When you can accurately track your chemical containers, all your downstream efforts become easier, more accurate, and more trustworthy.
The difficulty here is a logistical one. How do you monitor the flux of all the containers, on the range of hundreds to hundreds of thousands? This is a critical place where your chemical inventory management system should be able to do some heavy lifting.
Barcodes and RFID tags are the most common and best ways to track your chemical inventory. Beware any vendor who assiduously pushes QR codes as an equivalent technique. QR codes often contain information that leads to a static URL, reducing their flexibility and transferability.
Inventory that is undercounted, overcounted, or unaccounted for is a common problem in labs today. Real-time container-level tracking and hazardous materials need to be a priority.
When it comes to chemical reporting, good data in means good data out. Great systems include regulatory reporting, tier II / RTK reporting, and fire code compliance & MAQs.
Software should help eliminate risk while increasing safety and productivity within teams. These are the basic hierarchy of needs for any great solution.
