Internet of Things
Comcast’s MachineQ Survey Reveals Nearly 60% of Lab Professionals Reported Unplanned Downtime
Internet of Things
Comcast’s MachineQ Survey Reveals Nearly 60% of Lab Professionals Reported Unplanned Downtime
Feb 19, 2025
Philadelphia, PA
MachineQ, a Comcast Company, today announced the results of its Lab of the Future survey, conducted by independent research firm Censuswide.
The survey polled more than 400 U.S.-based professionals across various sectors and includes lab operations, the challenges professionals face, and the growing role of emerging technologies like IoT and AI.
Among the key findings, nearly 60% of lab professionals reported significant downtime due to equipment failures, missed calibration schedules, and difficulty locating lab assets. In addition to unplanned downtime, organizations cited limited visibility into asset locations and quantities as a significant challenge, with 44% of respondents ranking it a top challenge. Related to this issue, 56% of survey respondents manually monitor equipment utilization, 14% have no system in place, and only 30% leverage real-time monitoring technology.
~60%
of lab professionals reported significant downtime due to equipment failures, missed calibration schedules, and difficulty locating lab assets.
“Modern labs face mounting pressure to accelerate drug development—currently at 10 to 15 years, on average—while managing costs and cutting inefficiencies,” said Steve Corbesero, Jr., Director of Product & Solutions at MachineQ, a Comcast Company. “IoT and AI/ML are transforming labs by providing actionable insights that help drive productivity, speed, and innovation.”
The report also highlights additional trends and data points related to budgetary, technical, and asset tracking challenges, including:
- 37% of respondents plan to increase spending on lab equipment, yet 17% admit they lack the data to justify purchases.
- 62% of respondents using real-time monitoring feel better equipped to justify their asset investments.
- IoT and AI/ML are emerging as key technologies, with 29% and 28% of respondents currently using them in their labs, respectively.
- Over the next two years, 85% plan to adopt IoT, and 87% intend to adopt AI/ML as part of their Lab of the Future strategy.
For a comprehensive look at the Lab of the Future survey findings and actionable insights for your lab, download the full report here.
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