Turning Laboratory Data into Digital Assets at Future Labs Live

At Future Labs Live in Barcelona, the conversation continues to shift from simply managing data to truly activating it across the laboratory ecosystem. In a discussion with Shaun Latham from ZONTAL shared how organizations are beginning to rethink their data—not as isolated outputs, but as reusable digital assets.

What becomes clear is that the future of the lab is not defined by a single system, but by how effectively data moves, connects, and delivers value across workflows.

From Data Collection to Data Value

Many laboratories today still treat data as something tied to a specific system—whether that’s an instrument, a CDS, or an ELN. While this approach supports individual workflows, it often limits how that data can be reused elsewhere.

As described by Shaun, ZONTAL takes a different approach by bringing data from across the organization into a centralized platform. Once captured, the data is archived in a compliant way and transformed into a vendor-neutral format, making it accessible beyond the system where it was originally created.

This shift allows data to move from being stored to being actively used across the organization.

Introducing Digital Assets

A key theme from the discussion is the idea of turning laboratory data into digital assets.

Rather than existing as disconnected records, data becomes something more meaningful when it is contextualized and connected across systems. By aggregating information from multiple sources and preserving its structure and metadata, ZONTAL enables data to be reused, compared, and analyzed in new ways.

In this model, the value of data increases over time. It is no longer limited to a single experiment or result, but instead contributes to broader insights across the lab.

Enabling Workflow Continuity

Another important aspect of this approach is how data supports end-to-end workflows.

Through what ZONTAL Operations, data is not only stored and standardized, but also made available within the context of ongoing work. This allows organizations to move seamlessly from data capture to analysis, and from analysis to decision-making.

Instead of switching between systems or manually reconnecting information, scientists can operate within a more continuous and connected environment.

Beyond Vendor Lock-In

One of the longstanding challenges in laboratory informatics is the dependency on vendor-specific formats. These limitations can make it difficult to integrate data, especially when organizations adopt new technologies or go through mergers and acquisitions.

ZONTAL addresses this by converting data into a neutral format, removing the need to rely on the original system to interpret it. This not only simplifies integration but also ensures that data remains usable over time, regardless of changes in technology.

It creates a foundation where data can be freely accessed and applied across different tools and workflows.

A Broader View of the Digital Lab

What differentiates this approach is not just the ability to store or integrate data, but the breadth of what can be done with it once it is connected.

As highlighted during the conversation, creating digital assets is only the beginning. The real value comes from being able to reuse that data across the laboratory—whether for analysis, comparison, or supporting future experiments.

This reflects a broader shift in the industry, where organizations are moving away from isolated systems and toward more holistic, platform-driven strategies.

Closing Thought

The discussion at Future Labs Live reinforces a key idea: the next phase of digital transformation in the lab is not about collecting more data—it’s about making that data usable.

By transforming data into digital assets, connecting workflows, and removing system dependencies, organizations can begin to unlock the full value of their scientific information.

The future lab is not just digital. It is connected, contextual, and continuously learning from its data.