The Biotech Buyer’s Guide to Lab Distributors vs. Suppliers

When it comes to sourcing scientific products, should biotech companies buy directly from lab suppliers or go through lab distributors? The answer isn’t always clear, especially when the stakes include research delays, regulatory risk, and budget overages.

In this guide, we’ll unpack the key differences between distributors and suppliers, the tradeoffs of each, and why many biotech teams are moving to centralized procurement platforms that provide access to both, with more control and less chaos.

What’s the difference between a lab supplier and a lab distributor?

Let’s start with the basics.

• A lab supplier is typically the manufacturer or brand that produces a specific scientific product. Suppliers may sell directly to labs, especially when it comes to high-value or specialized scientific equipment, reagents, or kits.
• A lab distributor acts as an intermediary, purchasing products from multiple suppliers and reselling them. Distributors may stock inventory regionally and bundle multiple brands in a single order.

Think of it like this: If you’re buying a pipette made by Brand X, the supplier is Brand X itself. A distributor might carry Brand X’s pipettes alongside several others, but charge a markup on each.

Pros and cons of each

In short: suppliers offer deeper product knowledge, while distributors offer more convenience. But both options still require time-consuming procurement processes and may leave savings opportunities on the table.

Why this matters more in biotech lab procurement

For R&D-driven teams, lab procurement isn’t just about getting the cheapest option, it’s about getting the right item, from a trusted source, at the right time.

Biotech adds layers of complexity:

• Regulatory scrutiny around traceability, documentation, and SOPs
• Evolving needs as protocols change or scale
• Tight timelines where a single backorder can derail an experiment

Procurement delays can be extremely costly: on average, clinical trial expenses run $40,000/day, and each day of delay may incur up to $500,000 in lost drug sales, according to Applied Clinical Trials. Further, a study published in JAMA revealed that over 70% of trials finish more than a year behind schedule, driven largely by bottlenecks in equipment acquisition and approvals. 

Why biotech teams are shifting to smart procurement platforms

Instead of choosing between managing supplier and distributor relationships separately, many biotech companies are turning to biotech procurement solutions that do both, such as ZAGENO.

Here’s how procurement platforms compare when added to the mix:

Read more: Biotech Procurement Solution Comparison: What to Look for and What to Avoid

Future-proofing your lab’s buying strategy

The supplier vs. distributor question used to define how biotech labs operated. But in today’s environment, with supply chain volatility, and growing regulatory pressure, it’s no longer a binary choice.

Instead, the smartest teams are building procurement strategies that combine the reach of distributors with the reliability of suppliers, all managed through a flexible, centralized platform.

Ready to simplify your lab supply sourcing?

Explore how ZAGENO can give your team total control, greater visibility, and fewer vendor headaches, all while improving speed to science. Request a demo today.

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Related resources

Procurement vs. Purchasing: What’s the Difference in Lab Supplies and Scientific Equipment?

Understanding Direct and Indirect Procurement in Lab Equipment and Lab Supplies

How to Build a Business Case for Biotech Procurement Software