Fermentation and Bioprocessing Software Tools
The following article reviews and updates previous information published on our website entitled “Short Review of Fermentation Software Tools”. At the time of the article in 2017, bioprocessing and fermentation software focused on Classic tools such as process control, data storage and analysis, process development with/out modelling, and bioprocessing equipment software.
This update will outline how the “brain” of a biotech lab—the software—has evolved over the last decade.
1. The “Classic” Tools (The Foundation)
These are the reliable, industry-standard tools that have been around for a long time, and we described them in 2017. You can think of them as the infrastructure of the lab.
Process Control (The “Hands”): Tools such as DeltaV or equipment-specific software (e.g., Sartorius or Eppendorf) serve as the hands. They tell the bioreactor when to stir, when to add food, and when to adjust the temperature. They ensure the physical machine does exactly what it’s supposed to do.
Data Storage (The “Memory”): The AVEVA (OSIsoft) PI System acts as the library. It takes every data point generated during an experiment and archives it securely so you can look back on it years later.
Process Modeling (The “Blueprint”): SuperPro Designer is like an architect’s drawing board. Before you build a factory or run a big experiment, you use this to simulate the process to see if it makes economic and technical sense.
2. The “Modern” Shift (The Smart Upgrade)
Since 2017, the industry has shifted from just collecting data to understanding it using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Cloud. We have moved from “dumb” record-keeping to “smart” decision-making.
The new tools fall into three main buckets:
Bucket A: Data Analytics & Process Intelligence Platforms
The “Data Scientists” (Analytics & Intelligence)
Examples: BioRaptor, Invert
What they do: These tools connect to all your machines, clean up the messy data, and use AI to spot patterns humans would miss.
The Benefit: They can predict when an experiment is about to fail or tell you the perfect time to harvest your product, saving you from wasting costly materials.
Bucket B: Full-Stack Automation & Control
The “Compliance Officers” (Automation & Control)
Examples: FermWorks, Scispot
What they do: These tools manage the workflow. They act as a “gatekeeper” to ensure every step is documented, signed off, and compliant with strict government rules (like those from the FDA).
The Benefit: They prevent “data chaos” and ensure your lab meets legal standards for quality and safety.
Bucket C: Integrated Bioprocessing-as-a-Service (Cloud-Connected).
The “Digital Twins” (Integrated Service)
Example: Culture Biosciences
What they do: Instead of buying expensive bioreactors for your own lab, you use their remote, cloud-controlled equipment. You get a “digital twin”—a virtual model that mimics your real-world experiment.
The Benefit: It’s like renting a high-end supercomputer instead of buying one. You can run hundreds of experiments at once in the cloud without needing a massive physical facility.
Summary Comparison Table
If you are trying to decide which tool does what, look at this simplified table:
| Software tools Summary |
|
| if you need to… |
Use this type of tool |
| Control the physical machine |
Classic Equipment Software (Sartorius, etc.) |
| Save all your historical records |
Data Archive (AVEVA PI) |
| Predict the future of your process |
Data Intelligence (BioRaptor) |
| Keep the FDA happy & organized |
Compliance/LIMS (Scispot) |
| Run big experiments remotely |
Cloud/Digital Twin (Culture Bio) |
Why does this matter?
In the past, engineers spent 80% of their time “data-wrangling”—manually typing numbers from machines into Excel sheets. Today’s software does the heavy lifting automatically, allowing scientists to spend their time on innovation rather than paperwork.
