Why FOM?

Why FOM? It will automate all the tedious tasks that you can think of when managing shared resources in a scientific laboratory. To help you make your decision, we listed here the benefits of using FOM from various users' points of view.

IT Administrators

• FOM uses pure HTML and Javascript, with a java backend
• The FOM User Interface is supported by all the common internet browsers
• There is no need to install any software on the client side
• A well-designed and user-friendly interface
• FOM supports optional hardware instrument access control

Instrument Managers

• Get rid of all the paper logsheets. All the tasks are done online
• Unlike other general purpose calendars, FOM is designed with the management of scientific instruments in mind
• You can manage your instrument even when you are away from your office
• Have everything organized: user training and authorization, consumables tracking and re-ordering, and many more
• You have full control on all of the usage details of an instrument
• FOM accommodates the most complicated yet easy to configure rules and fee structures in facility management
• The FOM designers are real-life facility managers, so you have no language barrier when talking about software customization.

Business Administrators

• Better communication with all users, supervisors, vendors, and manufacturers' tech supports
• Fully automated billing and invoicing
• Only one click is needed to download statistical reports, with fully customizable styles and formats
• Track back auditing records in an instant
• Financial plans and budgeting is made easy

Supervisors

• As a group leader, you want to know how your group members best utilize shared resources
• FOM provides the most accurate information that you need, at any time when you want, in any format you desire

Internal Users

• When you need to use a shared resource, you do not need to ask around how and when you may use it
• Just register an account in FOM and all of the resource schedules are listed there
• You can get a detailed usage report at any time without talking with the facility manager
• If there's a problem, you may report it conveniently with automatic emails to the manager
• You can purchase supplies whenever you need to, without talking to a manager

External Users

• You can see the schedule and reserve your session at work, at home, or in another country
• You may request technical assistance, discuss collaborations, and upload or download experiment results whenever you need to
• You will receive accurate invoice documents with detailed usage information
• You can check the invoiced records with your own FOM downloads to make sure the invoice is accurate

Funding agencies

• No matter what type of reports you need or how often you need them, FOM always has it ready
• F0M can provide any data, including how the funded resources have been used, accurately

 

For a comparison of the online calendars that are commonly used in the scientific laboratories, please click here.

For a comparison of different types of FOM licenses and their functions, please click here.