The "Paper Anchor": In regulated industries (Food, Pharma, Chem), you cannot ship the product until the paperwork is reviewed. Paper batch records delay release by days.
The "Review by Exception": Digital EBR software highlights errors instantly (e.g., missing signature), allowing Quality teams to review only the exceptions, not every page.
The Top 5: We review Fabrico, MasterControl, Siemens, and others to help you digitize your "Travelers" and "Batch Sheets."
If you manufacture Food, Beverage, Chemicals, or Pharmaceuticals, your product is only as good as its paperwork.
The Batch Record is the story of the product. It proves you followed the recipe, cleaned the line, and performed the quality checks.
But when that record is on paper, it becomes a bottleneck.
Technicians miss signatures.
Paper gets stained or lost.
Quality Assurance (QA) spends days reviewing stacks of binders before they can release the pallet for shipping.
Electronic Batch Record (EBR) software solves this. It validates data at the point of entry, ensuring "Right First Time" documentation.
Here are the 5 Best EBR Software Tools for 2025.
Best For: Manufacturers who want to link Batch Compliance with Machine Reliability.
Fabrico challenges the idea that you need a multi-million euro MES to digitize batch records. We offer an "Agile EBR" that replaces paper logs with smart digital workflows.
Line Clearance & Setup: Fabrico forces the operator to complete the "Line Clearance" checklist (with photos) before the OEE counter starts for the new batch.
Integrated Maintenance Logs: Most EBRs miss the maintenance context. Fabrico proves that the machine was maintained (e.g., filter changed, calibrated) during the batch run, linking asset health to product quality.
Digital Signatures (21 CFR Part 11): Fabrico captures user-stamped, time-stamped signatures for every process step. You can prove exactly who added the ingredient and when.
Exception Management: If a critical parameter (e.g., Temperature) goes out of spec, Fabrico flags the batch immediately. QA doesn't have to read the whole log; they just look at the flags.
The Verdict: If you want a streamlined digital record that connects Production, Quality, and Maintenance, Fabrico is the modern choice.
Best For: Life Sciences and heavy FDA compliance.
MasterControl is the "Gold Standard" for Quality Management in Pharma and MedDev.
Pros: Unmatched integration with the Quality Management System (QMS). If a batch fails, it launches a CAPA (Corrective Action) automatically. It handles the rigorous document versioning required by the FDA perfectly.
Cons: It is a "Quality" tool, not a "Shop Floor" tool. It can be disconnected from the actual machine data (PLCs). Operators often find the interface heavy compared to modern apps.
The Difference: MasterControl manages the compliance; Fabrico manages the execution.
Best For: High-volume, automated Pharma & Biotech.
Siemens Opcenter (formerly SIMATIC IT) is the heavyweight EBR for fully automated lines.
Pros: Deep integration with automation. It can pull precise dosing values directly from the SCADA system into the batch record without human input. It handles complex "Weigh & Dispense" workflows brilliantly.
Cons: Extremely expensive and complex. It is designed for billion-euro pharma plants. It is overkill for a food or chemical plant that just needs to digitize a paper traveler.
The Difference: Siemens is for the automated line; Fabrico is for the agile line.
Best For: Custom batch apps.
Tulip allows you to build your own "Batch App."
Pros: Flexibility. You can design a screen that looks exactly like your old paper form, making training easy. You can integrate IoT scales to verify ingredient weights automatically.
Cons: You have to build and maintain the logic. It requires an internal engineering champion to ensure the "App" stays compliant with regulations.
The Difference: Tulip is a builder's toolkit; Fabrico is a turnkey platform.
Best For: Cloud ERP with built-in production tracking.
Plex offers EBR as part of its "Smart Manufacturing Platform."
Pros: Total traceability. Since it is also an ERP, it tracks the lot number from the raw material receiving dock all the way to the finished goods shipment.
Cons: It is a massive system replacement. You don't just buy the EBR module; you usually buy into the whole Plex ecosystem.
The Difference: Plex is a total business change; Fabrico is a focused operational upgrade.
| Feature | Fabrico | MasterControl | Siemens | Tulip | Plex |
| Primary Focus | Ops & Maintenance | Quality (QMS) | Pharma MES | Custom Apps | ERP/MES |
| Maintenance Link | ✅ Native | ❌ No | ⚠️ Module | ⚠️ DIY | ✅ Native |
| User Experience | Modern | Corporate | Complex | Modern | Good |
| Deploy Speed | Weeks | Months | Years | Months | Months |
| Cost | Mid-Market | Premium | Premium | High | High |
The goal of an EBR is to ship good product faster.
Choose Siemens if you are running a fully automated vaccine line.
Choose MasterControl if your primary pain point is FDA document audits.
Choose Fabrico if you are a Manufacturer. If you want to digitize your batch records, ensure machines were maintained correctly during the run, and speed up your line clearance processes, Fabrico is the integrated solution.
Ship faster.
[Book a Demo with Fabrico] to see how our Digital Batch Records reduce review time and eliminate errors.
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