Why Biotech Labs Should Outsource Lab Equipment Procurement

Scientists are more than capable of procuring lab equipment—but do they truly have the time?

Dedicating valuable hours to purchasing administration, from sourcing to logistics, diverts scientists’ focus away from their core work. This disruption doesn’t just affect productivity; it carries hidden costs for your organisation, ultimately wasting time and money.

Procurement: A Time-Consuming Necessity

Lab equipment procurement generally falls into two categories:

1. One-off purchases – High-value single pieces of equipment.
2. Comprehensive lab fit-outs – Entirely equipping a new lab or expanding

Both scenarios demand meticulous attention to ensure the equipment is fit-for-purpose, cost-effective, and delivered on time. While essential, this process is a specialised undertaking requiring significant time and expertise.

For instance, when setting up a new lab, you’ll need to:

• Create a comprehensive project plan.
• Define technical specifications for every item.
• Identify suppliers and negotiate pricing.
• Track and manage orders through to delivery and installation.

The workload can easily become a full-time job, pulling scientists away from what they do best—science.

The Case for Outsourcing

We asked our specialist lab equipment team, who are all scientists themselves, to tell us a bit more about how they help life sciences labs save time with procurement.

Emma Large, one of our specialist lab equipment buyers (and a former biotech scientist), explains how outsourcing simplifies procurement for biotech labs. She says,

“I spent seven years working my way up to principal scientist in a lab for a biotech organisation, which gives me a true appreciation of the time that my team and I can save scientists by taking over the purchase to pay process for lab equipment. Once we have taken the time to understand our customer’s needs, scientists can return to focus on their core role while we liaise with suppliers to source the most suitable items. The lap equipment we source on behalf of scientists ranges from small individual pieces of valuable benchtop equipment, through to the management of large and complex equipment lists for lab expansions and relocations. We manage the full purchase to pay process for lab equipment, from requirements gathering, to tender management, to delivery, installation, and commissioning.”

Procurement Expertise Pays Off

Biotech labs often purchase a CapEx equipment only once every few years, while we make these transactions daily on behalf of our customers. This regular market engagement equips Amici with the expertise and supplier relationships needed to:

• Source the best options.
• Negotiate favourable terms.
• Maximise your budget.

Our team’s background in science, our procurement expertise, and our solid supplier relationships, are key to ensuring our customers avoid the hidden costs associated with DIY lab setup or one-off equipment procurement.

Transforming Lab Procurement

Outsourcing lab equipment procurement to specialists like MyAmici, eliminates the inefficiencies and hidden costs of a DIY approach. From small-scale purchases to large-scale lab expansions, we deliver seamless, cost-effective solutions tailored to biotech labs.