Lots of labs want automation. They see the benefits: better throughput, fewer errors, more time for actual science. But most get stuck at the same roadblocks: complexity, cost, change management, and integration challenges.
If you've read our post on the challenges of laboratory automation implementation, you know these barriers to lab automation are real and well-documented. That blog covers the strategic thinking around these challenges. This one is the practical follow-up: what to do about them.
GoSimple Workcells are designed as ready-to-run, benchtop automation workcells that turn those barriers into manageable, concrete steps. Instead of months of planning, custom integration, and specialized expertise, you get a pre-configured system that sits on your existing lab bench and starts running the same day.
From Complexity to Clarity in Setup and Daily Use
Turning multi-instrument workflows into a guided experience
Manual, multi-plate workflows typically require integration work and scripting before anything runs. Someone has to write code to move plates between instruments, coordinate timing, handle errors, and track samples. That's a big lift for labs without dedicated automation engineers.
GoSimple workcells ship as predefined systems with hardware, software, and methods already harmonized for specific workflows. During the initial launch, GoSimple will be available for the BD FACSymphony™, BD FACSLyric™, and Sartorius Octet® and will come ready to handle plate transfers, scheduling, and basic automation tasks right out of the box. No custom integration projects. No months of troubleshooting to get instruments talking to each other.
Guided software instead of custom coding
Green Button Go Scheduler powers GoSimple with built-in user-guiding screens and tutorials. Scientists configure runs by choosing plate layouts, the number of runs, and assay types from guided menus. They don't write scripts or configure low-level device commands.
This lowers reliance on scarce automation engineers and reduces misconfiguration risk. Regardless of team changes or shifting project responsibilities, the system remains accessible and fully operational, minimizing downtime risk. The interface is designed so that anyone trained on it can operate it confidently.
Standardized methods that scale
GoSimple comes with pre-configured and validated methods that help standardize workflows across sites and users. When your protocol is baked into the system, everyone runs it the same way. That consistency matters for labs managing multi-site studies, training new staff, or simply ensuring reproducibility across batches.
Standardized methods also make it easier to share best practices and roll out updates from a central automation group. Instead of updating scripts on six different systems, you're working from a common foundation. As automation needs evolve, Biosero's Green Button Go® software and device driver library help support expansion by enabling additional workflows, device integrations, and higher levels of orchestration without requiring a full rebuild.
Closing the Skills and Change-Management Gap
Automation that does not require specialist expertise
GoSimple sits between DIY handlers and fully designed automation platforms. It's meant for labs without in-house integration experts. You don't need to hire an automation engineer to get started, and you don't need specialist knowledge to operate the system once it's running.
This directly addresses one of the biggest barriers to lab automation: limited internal expertise and resources. When adopting automation doesn't require hiring new roles or sending your entire team to coding bootcamps, the decision becomes a lot easier.
Supporting adoption across the entire lab team
GoSimple is designed to fit into existing workflows and benchtop space. No infrastructure changes. No lab redesigns. It sits where your instruments already sit and runs the workflows your team already knows.
This reduces perceived disruption. People are more willing to try automation when it doesn't feel like you're tearing apart their workspace and forcing them to learn completely new protocols. Small, focused changes build confidence faster than massive overhauls.
Building long-term capability with GoCare and training
Every GoSimple workcell includes 12 months of GoCare support. That means operator onboarding, training resources, remote troubleshooting, and software updates are built into the package.
GoCare gives teams access to self-paced courses, documentation, and support tickets through the Biosero Portal. Labs build skills over time instead of being thrown into the deep end on day one. And when questions come up, they have a direct line to people who can help.
Addressing Budget and Total Cost of Ownership
Reducing the hidden costs of builds
High upfront investment costs and integration overhead are major barriers to lab automation. When you're budgeting for custom integration, you're paying for engineering hours, design time, installation, validation, and all the unknowns that crop up along the way.
GoSimple is standardized and repeatable, which cuts down on those hidden costs. The system arrives pre-configured. Setup takes hours, not weeks. You're not paying for someone to figure out how to get your instruments talking to each other because that work is already done.
Strengthening the ROI story with throughput and walkaway time
GoSimple enables walkaway operation, letting labs run devices unattended on nights and weekends. That directly impacts throughput and instrument utilization without adding staff hours.
When you can queue up plates on Friday afternoon and come back Monday morning to completed runs, you're effectively getting weekend productivity without weekend labor costs. For labs tracking KPIs for lab automation success, that's a measurable improvement you can point to when making the business case for expansion.
A step between manual workflows and fully designed platforms
GoSimple is positioned as an intermediate step. It's more powerful than a single robotic arm but lighter-weight than a full GoDesigned solution.
Labs can validate automation value with GoSimple, prove the ROI internally, and then expand into larger, bespoke platforms once the business case is proven. You're not making a massive bet on automation before you know if it works for your team. You're taking a focused, manageable first step.
Tackling Data, Compliance, and Integration Barriers
Pre-integrated with key instruments and software
GoSimple's role is to connect to specific partner instruments, such as Sartorius Octet® or BD flow cytometers. That makes it easier to automate critical assays without the need for bespoke integration projects.
The system ships with the ability to talk to these devices. Plate handling, scheduling, and data tracking are already configured. You're not starting from scratch trying to figure out APIs, drivers, or communication protocols.
Built-in support for traceability and compliance
Components like Green Button Go Scheduler and 21 CFR 11 Manager support secure data handling, audit trails, and user management.
This helps labs align automation with quality and regulatory requirements instead of bolting compliance on later. If you're in a regulated environment, having these features available from day one means you won't have to retrofit systems after the fact.
A path toward full lab orchestration
Starting with GoSimple lays a strong foundation for future integration with LIMS, ELNs, and larger automated platforms. The software ecosystem you're learning on GoSimple is the same one that powers more complex Biosero systems.
When you're ready to expand, you're not starting over. You're building on infrastructure your team already knows. That continuity makes scaling easier and reduces the risk of adoption failures when you move to the next level.
Taking the First Step with GoSimple
The main barriers to lab automation are complexity, skills gaps, cost uncertainty, and integration challenges. GoSimple addresses each of these:
- Complexity: Pre-configured workcells with guided software eliminate custom scripting
- Skills: No specialist expertise required, with GoCare training and support included
- Cost: Standardized systems reduce hidden integration costs and enable faster ROI through walkaway operation
- Integration: Pre-built connections to partner instruments and compliance-ready software
- Space: Benchtop design fits existing lab footprints without infrastructure changes
First-step lab automation shouldn't feel like an overwhelming commitment. GoSimple makes it possible to prove automation works for your team, your workflows, and your constraints without betting the entire lab on it.
Ready to see how GoSimple fits your lab? Contact us to discuss your workflows and explore which GoSimple configuration best suits your needs, so you can take the first step towards automation.
