From Excel Limits to Scalable Digital Operations in Life Sciences
Designing and manufacturing precision equipment for the life sciences industry requires more than just technical expertise—it demands data accuracy, traceability, and scalability from day one. At Cytotronics, a pioneering company developing next-generation benchtop laboratory equipment for cell analysis, these challenges came early and often as their product complexity grew.
Based in the U.S., Cytotronics is focused on transforming how cellular data is captured and analyzed with compact, high-precision tools designed for cutting-edge biomedical research. Their mission: bring laboratory-grade analysis to every bench with the ease of plug-and-play solutions.
But even the most innovative hardware company faces a common pain point—outgrowing spreadsheets.
The Challenge: Traceability at Scale
Like many early-stage tech companies, Cytotronics relied heavily on Excel to manage parts, assemblies, and product data. But as development progressed and more products were deployed in the field, Excel hit its limit.
“Excel is something that we have pushed to its limit,” said a team member.
“We needed something scalable and traceable to support our growth.”
Ensuring traceability from components to finished goods, especially with serialized hardware used in research settings, was no longer optional—it was essential. The team needed a platform that could grow with their processes, support regulatory needs, and improve product visibility.
Why Cytotronics Chose OpenBOM
In their search for a solution, Cytotronics turned to OpenBOM, attracted by its cloud-native architecture, intuitive data model, and powerful visualization features.
“One of the best features of OpenBOM is the neural net visualization,” they explained.
“It’s like a 3D cluster that I like to twist and turn—from the component level all the way to finished goods.”
This unique visual approach gave them the ability to navigate complex assemblies, understand relationships instantly, and make data-driven decisions faster.
Serial-Level Traceability with Serial Numbers
To implement robust traceability, Cytotronics uses internal Serial Numbers to track each unit and component in the field. With OpenBOM, they can now:
- Track who has each serialized unit in the field
- Maintain full back-address traceability to components and suppliers
- Support service, warranty, and compliance with confidence
“We trace it based on the serial number. We know who has each Primo unit and where it is. That’s essential for our operations.”
World-Class Customer Support
OpenBOM didn’t just provide a tool—it delivered a partnership.
“It’s really impressive how well you take customer support. I literally sometimes get a reply within one or two hours.”
This rapid feedback loop helped the Cytotronics team adopt the platform efficiently and keep their momentum high.
The Outcome: Confidence in the Digital Thread
With OpenBOM, Cytotronics has taken a major step forward in its digital transformation:
✅ Replaced spreadsheet chaos with structured data
✅ Achieved real-time visibility and traceability
✅ Enabled scalable product lifecycle operations
✅ Built a foundation for connected compliance and service
Watch the video story:
About Cytotronics
Cytotronics develops compact, modular devices that bring real-time cellular analysis to the benchtop. Their products are designed to support life science research with high fidelity, ease of use, and complete digital traceability. Their commitment to innovation extends beyond hardware, embracing modern cloud software tools like OpenBOM to streamline their entire product lifecycle
Read more about Cytotronics – https://cytotronics.com/
Read more about OpenBOM – https://openbom.com
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