Why Lucullus® Stands Out Compared to Other Bioprocess Software Platforms

Introduction 

Choosing the right software for bioprocess development and production has become a strategic decision. Modern bioprocess teams no longer need software only to control a bioreactor. They need a connected digital environment that integrates equipment, collects reliable data, automates workflows, supports sampling and analytics, simplifies reporting, and lays the foundation for process understanding.

The market includes several strong solutions, each with a different focus. Some platforms are closely connected to specific equipment ecosystems. Others are designed for manufacturing-scale automation, PAT, data analytics, or enterprise data management. Lucullus® by Securecell stands out because it combines

• bioprocess SCADA,

• process information management,

• workflow automation,

• data integration, and

• reporting

in one vendor-agnostic platform.

Different software categories, different strengths

Bioprocess software solutions are often compared as if they all serve the same purpose. In reality, they belong to different categories.

Solutions such as Biobrain® Supervise, eve®, DASware® control, V-Control, and DeltaV™ are primarily used for process monitoring, control, automation, or SCADA-like functions. They are closest to the equipment and are highly relevant for users who need reliable real-time process supervision.

Platforms such as Qubicon and synTQ focus more strongly on real-time process monitoring, PAT, process models, advanced process control, and quality-centric decision-making. They are especially relevant when the main requirement is model-based control, analyzer integration, or multivariate process understanding.

Other solutions, including Invert Bio and Genedata Bioprocess®, are positioned more as data infrastructure, analytics, AI, or enterprise process development platforms. These tools are strong when organizations need to harmonize large datasets, structure development knowledge, or support cross-functional CMC workflows. However, they are not direct replacements for a bioprocess SCADA or operational control layer.

Lucullus® occupies a valuable position between these categories. It is close enough to the process to support monitoring and control, but broad enough to support process data management, workflow automation, reporting, sampling workflows, and integration with external tools.

Compact comparison matrix 

Legend: ++ = strong fit/core strength; + = available or average fit; - = weak fit or not primary focus.

Vendor-agnostic integration as a key advantage

One of the most important advantages of Lucullus® is its vendor-agnostic approach. Many bioprocess laboratories use mixed equipment environments. A team may operate bioreactors from different suppliers, connect external analyzers, use automated sampling systems, and work with various data sources. In such environments, software that is strongly tied to one equipment ecosystem can become limiting.

Biobrain® Supervise is a strong solution for Sartorius-centered environments. DASware® control is especially relevant for Eppendorf and DASGIP users. V-Control is closely connected with Getinge Applikon bioreactors and DeltaV-based automation. eve® is highly attractive for INFORS HT users and mixed bioreactor setups. These systems can be very effective, but their strongest value is often realized within their own equipment ecosystems.

Lucullus® differentiates itself by providing a central digital layer for heterogeneous bioprocess environments. It helps connect bioreactors, sensors, analyzers, samplers, and workflows across different device landscapes. This makes it particularly valuable for process development teams, CDMOs, and laboratories that do not want to be locked into one hardware supplier.

More than classical SCADA

Classical SCADA software is essential for process monitoring, signal visualization, alarms, recipes, and data acquisition. However, bioprocess development requires more than real-time control. Teams need to understand what happened during a run, compare batches, manage sample-related data, evaluate process performance, and generate reliable reports.

Lucullus® combines SCADA functionality with process information management. This means it supports not only the operation of the process but also the organization, contextualization, evaluation, and reporting of process data. Compared with equipment-specific control software, this broader scope gives Lucullus® a stronger role as a digital backbone for bioprocess development.

This is especially important when data from online sensors, offline analytics, manual events, sampling points, feed strategies, and calculated parameters must be connected in one consistent process record.

Strong support for workflow automation

Bioprocess development is dynamic. Scientists and engineers need to adapt process strategies, automate feeding, trigger actions based on time or events, implement calculations, and connect external systems. Lucullus® is well suited for these advanced workflows.

Compared with systems that mainly focus on equipment operation, Lucullus® provides a broader framework for process automation and digital workflow execution. It can support complex automation logic, online calculations, and integration with external applications. This makes it useful not only for routine process monitoring but also for advanced process development, PAT workflows, and data-driven process optimization.

DeltaV™ is very strong for manufacturing-scale automation and plant-level control. However, it is often more engineering-heavy and less focused on flexible R&D process development. Lucullus® is better positioned for teams that need a practical, bioprocess-specific platform for flexible laboratory and pilot-scale environments.

Sampling and offline data workflows

One area where Lucullus® has a particularly strong advantage is the connection between process control, sampling, and analytics. Real process understanding depends not only on online measurements, but also on offline and at-line data such as biomass, metabolites, product concentration, osmolality, pH, gases, and other analytical results.

Many software platforms can display process trends, but fewer provide a strong workflow around sampling events, offline data handling, and integration with automated sampling systems. Lucullus® is especially compelling when used together with Securecell’s Numera® technology. This enables a more integrated approach to automated sampling, analyzer connectivity, data assignment, and process control.

For laboratories moving toward PAT and automated bioprocess development, this connection is highly valuable. It reduces manual handling, improves data consistency, and helps bring analytical information closer to the control strategy.

Data transparency and reporting

In many bioprocess organizations, data is still fragmented across equipment software, spreadsheets, lab notebooks, historians, and separate analytical systems. This makes it difficult to compare runs, review process performance, and prepare reliable reports.

Lucullus® helps centralize and structure bioprocess data. It supports visualization, evaluation, reporting, and export, allowing users to move from isolated data sources toward a more transparent digital process environment.  

This is an important advantage compared with software that is focused mainly on device control or raw data collection.

Compared with data-centric platforms such as Invert Bio or Genedata Bioprocess®, Lucullus® operates closer to the process. While enterprise data platforms are valuable for long-term knowledge management, Lucullus® provides the operational process layer where data is generated, contextualized, and acted upon.

Conclusion

Each competing software platform has its strengths. Biobrain® Supervise is strong in Sartorius-centered SCADA environments. eve® is attractive for INFORS HT and browser-based bioprocess control. DASware® control fits Eppendorf and DASGIP workflows. V-Control is powerful for Getinge Applikon users seeking DeltaV-based automation. DeltaV™ is highly relevant for large-scale manufacturing automation. Qubicon and synTQ are strong in advanced monitoring, PAT, and model-based control. Invert Bio and Genedata Bioprocess® are important for data infrastructure, AI, and enterprise development knowledge.

Lucullus® stands out because it combines several critical capabilities in one vendor-agnostic platform: bioprocess SCADA, process information management, workflow automation, sampling integration, data acquisition, evaluation, and reporting. For organizations working with heterogeneous equipment, complex workflows, and increasing data requirements, Lucullus® offers a flexible and future-oriented software foundation for connected bioprocessing.