Resources? Categories? Items? We know it can seem a bit confusing to fully understand which one does what. Don't worry, we will break it down for you. It's much simpler than you think. Keep reading to become an expert on Resources...well at least on Labstep!

Resources are at the core of your inventory. A resource is the product as it is, when you receive it in the lab.

E.g. Acetone CHROMASOLV™, for HPLC, ≥99.8%, Honeywell Riedel-de Haën™

Resources are the best way to manage your inventory in Labstep. You can also attach resources to protocols/experiments, so you know exactly what to use to reproduce a protocol or experiment.

Within Resources, you can → share/duplicate a resource, see who created a resource, and when attaching a photo, create items/lots/batches of this resource to attach in experiments, add customisable metadata, add comments and view the full activity of the resource.

You will find Resources by clicking on the conical flask (Erlenmeyer flask) icon in the bar menu on the left-hand side. You can then navigate between 'Resource View' and 'Item View'. You can also find it in the dropdown menu at the top of your screen.

Resources can be created by selecting 'New Resources' from within the inventory tab. Alternatively, you can select 'Import' to bulk import your inventory from a .csv, xls or .xlsx file. Click here for more information on the resource import tool.

A resource category groups multiple resources. Keep track of different items and the metadata related to each category by using 'Resource Categories'. You can create Categories such as Cell Line and Chemical, with custom metadata fields for all of the details you want to track. You may also want to set default values (Resource Template) for category metadata fields to help you fill these in later.

Resource categories can be created from the 'Resource View' or the categories page by clicking on 'New Resource Category'.

If you have imported resources onto Labstep via .cvs, .xls or .xlsx, we also recommend you create a resource category. This will allow you to add these metadata fields to resources you create later. Additionally, you can use resource categories to import more resources of the same type.

Resource items are used to describe batches/lots/aliquots of a resource that you have in your inventory and, therefore, are always associated with a resource.

With Labstep's 'Resource Items', doing inventory has never been easier. Items have their own location, QR code, amount and availability! Additionally, it can help you with experiment troubleshooting and keeping an accurate record. Make sure you specify the batch, aliquot or lot of a resource within an Experiment.

Resource items can be created from either within a resource or order request. To create an item from within a resource, navigate to the 'Item View' and then click 'New item'. You can fill out the 'Location' and 'Amount Remaining' info from within the 'Item View' tab.

You can also create items from an order request. The items will be added to the requested resource. To do so, navigate to the 'Items' tab in the order request. Then select 'Add items to inventory'.

Locations help you locate where your resource items are. They can be created and managed at a workspace level so they can be used by all workspace members.

By clicking on a location, you can view which items are stored there. This way you don't have to remember where Aliquot #1347 is...Labstep does it for you!

You can create a new location from the 'Item View' by clicking on 'New Location' underneath 'Locations'.

From the Inventory, you can easily request a resource or resource items. You can set the urgency of the request and the quantity needed.

Still need help?

Contact us here or start a conversation with a member of our team using our in-app chat.