Notion for Lab Procurement & Inventory Management



Presented by:
Bixa Ogola




Presented at:
Kenya Medical Research Institute - Center of Global Health (KEMRI-CGHR)

21 May 2025

Introduction

  • Notion is a flexible workspace that combines note-taking, project management, databases, and collaboration tools into a highly customizable platform for individuals and teams

Key Features:

  • All-in-One Workspace

  • Rich Text Editor

  • Customizable Blocks and Templates

  • Task and Project Management


  • Database Management

  • Real-Time Collaboration

  • Integrations and Web Clipper

Why Notion

Advantage Explanation
All-in-One Versatility

  • Notion integrates note-taking, project management, databases, and task tracking into one interface.

  • A holistic workspace beyond Excel’s focus on numerical data.
Customizability & Design

  • Its block-based design allows for flexible, drag-and-drop page layouts and content customization.

  • Create visually appealing and tailored dashboards, unlike Excel’s static grid.
Integrated Collaboration
  • Notion offers real-time collaborative editing and comprehensive sharing options including **publishing pages online* |
  • Excel’s collaboration is often more limited.
Advantage Explanation
Contextual Data Management

  • Notion blends structured data with narrative context, links, and multimedia enhancing understanding of data beyond raw numbers.

  • Notion forms allow shareable forms for capturing data into Notion
Ease of Import & Integration

  • Notion supports importing and exporting Excel files

  • Integrations with multiple apps like google drive, zoom, dropbox, GitHub, Slack, SharePoint and many more.

How it works

Notion works on PC (windows/Mac) and phone or tablet (Android/iOS)

Notion Pages

  • Similar to a word document/notepad i.e. its a blank page where you can add blocks onto

  • Pages can be structured from parent to child pages. Child pages are nested within parent pages

  • Parent page (A) –> child page (B) –> grand-child page (C)

  • Pages can also be structured in a non-nested format (like word documents)

    • Page A
    • Page B
Notion Blocks
  • These are like little building pieces/blocks you use to create your pages.

These blocks can be

  • To-do block (for listing out to do list)
  • Bulleted list block
  • Numbered list block
  • Toggle block
  • Quote block
  • Callout block
  • Image block
  • Video
  • Image
  • Embed
  • Code
  • Database
  • Equation
  • Page
  • Table
Notion Databases
  • A Database is like a digital spreadsheet or table that organizes information in a flexible, customizable way.
  • Each item in entered in rows with columns specifying property/information for the item entered.

All columns can have one of the following properties:

  • Text
  • Number
  • Date/Date and Time
  • Select/Multi-select
  • Formula
  • Checkbox
  • URL
  • Email
  • Phone
  • Relation
  • Rollup
  • Person
  • Created time

Example

  • Properties are like data validations in Excel

  • In notion, you create the validation before starting to use/enter data within the column

Pricing Plans

Notion Price

Notion Price

Notion Price

Notion Price

Limitations

Limitation Description
Steep Learning Curve Notion’s extensive features and deep customization options can be overwhelming for newcomers who struggle to set up an intuitive workspace.
Complex or Cluttered Interface The flexibility that allows endless customization can also lead to a cluttered interface, making navigation and organization challenging for some users.
Limited Offline Functionality Notion is primarily cloud-based with limited offline function.
Performance Issues with Large Databases When workspaces grow heavy with complex pages or large volumes of data, Notion can sometimes slow down, impacting efficiency and responsiveness.
Limitation Description
Limited free version

  • Limit of uploading individual file sizes (5 MB per file)

  • Page history limited to 30 days

  • Only 10 guests per account
Mobile App Constraints The mobile app experience can be less robust or user-friendly compared to the desktop version
Lack of Advanced, Specialized Features While Notion is remarkably versatile, it might not offer all the specialized functionalities found in dedicated project management or data analysis software, making it less suitable for users with niche requirements.
Pricing Model Concerns Notion’s pricing structure is quite pricey especially for teams or organizations

Want to know more?

Practicing Notion


  • Accessing Notion
    • Log in as guest
    • Log in with Notion account
    • Notion websites are viewable
  • Showcasing ASH Lab inventory Management System within Notion
  • Importing and Exporting Excel files within Notion