Build Your Own vs. Turnkey: Which Automation Approach Is Right for Your Lab?

No single automation strategy suits every laboratory. Goals, resources, and technical depth all shape whether you build in-house or adopt a ready-made system. This guide compares in-house and turnkey automation so you can match the approach to your scientific needs.

Building an Automated Workcell In-House: What It Takes to Get It Right

Building an automated workcell in-house means selecting and integrating your own hardware and software to run scientific workflows without manual intervention. With a growing ecosystem of benchtop instruments, robotics, and scheduling software, this approach can unlock powerful productivity gains, but it requires thoughtful planning, technical expertise, and clear execution.

Common Use Cases

• Putting idle robotic arms to work by integrating them into new workflows

• Quickly deploying a system to feed high-throughput instruments (e.g., imagers, readers)

• Automating handoffs between two or three key instruments using a single robotic arm

• Building fully customized, internally developed automation systems tailored to unique needs

Benefits

• Fast deployment using internally sourced components

• Full control over system design, configuration, and iteration

• Opportunities to build internal automation expertise and ownership

• Capital allocation that aligns with short-term needs and long-term flexibility

Trade-offs

• Success is highly dependent on internal expertise and engineering bandwidth

• Steep learning curve for teams new to automation

• Responsibility for uptime, maintenance, and support falls on your team

Key Considerations

Benchtop Instruments

Instrument selection is critical for long-term reliability and performance. At HighRes Biosolutions, we’ve spent over 20 years integrating benchtop devices into automated systems across a wide range of life science applications. This experience allows us to guide customers toward instruments that integrate well and perform consistently under automation.

If you’re building independently, do your research and seek input from experienced scientists and lab automation professionals.

Scheduling Software

Effective scheduling software must serve two user experiences: protocol execution and system configuration. Choose a tool that simplifies:

• Designing and running workflows

• Configuring new workcells or adapting existing ones

• Leveraging an extensive driver library

• Developing new drivers with minimal effort

We built CellarioScheduler to meet all of these needs by offering flexibility, simplicity, and performance for labs that want to control their own automation journey.

Robotic Arms

We recommend the Brooks PreciseFlex arm for its reliability and ease of integration. Whether sourced new or second-hand, it becomes especially valuable when paired with CellarioScheduler, which makes it easy to teach positions even for non-specialists.

Workcell Tables

Treat tables as part of the lab automation system, not just furniture. Look for:

• Rigid, stable frames (steel or reinforced) to minimize vibration

• Modular dimensions aligned to robot reach and workflow layout

• Locking casters, leveling feet, and cable management features

• Durable, chemical-resistant surfaces (e.g., Trespa, phenolic resin, stainless steel)

• Integrated power and networking infrastructure

Partner with vendors experienced in laboratory and industrial automation environments to ensure your setup supports current needs and future expansion.

Electronics & Infrastructure

Power and networking infrastructure must be planned as carefully as mechanical components. Best practices include:

• Dedicated 15–20A circuits and line conditioners or UPS units for sensitive electronics

• Industrial-grade power strips or DIN-rail power distribution systems

• Wired Ethernet (Cat6 or better) using shielded cables and local switches

• Clear separation of power and data lines to avoid interference

• Support for legacy protocols (e.g., RS-232) through converters or hubs

• Centralized racks or control boxes to house power, safety, and network components

Clean and scalable infrastructure lays the foundation for safe, maintainable automation that can grow with your needs.

Leveraging Partners

Even if you choose to build your own system, you don’t have to go it alone. HighRes offers tools, guidance, and support to help you succeed.  From proven robotics and driver libraries to powerful scheduling software and open APIs, we are committed to delivering automation to every lab.

At HighRes, we support flexible paths to automation.  Whether you’re self-deploying or scaling with us, we are committed to supporting any and every lab to adopt workflow automation.

What Is Turnkey Lab Automation?

Turnkey lab automation refers to fully integrated, vendor-delivered systems designed to run your scientific workflows with minimal internal lift. After a collaborative scoping process, the vendor designs, assembles, validates, and installs a complete solution including instruments, robotics, software, documentation, and safety certifications. The result is a production-ready system with dedicated support and a clear path to value.

Ideal for Labs That:

• Want a white-glove, production-ready automation platform

• Lack internal engineering resources or time to manage integration

• Require robust compliance, traceability, and service infrastructure

• Prefer a unified ecosystem for software, hardware, and data

Benefits:

• High confidence in build quality, performance, and validation

• Minimal internal effort during setup, deployment, and support

• Single point of accountability across hardware, software, and services

• Faster path to operational success with lower implementation risk

• Empowered ownership—as part of our turnkey delivery, HighRes ensures your team is trained and confident managing, modifying, and maintaining the system over time

Trade-Offs:

• Physical flexibility may be limited by hardware layout or infrastructure, but the underlying software is built to support future changes

• For complex workflow modifications, vendor support may be required to manage expanded use cases or ensure system stability

• Higher upfront capital investment compared to modular, incremental builds

HighRes Turnkey Solutions

At HighRes, we’ve delivered turnkey systems for leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, balancing technical rigor with real-world agility. From concept through commissioning, we work as an extension of your team to deliver automation that performs from day one and evolves as your lab grows.

Choosing the Right Path: Key Considerations

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to lab automation. Use the questions below to help guide your decision based on your lab’s current needs, capabilities, and future direction:

• Goals. What are your short- and long-term objectives around throughput, data quality, and scalability?

• Priorities. Is speed, cost-efficiency, or team development most critical right now?

• Infrastructure. What software, hardware, and data systems are already in place?

• Flexibility. How often will your workflows need to change or expand?

• Expertise. What internal automation or engineering resources do you have today?

• Focus. What do you want your scientists and engineers to own versus outsource?

• Ownership. Who will manage documentation, training, and system continuity?

• Scope. Is this a one-off project or a platform intended to scale across teams?

• Timeline. Are you working against an internal deadline or vendor-led deployment?

Quick Comparison

Why HighRes Supports Both Paths

We believe that in life science environments where science moves quickly, flexibility is critical. Many labs start with a turnkey system for speed, then move to self-managed deployments as confidence and experience grow or vice versa. The important part is not which path you choose to start, but whether your tools and partners allow you to adapt.

At HighRes, we design our software and systems to be intuitive, powerful, and modular so you can:

• Empower your scientists to configure workflows and make changes independently

• Lean on our team when you need white-glove support, integration expertise, or long-term scale-up

• Transition smoothly between in-house and vendor-managed approaches as your needs evolve

Bottom Line

The goal of automation is not technology for its own sake.  The goal is fast, efficient, and reproducible science.

Whether you build a workcell in-house or rely on our team to deliver it end-to-end, the beauty of working with HighRes is that our tools are built for both paths. You can retain control, empower your scientists, and still count on us when you need support. That’s what makes HighRes the right partner for today’s experiments and tomorrow’s growth.

Ready to Explore What’s Right for You?

Let’s talk about your goals and map the automation journey that fits your lab today and tomorrow.