Want to migrate your Aperio eSlide Manager image management system (IMS) to a comprehensive, feature-rich IMS like HALO Link or HALO AP® but aren’t sure where to start?  

In this blog post, we interview Andrew Gibson, Integrations Developer at Indica Labs, and discuss what Aperio eSlide Manager data can be migrated, what the steps are in a migration, and how our database experts can work with you to customize your migration and minimize your downtime.  

Thanks to the strategic partnership between Leica Biosystems and Indica Labs announced in January 2025, now is a great time for Aperio eSlide Manager customers to migrate platforms, as both companies are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for our mutual customers. 

Andrew, thanks very much for your time today. Could you tell us a bit about your role as an Integrations Developer? 

Sure, I’d be glad to. I started with the company in 2017 as a software engineer. Today, in my role as an Integrations Developer, I help customers migrate from Aperio eSlide Manager to the HALO platform so they can quickly get up and running with an advanced collaborative IMS without losing existing data. 

At a high level, how does an IMS migration work? 

We have developed an advanced Aperio eSlide Manager migration utility that can be configured according to the customer’s needs. We typically run the migration over a weekend so that we can minimize the downtime between platforms. On Monday morning, they are up and running in the new IMS with the images and data from Aperio eSlide Manager. 

 What are the steps of a typical migration? 

First, I meet with the customer and determine what will be migrated. Then we request the Aperio eSlide Manager database from the customer and confirm which custom metadata fields will be migrated. The migration typically runs on a Friday night, which gives us time to complete the database quality control work over the weekend. If the customer currently has both the HALO Platform and Aperio eSlide Manager in production, we merge the migrated Aperio eSlide Manager database into the HALO production database for the “Go Live.” Alternatively, if they are a new HALO IMS customer, the Aperio eSlide Manager database serves as their starting seed HALO database. And finally, training with our applications team is the last step of the process. Training typically involves several sessions throughout the deployment process and the final sessions are often focused on operationalizing workflows and ensuring that users are both comfortable and confident in their new IMS platform.  

What type of deployment options are available? 

Regardless of whether a customer is deploying HALO Link or HALO AP® in the cloud or on-premise, our team can perform the migration thanks to our expertise in database structure and architecture.  

Will any data sync back to the Aperio eSlide Manager database? 

No, it won’t. Once the Aperio eSlide Manager data has been migrated, the images, annotations, and metadata can be viewed and modified but changes are not sync’d back to the Aperio eSlide Manager instance. So basically, it is a one-time unidirectional transfer of your most valuable digital pathology data that serves as a valuable source of information for future studies. 

Once the data is migrated, how would the user interact with the data? 

Migrated images behave like any other image, and the metadata will function as other metadata does, showing up in advanced searches, etc. So in short, it is a seamless experience for the user. 

Is there any limit on the number of slides or the amount of data that can be migrated? 

With our Aperio eSlide Manager migration utility, there is no limit on the volume of data that can be migrated. The downtime between platforms can be impacted by the volume of data that needs to be migrated, but the volume of data does not affect the price of the migration. 

What value do customers derive from conducting an Aperio eSlide Manager migration? 

I’d say it is two-fold. First, it enables them to maintain access to data, including images, annotations, analysis results, and metadata with minimal downtime. Second, it enables them to move to a leading image management system that is highly flexible with respect to metadata organization. 

Once a customer is migrated, what additional benefits can be realized? 

Common reasons to transfer include the seamless integration with HALO image analysis and AI as the platforms share the same back-end database, access to regular product releases with two major software releases a year plus additional patch releases throughout the year. In addition, HALO supports a wider range of file formats, greater interoperability, extensive organizational capabilities, customizable metadata on a per-study level, and intuitive permissions structure, to name a few. 

Does Indica Labs support migration from IMS other than Aperio eSlide Manager? 

Yes, we have experience migrating from other digital pathology platforms and are ready to help our customers with those projects regardless of the source IMS. 

Andrew, thanks for breaking down the process of migrating an Aperio eSlide Manager database with us today. How can customers learn more about an IMS migration? 

Please reach out to info@indicalab.com and let us know that you’re interested in discussing migrations and deployment services. In collaboration with our partners at Leica Biosystems, we’ll be happy to schedule a call to discuss your deployment and answer any questions you may have. 

_{HALO AP® is CE-IVDR marked for in-vitro diagnostic use in Europe, the UK, and Switzerland. HALO AP® is For Research Use Only in the USA and is not FDA cleared for clinical diagnostic use. In addition, HALO AP® provides built-in compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 11, HIPAA, and GDPR. WBS-MAR-000004v1}