Healthcare labs are complex ecosystems; precision-driven, compliance-heavy, and time-critical. When processes depend on paper-based reporting and manual data transfers, even small inefficiencies multiply. For the DRK, this meant:

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• Analog-digital-analog loops: lab results captured by hand, digitised reports, then printed again for signature. 
• High transcription error rates: especially under pressure during pandemic peaks or emergency testing surges.
• Rigid legacy systems: with fixed interfaces that made scaling or integrating new devices difficult. 

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The DRK needed future-ready infrastructure: something that could centralise data handling, connect seamlessly with medical devices from a wide variety of providers, and scale up instantly in response to demand spikes.

But this couldn’t come at the cost of availability. Lives depended on continuous lab operations. Downtime wasn’t an option.

Gloster approached the project with a DevOps mindset from day one — balancing innovation speed with operational safety. The solution was built around microservices, containerisation, and continuous delivery, ensuring flexibility and resilience across all environments.

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1. Microservices Architecture with Docker and Kubernetes 

Instead of a static, on-premises LIMS that risked full-system downtime from small component failures, Gloster implemented a microservices-based architecture. Each component, from data ingestion to user management, was containerised using Docker and orchestrated via Kubernetes.

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2. Cloud-First Deployment

To meet DRK’s geographics and operational needs, Gloster implemented a cloud-first deployment strategy. The entire platform runs in the cloud — no on-premises installation is required. 

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New virtual labs can be deployed anywhere with a secure internet connection, dramatically reducing onboarding time. From a single web interface, new labs are provisioned in minutes, not weeks.  

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3. Identity and Access Management with Keycloak

Security is paramount in healthcare IT. Gloster integrated Keycloak for centralised authentication and authorisation. This provided single sign-on (SSO) capabilities and fine-grained access control, ensuring compliance with GDPR and healthcare data protection regulations. 

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The integration supports role-based access, federated identity, and two-factor authentication, providing both security and usability for DRK personnel. 

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4. REST APIs for Seamless Integrations

Interoperability was another major priority. Using RESTful APIs, Gloster ensured the system could easily communicate with laboratory devices, external partners, and data analytics platforms. 

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This API-driven design allows the DRK to integrate new technologies — from AI-driven diagnostics to reporting dashboards — without touching core system components.

API-first architecture means faster integrations and future flexibility.

Gloster’s engineering team combined disciplined DevOps practices with healthcare-specific domain knowledge to deliver a platform that was both robust and adaptable. 

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Key technical and operations achievements include: 

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• Virtual labs in minutes: A self-service web interface allows new labs to be spun up instantly in secure cloud environments. 
• In-house adapter framework: A Gloster-built framework accelerates the integration of new devices, reducing development time for adapters from weeks to days.
• Hardware compatibility: Full support for leading lab devices, including Roche, Abbott, Immucor, Beckman Coulter, and Biorad. 

Decoupled services: Each microservice can be deployed, scaled, or updated independently, ensuring maximum uptime and continuous improvement.

For the DRK, the move to a cloud-native LIMS was not just an infrastructure success; it was a measurable operational leap forward. 

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• 70% reduction in manual data entry errors: Automation and direct device integrations eliminated the most common human error points. 
• 60% faster sample processing: Digital workflows replaced paper queues, accelerating throughput, even under high pressure. 
• 99.9% uptime: Continuous deployment pipelines and Kubernetes orchestration ensured resilient operations, even during system updates.

Future-ready architecture: The platform is already supporting expansion to additional European labs without new infrastructure investment.

The DRK project provides valuable insights for any organisation navigating digital transformation at scale, especially where mission-critical uptime and data integrity are non-negotiable. 

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1. Cloud-Native Architecture Enables True Scalability

Kubernetes-based orchestration offers elastic scaling and fault tolerance that traditional systems simply can’t match. When workloads spike, resources scale automatically; when demand drops, the system contracts, minimising cost. 

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2. Decoupled Microservices Accelerate Innovation

With each service independently deployable, new features or bug fixes can be released continuously — without downtime. This reduces risk and shortens development cycles, aligning with agile and CI/CD best practices. 

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3. Vendor-Neutral Design Enhances Long-Term Value

By avoiding hardware or cloud-vendor lock-in, DRK’s LIMS ensures future adaptability. Procurement teams can onboard new device suppliers without costly system rewrites, a key differentiator for large-scale healthcare operations.

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While the DRK use case is rooted in healthcare, the architectural principles apply across industries:

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• Manufacturing: Real-time process monitoring with scalable microservices. 
• Finance: High-availability transaction systems using cloud orchestration.
• Public Sector: Secure, API-first platforms that interconnect legacy systems. 

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In each case, the combination of DevOps automation, cloud-native design, and modular architectures delivers measurable performance gains and operational resilience. 

At Gloster, DevOps is not just a methodology; it’s a culture of engineering excellence. Our teams combine open-source innovation with deep domain expertise to deliver solutions that are both technically advanced and operationally practical. 

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We emphasise:

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• Automation over manual configuration
• Observability from day one
• Security baked into every layer
• Continuous improvement through CI/CD pipelines

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These principles guide every project, ensuring clients like the DRK not only modernise their systems but also gain long-term agility and resilience.

For the German Red Cross, modernising lab operations was more than a technical challenge; it was a humanitarian imperative. Through a cloud-native, Kubernetes-powered LIMS, Gloster delivered a system that’s faster, safer, and ready for the future.

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The success proves a powerful point: when DevOps principles meet human-centered design, scalability becomes not just a technical goal, but a strategic enabler for better outcomes — in healthcare and beyond.

‍Discover how Gloster’s DevOps expertise can help your organisation build resilient, cloud-native solutions. Connect with us today to learn more.