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Case study · Business module · University research

Polaris —
biological sample storage
management module

The Polaris module manages the storage of biological samples in freezers within a university research environment. Built by Prinweb for the DataSquid platform at Biopole Lausanne, it tracks positions, responsible persons and dates while optimising space occupancy.

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PolarisStorageModule.php
// Polaris module — DataSquid / UNIL Biopole, Lausanne
// Biological sample storage tracking in freezers
 
class PolarisStorageModule
{
  public function trackSamplePosition(): void
  {
    $this->recordFreezerPosition($sample);
    $this->assignResponsiblePerson($sample);
    $this->logEntryExitDates($sample);
  }
 
  public function optimizeSpaceOccupancy(): void
  {
    $this->suggestFreezerSlots($this->storageOptimizer);
  }
}
Laravel 11 Filament 3 PHP 8.3 MySQL Business module

In brief

The Polaris module is a biological sample storage management module designed and integrated by Prinweb Sàrl into the Filament back-office of the DataSquid platform at Biopole Lausanne (UNIL). It tracks the position of samples in freezers, the responsible person, entry and exit dates, and optimises space occupancy.

01 · Context

A university research environment

The DataSquid platform is used by a research team at the University of Lausanne, at Biopole Épalinges. It relies on a Filament back-office already in place for the team's needs.

Biological samples to locate

Biological samples are stored in freezers. Knowing where each sample is, who is responsible for it and when it entered or left is part of the team's daily work.

02 · The business need

The need was about storage tracking, a specific scope within the platform:

Centralise storage information

Bring sample and location information together in a single interface, instead of scattered tracking.

Track sample positions

Know a sample's position in the freezers, the responsible person, and entry and exit dates.

Optimise space occupancy

Make better use of limited freezer capacity by suggesting relevant locations.

Offer an interface suited to the team

A tool non-technical people can use daily, integrated into the back-office they already know.

03 · The solution

A Laravel module, not a rewrite

Prinweb contributed the Polaris module to the existing platform without rewriting the application: the storage business logic integrates cleanly into the code in place.

Integration into the existing Filament back-office

The module fits into the Filament back-office the research team already uses, limiting training and changes in working habits.

Structured data

Samples, locations and freezers are modelled clearly, with the tracking criteria defined together with the team.

A maintainable architecture

A foundation built to evolve: the module can be extended and maintained over the long term, within durable Laravel maintenance.

04 · Key features

The confirmed features of the module:

Position in freezers Responsible person for the sample Entry and exit dates Space occupancy optimisation Integration into the existing Filament back-office

05 · Project constraints

Domain-specific business rules

The rules of a research laboratory do not generalise: every storage constraint was understood before being translated into software.

Complex structured data

Samples, locations and freezers form a set of related data that must stay coherent and reliable.

Non-technical users

The interface must remain simple and readable for scientists and laboratory staff, without technical jargon.

Evolving within an existing environment

The module integrates with a platform already in production: the contribution does not disrupt the rest of the system.

06 · Prinweb's approach

01 · Understand the laboratory rules

Listen to the team and understand the real storage flow before modelling anything.

02 · Translate the workflow into software

Turn the scientific process into structured data and clear user journeys.

03 · Contribute on a targeted scope

Work on the Polaris module only, respecting the architecture of the existing platform.

04 · Optimise space occupancy

Add location suggestions to make better use of freezer capacity.

05 · Validate and hand over the codebase

Deliver a tested, documented module that the team — and later another developer — can take over without losing information.

06 · Prepare for what comes next

A maintainable foundation that can evolve with the laboratory's needs, just like a custom business application.

07 · Technologies

Laravel 11 Filament 3 PHP 8.3 MySQL

Only technologies confirmed by the project are listed.

08 · What this project demonstrates

Understanding specialised domain rules in a research environment

Building a business module for university research

Structuring complex data (samples, locations, freezers)

Clean integration into an existing Filament back-office

Interfaces adapted to non-technical business teams

Collaborating with an institutional university environment

Maintainable Laravel and Filament development

Delivered on time

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Your workflow to digitise

Have a scientific or business workflow to digitise?

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