Most labs don’t start the day with production.
They start with browsers.
Log into iTero. Download. Save.
Log into 3Shape. Download. Save.
Log into Medit. Download. Save.
Then open your LMS and type the same patient details again and again.
That’s not a workflow problem. It’s a sanity problem.
The report lays out a familiar timeline: by the time the lab finishes intake admin for ~25 cases, 3.5 hours are gone before any real production begins.
And that’s only the visible cost.
When intake stays manual, you pay in multiple currencies:
And as the report points out: the worst cost is the one that doesn’t show up in a spreadsheet—losing a client because a case was late due to a missed download.
Portal fatigue happens because labs try to scale intake with human effort. The alternative is to centralize intake into one system that checks every portal, downloads every case, and populates work orders automatically.
That’s the Universal Inbox: one connection replaces the daily rotation of 8–12 portals.
Link credentials for all portals (iTero, 3Shape, Medit, Carestream, CEREC, etc.). One-time setup.
The system checks portals on a cadence (e.g., every 15 minutes) and downloads new cases automatically.
Patient name, tooth numbers, shade, material preference, doctor instructions, pulled from scan/Rx files without re-typing.
Cases appear populated and ready to route. Your team reviews and approves, they don’t do repetitive entry.
Every lab has that one person who knows all the logins, rules, and preferences. When they’re out, the lab slows down or stops.
Automated intake removes that single point of failure. The system knows the logins. The system doesn’t take sick days.
And when intake runs overnight, the morning changes: the report describes 2.5 hours recovered every day, shifting the day’s start from administration to production.
The guide recommends a short rollout:
This post is a high-level overview. The full PDF includes the full cost breakdown, rollout checklist, and workflow details.
