Gistia vs Hiring In-House
Lab IT Comparison: Outsourcing vs Building an Internal Team
Trusted by leading diagnostic labs and life sciences companies
Outsourced LIMS support provides laboratories with access to specialized lab informatics expertise without the overhead of hiring full-time staff. This model offers predictable costs, immediate access to a team of specialists, and flexibility to scale up or down based on changing needs.
Compare the key factors below to determine which approach is right for your lab.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Gistia | In-House Hire |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $4,995-$7,995 | $8,000-$12,000+ |
| Time to Start | Days | 2-4 months |
| Expertise Breadth | Full team (10+ specialists) | 1-2 people |
| Platform Coverage | All major LIMS | Limited to hire's experience |
| Scalability | Instant scale up/down | Fixed capacity |
| Vacation/Sick Coverage | Always covered | Gap in coverage |
| Turnover Risk | None (team model) | High (knowledge loss) |
| On-Site Presence | Remote + occasional visits | Full-time on-site |
| Company Culture Fit | External partner | Part of team |
| Contract Flexibility | Cancel anytime | Employment obligations |
When to Choose Gistia
- You need expertise quickly (days, not months)
- You want predictable monthly costs
- Your LIMS needs fluctuate throughout the year
- You need multiple platform expertise
- You can't justify a full-time specialist salary
- You want to avoid recruiting and training costs
- You need coverage during vacations/turnover
- You're a smaller lab ($5M-$50M revenue)
When to Hire In-House
- You need full-time on-site presence
- Your lab has very specialized, proprietary systems
- You're a large enterprise with significant IT budget
- Company culture requires internal team members
- You have constant, high-volume LIMS work
- You can afford 2+ specialists for coverage
- You have time to recruit and train properly
- You want to build long-term internal capability
ROI Calculation Example
In-House LIMS Administrator
Base Salary$95,000
Benefits (25%)$23,750
Recruiting Costs$15,000
Training & Onboarding$10,000
First Year Total$143,750
Gistia Managed Services
Monthly Fee × 12$59,940
Onboarding$0
Recruiting$0
Training$0
First Year Total$59,940
$83,810
First Year Savings with Gistia
Plus access to a full team instead of one person