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Dotmatics is for discovery research. Seal runs development, the lab, the batch and quality.

Seal, the GxP execution system, is your eBR, your QMS and more. Neil, your AI agent, does the paperwork across your systems. You sign. MiAlgae cut documentation time by 75%. Start with one process beside Dotmatics.

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Where Dotmatics falls short.

From Dotmatics’ own pages and its chief executive.

  • Small molecule solution
    Hit discovery to candidate selection
    Its CEO, April 2026
    “the research portion of research, development and manufacturing”
    Seal
    Process development to the released batch

    Built for discovery.

    Dotmatics’ small molecule solution runs “from hit discovery to candidate selection”. Its chief executive said that on its own it had focused on research. Seal is one set of records, from process development to the released batch.

    Siemens Digital Industries Software, April 2026
  • Dotmatics’ notebook
    R&D
    R&D to manufacturing
    “our Siemens partnership”
    Seal
    One set of records

    Manufacturing goes through Siemens.

    Dotmatics’ notebook page points organisations that want to connect R&D to manufacturing to “our Siemens partnership”. In Seal, batch records and the quality system already run on the same records as the experiments behind them.

    Dotmatics, Electronic Lab Notebook
  • 2012
    Query data, register compounds
    Today
    A central compound registry
    Seal
    Record types your team composes

    A compound registry at its centre.

    Dotmatics’ 2012 products queried data and registered compounds. Its small molecule solution still stores every synthesised compound in a central registry. In Seal, your team composes the record types, their relationships and the steps and checks that use them.

    Dotmatics, Small Molecule Drug Discovery
  • Dotmatics, a workflow
    “Modify processes mid-experiment”
    Seal, a change
    Tested, approved before release
    Seal, earlier runs
    Keep the version they used

    Its workflows change mid-experiment.

    Dotmatics says researchers can “modify processes mid-experiment without disruption”, which suits discovery. In Seal, a change is tested and approved before release, and earlier runs keep the version they used.

    Dotmatics, Luma Lab Workflow Management

See it in Seal.

Real Seal screens with fictional test data: a protocol, the experiment run from it, and a release test on the same records.

  1. 1

    A protocol, structured.

    PR-014 defines each parameter, keeps the calculation with its units, and says what it may be used for.

    Protocol PR-014, assay development, in Seal: a preparation instruction, a table of parameters with defined values and what each experiment records, the method reference and its intended use as a research comparison, not a released QC method.
    1. Units and calculation keptDilute to 2 mg/mL in 10 mL, with the calculation retained.
    2. Structured, not free textEach parameter with its defined value and what the experiment records.
    3. Its intended useResearch comparison; not a released QC method.
  2. 2

    The experiment, linked.

    EXP-043 links its protocol and reagent lot, keeps the instrument file, and is compared with earlier runs.

    Experiment EXP-043, incubation comparison, in Seal: linked protocol PR-014 and reagent lot RG-018, the recorded incubation time, relative signal and source file, and a table comparing it with runs EXP-041 and EXP-042.
    1. Linked to protocol and lotPR-014 and reagent lot RG-018, as records.
    2. Values with their source file30 minutes and 0.76 relative signal, from EXP-043-reader.csv.
    3. Runs comparedSame incubation, different reagent lots; cause not yet established.
  3. 3

    Each result with its method and source.

    Release test S-041-12: every result carries its method version, instrument file and limit, and the batch it came from.

    Sample S-041-12, release testing, in Seal: linked to batch B-041 and a potency preparation, a table of results for potency, impurity A and water content with unit, limit, status, method and source, and water content outside its limit with the investigation open.
    1. The batch it came fromB-041, linked to the sample.
    2. Method and source on every rowEach result keeps its method version, instrument file and limit.
    3. The exception, at the resultWater content 0.72% against ≤ 0.50%, with the investigation open.

What Seal’s customers measured.

Each figure links to the customer’s story.

QualityAcclinate and Skye Biologics

−50%
quality cycle times at Acclinate, from a procedure change to everyone trained.Acclinate
−40%
non-conformances at Skye Biologics, with training checked before execution.Skye Biologics

RecordsMiAlgae and Bioventix

−75%
documentation time at MiAlgae, from the lab to commercial production.MiAlgae
−80%
document admin time at Bioventix, after two decades on paper.Bioventix

Dotmatics and Seal, side by side.

Every source is listed under References.

DotmaticsSeal
What it isLife sciences R&D software¹The GxP execution system: your eBR, your QMS and more
Built forDiscovery research²³Process development, the lab, manufacturing, batch release and quality
Data modelThe registered compound or biologic and its assays; Luma adds configurable models²⁴⁵Primitives your team composes: record types, their relationships, steps and checks
AILuma Agent: analyses data and configures Luma, with approval⁶Neil, Seal’s AI agent, prepares changes to the process; your team approves them
OwnerSiemens, since July 2025¹Opvia Ltd., trading as Seal
A workflow changeAdjusted on demand, even mid-experiment⁵A tested change, approved before release
Manufacturing and qualityThrough its Siemens partnership⁷Batch records and QMS built in
Getting startedIts partner list includes consultancies such as Accenture⁸A 48-hour evaluation of one process, once the scope is agreed and the inputs received

Summary

The story
Dotmatics is good for discovery research. Two Merck scientists, one a medicinal chemist, founded it in 2005 as a spin-out from a multinational pharmaceutical company, and its early products queried chemical and biological data and registered compounds.⁹¹⁰¹¹ Its small molecule solution still runs from hit discovery to candidate selection around a central compound registry.² Siemens bought it in 2025,¹ and in April 2026 its chief executive said that on its own Dotmatics had focused on “the research portion of research, development and manufacturing”.³ Dotmatics says researchers configure Luma’s workflows and data models with no outside consultants,⁵ yet when it launched Luma Agent, its AI, in May 2026 to analyse data, write reports and configure the platform, it said that setting up a schema or data flow had “previously required a specialist services engagement”.⁶ If your work ends at choosing a candidate, it can work well. Most companies then develop, test, make and release it, and need that work on the same records as the research.

1What Dotmatics offers.

Dotmatics sells R&D software: Luma, which it calls an AI-native research platform, its ELN and data discovery platform, and scientific applications such as GraphPad Prism, SnapGene and Geneious.¹²¹³ Siemens completed its acquisition of Dotmatics on 1 July 2025, for an enterprise value of $5.1 billion, and Dotmatics now forms part of Siemens’ Digital Industries Software business.¹ Its notebook covers chemistry and biology in one platform, with search across experiments, results and files, Part 11 controls and AI-generated first-pass write-ups.⁷ For small molecules it tracks synthesis, registers compounds in a central registry and supports structure–activity analysis;² for biologics it tracks vectors, expression conditions, purification protocols and final batches, with registration from the notebook.⁴ Dotmatics says Luma lets researchers configure workflows, tasks and data models themselves,⁵ and since May 2026 Luma Agent can analyse data, generate reports and configure the platform, with a person’s approval before any data changes.⁶

2Running Seal alongside Dotmatics.

Teams start Seal on the first controlled process while discovery data stays where it is. Seal has no dedicated Dotmatics connector. Where a system is not on Seal’s integrations list, Seal’s REST API reads and writes records from another system, and Scripts, versioned Python changed, tested and published like other Seal records, can call an external service after an event or on a schedule. On the Dotmatics side, Luma describes open APIs for connecting to it.¹⁴

Start with read access: for example, read the registered entity and its development assay results into the Seal record that needs them. Treat any write-back to Dotmatics as a separate decision with defined actions, review gates and audit evidence. Agree identifiers and field mappings, test missing, delayed and duplicate records, reconcile what arrives against the source, and record which system is the source of truth for each record. Instrument files can come to Seal directly through the installable Seal IoT agent, which watches an export folder and uploads supported files to a configured Seal record.

3Moving from Dotmatics to Seal.

Start with one method approaching transfer. Nothing else has to move first.

  1. Choose the first controlled job: a method approaching transfer, a release test, or a development assay repeated often enough to need fixed inputs and calculations.
  2. Bring the protocol, a few representative runs and the files behind their results, and decide which registered entities and lots the process must reference. Start with sample material, or arrange an NDA before sharing confidential records.
  3. Neil configures the protocol from your procedure, and your scientists check the inputs, units and calculations. Once the scope is agreed and the inputs received, Seal prepares the first working process and its validation pack to evaluate within 48 hours. Production timing then depends on scope, interfaces, migration and your release requirements.
  4. Test a normal run, missing data, a deliberate variation and a changed protocol.
  5. If records move, scope exports, attachments, metadata, permissions and history first, map reusable fields, preserve the source records and keep gaps visible.

Retention obligations continue for the records that stay in Dotmatics. The ELN blueprint shows the protocol and experiment model in detail.

References

  1. 1Siemens completes acquisition of Dotmatics, Siemens AG, 1 July 2025. https://press.siemens.com/global/en/pressrelease/siemens-completes-acquisition-dotmatics (read 5 November 2026)
  2. 2Small Molecule Drug Discovery Software, Dotmatics. https://www.dotmatics.com/solutions/small-molecule-discovery (read 5 November 2026)
  3. 3Dotmatics CEO Brian Lee on AI, the Acquisition and Fieldwork that Matters, Siemens Digital Industries Software, 29 April 2026. https://blogs.sw.siemens.com/employee-spotlight/2026/04/29/dotmatics-ceo-brian-lee-on-ai-and-structured-data-the-acquisition-and-fieldwork-that-matters/ (read 5 November 2026)
  4. 4Biologics Drug Discovery, Dotmatics. https://www.dotmatics.com/solutions/biologics-discovery (read 5 November 2026)
  5. 5Revolutionize Research with Luma’s Lab Workflow Management Software, Dotmatics. https://www.dotmatics.com/luma/lab-workflow-management-software (read 5 November 2026)
  6. 6Dotmatics introduces Luma Agent: the AI co-scientist built on structured scientific data, Dotmatics, 13 May 2026. https://www.dotmatics.com/news/introducing-luma-agent (read 5 November 2026)
  7. 7Electronic Lab Notebook, Dotmatics. https://www.dotmatics.com/capabilities/electronic-lab-notebook (read 5 November 2026)
  8. 8Partners, Dotmatics. https://www.dotmatics.com/partners (read 5 November 2026)
  9. 9Dotmatics Limited: Company Overview, Dotmatics, archived 1 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120301124328/http://www.dotmatics.com/company.jsp (read 5 November 2026)
  10. 10browser, Dotmatics, archived 1 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120301124032/http://www.dotmatics.com/products_browser.jsp (read 5 November 2026)
  11. 11register, Dotmatics, archived 30 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120430063332/http://www.dotmatics.com/products_register.jsp (read 5 November 2026)
  12. 12The Scientific R&D Platform Powered by AI (Luma), Dotmatics. https://www.dotmatics.com/luma (read 5 November 2026)
  13. 13Siemens acquires Dotmatics to extend AI-powered software portfolio to Life Sciences, Siemens AG, 2 April 2025. https://press.siemens.com/global/en/pressrelease/siemens-acquires-dotmatics-extend-ai-powered-software-portfolio-life-sciences (read 5 November 2026)
  14. 14Lab Orchestration Software, Dotmatics Luma. https://www.dotmatics.com/capabilities/lab-orchestration (read 5 November 2026)

AQuestions and answers

Is Seal better than Dotmatics?

Yes. Dotmatics is good for discovery research. Two Merck scientists, one a medicinal chemist, founded it in 2005 as a spin-out from a multinational pharmaceutical company, and its early products queried chemical and biological data and registered compounds. Its small molecule solution still runs from hit discovery to candidate selection around a central compound registry. Siemens bought it in 2025, and in April 2026 its chief executive said that on its own Dotmatics had focused on “the research portion of research, development and manufacturing”. Dotmatics says researchers configure Luma’s workflows and data models with no outside consultants, yet when it launched Luma Agent, its AI, in May 2026 to analyse data, write reports and configure the platform, it said that setting up a schema or data flow had “previously required a specialist services engagement”. If your work ends at choosing a candidate, it can work well. Most companies then develop, test, make and release it, and need that work on the same records as the research. Seal has no fixed model of one kind of work. It is built from primitives: record types, the relationships between them, and the steps and checks that use them, which your own team composes into your process, with Neil able to prepare each change for approval. So one platform runs process development, the laboratory, manufacturing, batch release and the quality system, and each change becomes a new version, released once its selected tests pass, while earlier runs keep theirs. Moving from paper, MiAlgae cut documentation time by 75% and went from the laboratory to commercial production on one platform.

Is Seal an alternative to Dotmatics?

Yes. Dotmatics is good for small molecule discovery research and points to its Siemens partnership to connect R&D to manufacturing. Seal runs process development, the laboratory, manufacturing, batch release and quality on one platform, so research work carries into controlled development, QC and manufacturing without a hand-off between systems. Teams usually start Seal on one method approaching transfer.

Who owns Dotmatics?

Siemens. It completed its acquisition of Dotmatics on 1 July 2025, for an enterprise value of $5.1 billion, and Dotmatics is now part of Siemens’ Digital Industries Software business.

Does Dotmatics run manufacturing or quality work?

Dotmatics is designed for discovery research. Its product list names no batch record or quality management software, its notebook page points organisations that want to connect R&D to manufacturing to its Siemens partnership, and its chief executive said in April 2026 that on its own the company had focused on research. In Seal, the notebook, laboratory testing, batch records and quality system share one platform.

Can Seal work alongside Dotmatics?

Yes, and it is a low-risk way to start. Seal has no dedicated Dotmatics connector, but its REST API and Scripts can connect a system that is not on its integrations list, and Dotmatics describes open APIs for its Luma platform. Start with read access and agree which system is the source of truth for each record.

How does Dotmatics’ Luma Agent compare with Neil?

Dotmatics launched Luma Agent in May 2026. It analyses data, generates reports and configures Luma’s data models and workflows, with a person’s approval before any data changes. Luma is Dotmatics’ research platform, and its product list names no batch record or quality management software. Neil prepares changes to the process across Seal’s laboratory, manufacturing and quality records, each with its specifications and acceptance tests, for your team to verify and release. In line with the EU’s draft GMP Annex 22 on AI, Neil is not used in GMP execution.

How long does it take to start with Seal?

Once the scope is agreed and the inputs received, Seal prepares a first working process and its validation pack to evaluate within 48 hours, configured from one of your protocols or procedures. Production timing then depends on scope, interfaces, migration and your release requirements.

Start beside Dotmatics.

Start with one method approaching transfer. Seal reads registered entities and results through its REST API and Scripts, so discovery data does not have to move on day one.

Book a demo