--- title: ELNs Revealed! (1/4) What is an ELN? description: What are Electronic Laboratory Notebooks? What do ELNs do? Are they all the same, and does it matter which one I buy? Find out in this article series! image: https://www.adigileap.com/hubfs/Slide1.png --- [Skip to content](https://www.adigileap.com/en/blog/eln-1#main-content) ![ADIGILEAP - A DIGITAL LEAP](https://www.adigileap.com/hs-fs/hubfs/digi_web1-1.png?width=567&height=277&name=digi_web1-1.png) - [Home](https://www.adigileap.com/) - [About](https://www.adigileap.com/about) - [Services](https://www.adigileap.com/services) - [Careers](https://www.adigileap.com/careers) - [Credentials](https://www.adigileap.com/credentials) - [Blog](https://www.adigileap.com/en/blog) - [Members](https://www.adigileap.com/leapers) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://www.adigileap.com/) - [About](https://www.adigileap.com/about) - [Services](https://www.adigileap.com/services) - [Careers](https://www.adigileap.com/careers) - [Credentials](https://www.adigileap.com/credentials) - [Blog](https://www.adigileap.com/en/blog) - [Members](https://www.adigileap.com/leapers) Oct 15, 2026, 2:34:29 PM # ELNs Revealed! (1/4) What is an ELN? ![Picture of Nathan Stanley](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/942234015867d4f156b62a571e96ff29) [Nathan Stanley](https://www.adigileap.com/en/blog/author/nathan) # What is an ELN? ![Slide2-3](https://www.adigileap.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Slide2-3.png?width=1280&height=720&name=Slide2-3.png) ELN stands for "Electronic Lab Notebook" which are software / digital alternatives to a paper notebook. Simple!   But is that all they are? Well yes… but also no!   Once upon a time ELNs were a simple replacement for physical notetaking making data capture digital, more reliable, and circumventing the issues that paper diaries cause. Now they’ve matured into a lot more than that, serving as central platforms offering services and functionality like: - **Direct instrument integration** (no more straining your eyes on instrument readouts) - Instrument integration enhances data accuracy, eliminates manual transcription errors and provides a better way to search and make reports of gathered data [\[1\]](https://www.idbs.com/what-is-an-eln/). - **Compliance capabilities** (GxP, ALCOA+, FAIR and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 - Say that 10 times fast!) - Regulatory compliance is one of the main reasons for adopting an ELN for pharma, biotech and chemicals. ELNs must satisfy multiple different guidelines from the above list [\[2\]](https://sgsystemsglobal.com/glossary/alcoa-alcoa/), as well as including audit trails, role-based access, and electronic signatures [\[3\]](https://casrai.org/guides/electronic-lab-notebook-validation-21-cfr-part-11-gxp) which paper notes cannot meet. - **Structured data capture** (no more reading others’ handwriting!) - Data entered to the ELN will be valid information entered into structured fields, cutting down on time burden, poor (information) organisation and difficult information retrieval cited by 63-67% of researchers [\[4\]](https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0355558). - **Broad software integration** (because ELNs can't do it alone!) - ELNs are rarely used by themselves and are often integrated with [**LIMS** (Laboratory Information Management Systems)](https://www.adigileap.com/en/blog/so...-what-actually-is-a-lims), **LES** (Laboratory Execution Systems) and **SDMS** (Scientific Data Management Systems). The standard guide for lab informatics (ASTM E1578) covers all these systems and the degree to which they can be integrated [\[10\]](https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/standard-guide-for-laboratory-informatics-1).   | Did you know? 💡 The private sector was way ahead of academia. ELNs have been widely used in private sector labs for many years, but major universities only recently started offering ELN services to their researchers [\[11\]](https://eln.wisc.edu/about/about-electronic-lab-notebooks/). | | --- |   Further benefits include:![4](https://www.adigileap.com/hs-fs/hubfs/4.png?width=530&height=298&name=4.png) 1. **Eliminating the (frankly, villainous) grip paper has over labs** 2. **Easier result searchability** [\[4\]](https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0355558) 3. **Simplified data copying & backups** [\[5\]](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2969589) 4. **Flexible access controls** [\[5\]](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2969589) 5. **Robust security** [\[1\]](https://www.idbs.com/what-is-an-eln/) 6. **Easier collaboration** [\[6\]](https://oir.nih.gov/sourcebook/intramural-program-oversight/electronic-lab-notebooks/intramural-electronic-lab-notebook-policy) 7. **Data sharing across teams, and the world!** [\[9\]](https://www.sapiosciences.com/blog/driving-long-term-eln-adoption-in-biopharma-rd-after-implementation/)   The structure of ELNs are evolving over time, first with cloud-based SaaS deployments making up around 70% of the market [\[1\]](https://www.idbs.com/what-is-an-eln/) and now AI agents automating experiment documentation and planning [\[7\]](https://clpmag.com/lab-essentials/information-technology/middleware-software/next-gen-lab-notebook-integrates-agentic-technology/) [\[8\]](https://www.benchling.com/blog/ai-tools-for-the-modern-lab), it becomes difficult to decide which one to implement yourself, and why. An ELN may offer you a decent technological leap, but transitioning away from paper or even an older ELN can bring up issues with solution adoption. A proper transition to an ELN should involve phased rollouts, change management [\[9\]](https://www.sapiosciences.com/blog/driving-long-term-eln-adoption-in-biopharma-rd-after-implementation/), and a [consultancy team who cares about the work you’re trying to do](https://www.adigileap.com/about), and the team behind it.   | Did you know? 💡 ELNs can double as legal documents. Lab notebooks (electronic and even paper!) are often maintained as legal documents and can be used as evidence in court, particularly in patent prosecution and intellectual property litigation. ELNs make this easier with built-in audit trails and timestamps. | | --- |   If you’d like to know more, keep reading as we publish more articles on this topic and cover who uses ELNs, best practices on implementation, and the future of ELNs (along with our role, our solutions, and how we can help you with every step of integration!). If you’re looking for consultancy regarding your own ELN implementation, want to hear our thoughts on more digital solutions or if you simply want to talk to someone about issues you’re experiencing in your lab, please [click here to book a meeting with us](https://adigileap.com/meetings/matthew1539?hsCtaAttrib=205124222286&uuid=e104c717-4751-4b36-853a-722c1820dda1) to discuss! See you in the next one. **- Nathan and the ADIGILEAP team.** \[1\] [https://www.idbs.com/what-is-an-eln/](https://www.idbs.com/what-is-an-eln/) \[2\] [https://sgsystemsglobal.com/glossary/alcoa-alcoa/](https://sgsystemsglobal.com/glossary/alcoa-alcoa/) \[3\] [https://casrai.org/guides/electronic-lab-notebook-validation-21-cfr-part-11-gxp](https://casrai.org/guides/electronic-lab-notebook-validation-21-cfr-part-11-gxp) \[4\] [https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0355558](https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0355558) \[5\] [https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract\_id=2969589](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2969589) \[6\] [https://oir.nih.gov/sourcebook/intramural-program-oversight/electronic-lab-notebooks/intramural-electronic-lab-notebook-policy](https://oir.nih.gov/sourcebook/intramural-program-oversight/electronic-lab-notebooks/intramural-electronic-lab-notebook-policy) \[7\] [https://clpmag.com/lab-essentials/information-technology/middleware-software/next-gen-lab-notebook-integrates-agentic-technology/](https://clpmag.com/lab-essentials/information-technology/middleware-software/next-gen-lab-notebook-integrates-agentic-technology/) \[8\] [https://www.benchling.com/blog/ai-tools-for-the-modern-lab](https://www.benchling.com/blog/ai-tools-for-the-modern-lab) \[9\] [https://www.sapiosciences.com/blog/driving-long-term-eln-adoption-in-biopharma-rd-after-implementation/](https://www.sapiosciences.com/blog/driving-long-term-eln-adoption-in-biopharma-rd-after-implementation/) \[10\] [https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/standard-guide-for-laboratory-informatics-1](https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/standard-guide-for-laboratory-informatics-1) \[11\] [https://eln.wisc.edu/about/about-electronic-lab-notebooks/](https://eln.wisc.edu/about/about-electronic-lab-notebooks/)  ## Related posts [![](https://www.adigileap.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-14-2026-01-33-56-9677-PM.png?height=200&name=image-png-Aug-14-2026-01-33-56-9677-PM.png)](https://www.adigileap.com/en/blog/so...-what-actually-is-a-lims) ## [LIMS Unpacked (1 of 4): So... 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[Read more](https://www.adigileap.com/en/blog/lims-unpacked-2-of-4-lims-founders) [![](https://www.adigileap.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_3347.jpeg?height=200&name=IMG_3347.jpeg)](https://www.adigileap.com/en/blog/adigileap-are-on-the-lamb) ## [ADIGILEAP are on the lamb...](https://www.adigileap.com/en/blog/adigileap-are-on-the-lamb) ![Picture of Nathan Stanley](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/942234015867d4f156b62a571e96ff29) [Nathan Stanley](https://www.adigileap.com/en/blog/author/nathan) Sep 4, 2026, 12:41:50 PM The ADIGILEAP team recently embaa-rked on the Wrexham Sheep Trail! The trail has has been... 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", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.adigileap.com/en/blog/eln-1" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "about" : [ { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Electronic Lab Notebook", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_lab_notebook" }, { "@type" : "Thing", "name" : "Laboratory Information Management System", "sameAs" : "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laboratory_information_management_system" } ], "articleBody" : "ELN stands for Electronic Lab Notebook which are software / digital alternatives to a paper notebook. Once upon a time ELNs were a simple replacement for physical notetaking making data capture digital, more reliable, and circumventing the issues that paper diaries cause. 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