

• Device and robotics integrations: drivers and adapters for common lab instruments and liquid handlers, plus support for custom hardware through APIs.
• Role-based access control (RBAC) and audit logs for traceability and compliance with regulatory needs such as 21 CFR Part 11.
• Collaboration tools: shared experiment protocols, commenting, and annotation to preserve context between scientists.
• Reporting and dashboards: experiment summaries, KPI tracking, and exportable reports for lab managers or quality teams.

Scispot pricing

Scispot offers these pricing plans:

• Free Plan: $0/month with limited users, basic protocol authoring, and community support
• Starter: $99/month per team with core orchestration, basic instrument integrations, and sample tracking
• Professional: $499/month per team with advanced integrations, automation libraries, analytics connectors, and priority support
• Enterprise: contact sales for advanced security, single sign-on, on-prem or hybrid deployment options, and custom SLAs

Check Scispot's current pricing tiers for the latest rates and enterprise options.

How much is scispot per month

Scispot starts at $0/month for the Free Plan and the lowest paid tier typically begins at $99/month for small teams or labs when billed monthly for the Starter plan. Paid tiers add instrument integrations, more users, and advanced data connectors.

How much is scispot per year

Scispot costs $1,188/year for the Starter plan when billed annually at the listed $99/month equivalent. Annual billing on higher tiers such as Professional often yields a discount compared to monthly rates; contact Scispot for exact annual pricing and enterprise contract terms.

How much is scispot in general

Scispot pricing ranges from $0 (free) to $499+/month per team. Small academic groups and individual researchers can use the Free Plan for basic protocol authoring and documentation, while production labs and companies typically select the Professional or Enterprise tiers to obtain instrument integrations, compliance features, and dedicated support.

What is Scispot used for

Scispot is used to convert manual bench procedures into automated, auditable workflows that can be executed across instruments and personnel. Typical uses include:

• Running repeatable high-throughput assays by orchestrating plate handling, liquid dispensing, and plate reading in a single experiment record.
• Tracking sample lineage and inventory so researchers can trace back experimental results to source material and reagent batches.
• Capturing instrument outputs and metadata in a structured way to feed downstream analytics and machine learning models.

Teams also use Scispot for compliance and quality operations: centralized audit trails, role controls, and versioned protocols help labs meet regulatory requirements and internal quality standards. For automation engineers and bioinformaticians, Scispot provides the hooks to integrate experimental runs with data warehouses or analysis platforms so results are reproducible and traceable.

Pros and cons of Scispot

Pros:

• Strong integration between experiment protocols, instruments, and data storage reduces manual transcription and human error.
• Built-in sample lineage and inventory tracking improves traceability, reproducibility, and lab operational visibility.
• API-first design and connectors to cloud storage and analytics tools make it practical for teams that need to integrate lab data with downstream analysis or data warehouses.
• Role-based permissions and audit trails support regulated environments and internal governance.

Cons:

• Integrating custom or legacy instruments can require development effort or custom drivers, which adds implementation complexity.
• Smaller teams with minimal automation needs may find the platform’s feature set larger than necessary for simple ELN tasks.
• Enterprise deployment or hybrid on-prem setups may require professional services and longer onboarding timelines.
• Depending on the tier, advanced features and compliance add-ons may increase total cost of ownership for regulated labs.

Scispot free trial

Scispot typically offers a free tier and a time-limited trial of paid functionality so teams can validate instrument integrations and workflow orchestration before committing. The Free Plan allows basic experiment authoring and limited storage, which is useful for testing protocol design and small-scale runs.

Paid trials commonly include a sandbox environment with sample data, limited instrument emulators, and support from Scispot engineers to demonstrate typical automation scenarios. For production use and instrument commissioning, Scispot often recommends a short pilot project to scope hardware integrations and data export requirements.

Is scispot free

Yes, Scispot offers a Free Plan that provides basic experiment authoring, limited users, and community-level support. The Free Plan is suitable for individual researchers and evaluation, while paid plans unlock instrument integrations, larger storage quotas, and enterprise features.

Scispot API

Scispot exposes a consistent API and developer tools to orchestrate experiments programmatically, integrate custom instruments, and stream data to external systems. The API set typically includes endpoints for:

• Protocol management: create, version, and fetch protocol definitions and step metadata.
• Run execution: start, monitor, and complete experimental runs, with hooks to receive live run status and results.
• Sample and inventory: CRUD operations for samples, plates, locations, and inventory items with barcode metadata.
• Device management: register devices, send commands, and receive instrument telemetry and files.
• Webhooks and streaming: event-based webhooks for run completion, sample updates, and data availability.

Scispot also provides client SDKs and example device adapters to accelerate integrations with common lab hardware. For enterprises, the API supports authentication via API keys, OAuth, and SSO flows, and can be configured to route data to S3 or enterprise data lakes. See Scispot’s developer documentation for detailed API references and SDKs at Scispot developer documentation.

10 Scispot alternatives

• Benchling — cloud-native life-science R&D platform with ELN, sample management, and molecular biology design tools.
• LabArchives — ELN and inventory management focused on academic and research labs.
• Quartzy — lab inventory and ordering platform with purchasing workflows and reagent tracking.
• TetraScience — data integration platform focused on instrument data ingestion and unified lab data models.
• RSpace — ELN and data management with focus on compliance and structured records.
• Thermo Fisher SampleManager — enterprise LIMS focused on regulated laboratories and large facilities.
• Dotmatics — scientific informatics with experiment management and data visualization for R&D workflows.
• OpenLab — commercial informatics suite with LIMS and sample-management features.
• Labguru — ELN and lab management software emphasizing workflows and inventory.
• Arxspan — regulated ELN and data management for pharmaceutical research.

Paid alternatives to Scispot

• Benchling: full-featured ELN and sample management with strong biology-specific modules and integrations for enterprise R&D. Benchling is commonly selected by biotech companies that need molecule design, inventory, and process tracking.
• Thermo Fisher SampleManager: enterprise LIMS with deep compliance tooling and lab operations features tailored to regulated manufacturing and QC environments.
• Dotmatics: powerful data visualization and experimental data capture for labs that pair instrument data with cheminformatics and analytics.
• Arxspan: ELN and collaboration tools for regulated labs that require controlled document management and audit trails.
• Labguru: combined ELN and LIMS features with experiment planning, inventory, and scheduling for research groups and startups.

Open source alternatives to Scispot

• OpenBIS: an open-source platform for lab data management and sample tracking, often used in academic core facilities. OpenBIS provides flexible metadata models and data ingestion pipelines.
• Baikal/LIMS community projects: several community LIMS solutions exist that can be adapted and hosted on-premises for teams that want source control of their infrastructure and full customization.
• ELabFTW: open-source ELN with experiment logging, inventory, and basic collaboration features that smaller labs can self-host.
• LabKey Server (community edition): open-source data management and analysis platform useful for integrating experimental data and specimen management in research settings.

Frequently asked questions about Scispot

What is Scispot used for?

Scispot is used for laboratory automation, experiment orchestration, and data management. Research teams use it to author and execute protocols, connect instruments, track samples and inventory, and centralize experimental data for downstream analysis and reporting.

Does Scispot integrate with lab instruments and liquid handlers?

Yes, Scispot supports instrument and liquid-handler integrations. It provides pre-built drivers for common devices and a device API for custom hardware, enabling control and data capture from plate readers, liquid handlers, and other lab equipment.

How much does Scispot cost per user or per month?

Scispot starts at $0/month for the Free Plan and paid tiers typically begin at $99/month for the Starter plan per team; higher tiers such as Professional are priced at $499/month per team. Enterprise pricing is customized based on deployment and support needs.

Is there a free version of Scispot?

Yes, Scispot offers a Free Plan that includes basic protocol authoring, limited storage, and community support for individuals and small teams evaluating the platform.

Can Scispot be used in regulated environments (e.g., 21 CFR Part 11)?

Yes, Scispot can support regulated environments with appropriate configuration. The platform includes audit logs, RBAC, protocol versioning, and features that help meet regulatory requirements; Enterprise customers can obtain additional compliance support and deployment options.

Does Scispot provide APIs and SDKs?

Yes, Scispot provides APIs and developer SDKs for programmatic protocol management, run control, device integration, and data export. Webhooks and streaming connectors let teams route data to object stores and analytics platforms.

Can I export data from Scispot to external analysis tools?

Yes, Scispot supports data exports and connectors. Teams can export structured metadata, raw instrument files, and result tables to S3, data warehouses, or analysis platforms for downstream processing.

How secure is Scispot for enterprise data?

Scispot provides enterprise-grade security controls. The platform supports encrypted transport, role-based access control, SSO integration, and audit trails; enterprise contracts can include additional security assessments and deployment options.

Does Scispot have integrations with collaboration tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams?

Yes, Scispot offers integration hooks for collaboration platforms. Notifications and run-status updates can be routed to channels in Slack or Microsoft Teams, and webhooks let teams build custom notification workflows.

How long does it take to onboard lab instruments and workflows into Scispot?

Onboarding time varies but typically ranges from a few days to a few weeks. Simple integrations and protocol modeling can be done quickly by lab staff; complex hardware or regulatory validation may require engineering support and a short pilot phase to commission devices and verify data pipelines.

scispot careers

Scispot hires across engineering, product, sales, and scientific roles that focus on instrument integration, data pipelines, and life-science workflows. Engineering roles often require experience with APIs, device drivers, and cloud infrastructure; scientific roles typically combine lab experience with software or automation knowledge. For current openings and details, see Scispot careers.

scispot affiliate

Scispot maintains partner and referral programs for system integrators, automation vendors, and consulting firms that help deploy the platform at scale. Affiliates typically receive access to technical resources and co-marketing materials; details and partnership inquiries are handled through Scispot’s partnership page.

Where to find scispot reviews

Independent reviews and user feedback for Scispot are commonly available on lab-software review sites and life-science forums. For official case studies and customer stories, consult Scispot’s website case studies and blog; for comparative user reviews, check life-science software directories and peer-review platforms that cover ELN, LIMS, and lab automation tools.