AgiLab wants to take advantage of the boom in laboratories computing needs

Interview by Vincent Gallon

14 December 2011

The cosmetic industry’s growing need in terms of advices and of IT solutions is the logical result of the strengthening of the regulatory framework. But at this level, like on many others, the needs of SMEs and of multinational group differ rather strongly. Premium Beauty News has met Renaud Acker and Mohamed Ndiaye, creators and managers of AgiLab, a young company offering solutions fitting the needs of the various cosmetic laboratories.

Premium Beauty News - AgiLab is a young company operating in a booming sector.

Mohamed Ndiaye - It is true that we are witnessing a real explosion in the needs for IT solutions to serve the activity of cosmetic laboratories, mainly because of the strengthening of the regulatory framework. Many companies started business in the sector, often implementing solutions originally designed for the pharmaceutical industry. This is logical since this sector has long been tightly controlled. But solutions offered are more comparable to labyrinthine systems, not easily adaptable to varying needs.

Renaud Acker - And this was precisely our goal when we created in 2009 AgiLab: to propose adaptable and customizable solutions, capable of addressing the specific needs of each company, particularly the needs of SMEs. We have set ourselves a goal to fill a significant gap in the operating mode of laboratories by providing them with an application to support both their business processes and decision-making at a truly affordable cost. It is because of the originality and relevance of the AgiLab project that we were handed the Award ’Paris Innovation’, a business incubator supported by OSEO.

Premium Beauty News - And to achieve this you rely both on a computing and scientific expertise.

Renaud Acker - Both of us have a dual academic background. In my case, I hold a Graduate Diploma of Information Systems, but my basic training is in biology. I have long worked as a functional expert, then as an independent consultant and, as such, I participated in many projects in lab computerization, specially in the installation of IT solutions in major French and European pharmaceutical companies for biologists, chemists and pharmacists.

Mohamed Ndiaye - My basic training is also in biology. I hold a Master of Science in Bioinformatics and of a second Master in management of innovative projects from IAE Montpellier. I was a LIMS project leader (Laboratory Information Management System) for several years. As such, I led several applications Integration projects of LIMS in forensics, in the pharmaceutical industry, fine chemicals and environment.

Premium Beauty News - What does your offer consist of for cosmetics?

Mohamed Ndiaye - We have developed two new products, tailored to the needs of companies in the cosmetics industry.

First AgiLab Compliance, to manage the regulation pertaining to chemicals which are constituents of cosmetics or of chemical formulas. We will deploy a specific version of this module for the L’Oréal group. But it is also perfectly suited to the needs of SMEs. Then AgiLab Formulation, which helps manage ingredients, the composition of formulas, the formulation processes with the associated documents, with the help of formulation plans and to implement the traceability of ingredients required by the new European Regulation on Cosmetics. These are two complementary modules of AgiLims, our global solution for quality control and R&D laboratories. Our philosophy is to offer a hard core of functionalities that we adapt and customize according to the needs of each company.

Renaud Acker - This hard core is relatively simple. Using the set of modules available we can easily meet the needs of both large groups and SMEs, and this in a very cost effective manner. With increasing regulatory constraints, and in particular the implementation of the European Regulation on cosmetics, to which companies must comply by July 2013, the needs of the cosmetic industry are considerable.