Aleck Beverly, Business Development Manager at ITI Group, North America
Here’s the question no one wants to address about their SCADA platform: “Is your SCADA system ready to meet the challenges of modern industrial operations?” For many, this question boils down to: “How can I increase production and efficiency without major capital investment?” Achieving this requires a holistic understanding of your production processes and identifying areas where opportunities for efficiency may exist. Legacy SCADA systems will hold you back in today’s competitive, data-driven world. A competitive edge can often be achieved just as effectively by analyzing the data generated by your processes as by investing millions in new equipment, production lines, or facilities.
A modern SCADA system offers significant flexibility to collect and process data, manage operational execution, and seamlessly interface with both users and systems. With advanced integration and customization capabilities, it’s designed to address the unique challenges of today’s industrial environments. At ITI Group, we experience this every day, especially when integrating SCADA into facilities with the classic “one-of-everything” setup. Many businesses have historically invested in the best (technological or financial) solution available at the time – whether technological or financial – often bypassing operational standards to address immediate needs. As a result, a SCADA solution must have the inherent capability to work seamlessly with diverse technologies within a facility. We’re also seeing a lot of analytical tools in the market that are simply bolt-on solutions for modern SCADA systems. These tools can be hugely beneficial, offering seamless integration and cost-effective enhancements that deliver a favourable return on investment (ROI). Going back to the original question: “How do I increase production?” – this is a great place to start.
As manufacturers generate and analyze more data than ever before, connectivity and real-time intelligence are no longer optional – they’re essential. Outdated systems not only reduce operational efficiency but also expose businesses to Cyber Security risks, integration challenges, and high maintenance costs. ITI Group work with many clients in regulated industries who are often forced to invest in these technologies due to governmental pressures. The consequence of this is a missed opportunity of epic proportion. Modernizing your operational technology should not simply be a box-checking exercise when you can easily prove tangible business improvements such as increased production, reduced material consumption, improved labour utilization, and countless other metrics. Don’t forget: This technology when implemented thoughtfully is designed to cross the bounds of People, Process, and Technology (remember at the beginning we said: “A holistic understanding of your production process”).
When creating your business case, here’s some reasons why upgrading to a modern, flexible SCADA platform can help you stay competitive.
Key Reasons to Upgrade Your SCADA System
1) Reduce High Licensing Costs
Legacy SCADA systems often come with high and complex licensing costs tied to databases and operating systems. Modern SCADA platforms offer simple licensing models, reducing costs and simplifying management – giving you peace of mind and financial predictability. Often, these tools can do more than traditional SCADA, enabling the licenses to be further utilized to create point-solutions to address other operational challenges in the plant.
2) Enhance Operational Security
Outdated security technologies in legacy systems leave operations vulnerable to cyber-attacks, which can disrupt production and impact business continuity. Modern SCADA platforms are designed with robust, up-to-date security measures to safeguard your operations against ever-evolving threats.
3) Ensure Ongoing Maintenance and Support
Many legacy SCADA platforms have reached their end-of-life (EOL) and no longer receive support from their software vendors. This creates immense risks, such as limited modernization options, and challenges in transferring knowledge as expert operators retire. Upgrading ensures you have access to vendor support and a future-ready system. Many organizations delay this upgrade until they’re racing to meet regulatory deadlines. This reactive approach shifts the focus of the upgrade from achieving operational excellence to regulatory box-checking. Don’t let yourself fall into this trap and miss the opportunity to drive meaningful improvement instead.
4) Scale Your System Without Limits
Technology solutions need to be maintainable, reliable, and scalable to other facilities. Adding new functionality such as tags, screens, or PLC connectivity on a legacy system often incurs high licensing and support costs. Modern SCADA platforms eliminate these limitations with unlimited licensing models, saving both time and money while enabling scalable growth.
5) Seamlessly Integrate New Technology
Legacy systems often struggle to integrate with new production equipment and technologies, creating bottlenecks in digitisation efforts. Modern SCADA platforms enable smooth integration, enhancing compatibility and performance to keep you ahead of the curve.
Take the next step in upgrading your SCADA System
By thinking creatively and leveraging the capabilities of a modern SCADA platform, manufacturers can solve complex challenges, optimize their operations, and drive innovation.
At ITI Group, we’ve witnessed the transformative power of modern SCADA systems in action – proving to be flexible, powerful, and capable of addressing specific business needs. Leveraging the expertise of our ITI Consulting team, we help clients solve unique challenges and implement tailored solutions that deliver tangible results. Whether your goal is to optimize existing processes or embark on a Digital Transformation journey, upgrading to a modern SCADA platform offers a flexible, scalable, and cost-effective solution.
From enhanced operational visibility to maximised efficiency, ITI Group helps clients to unlock the full potential of their SCADA systems.
Learn more about ITI Group’s SCADA solutions here.
Contact us to discuss your SCADA upgrade journey: Email [email protected] or call 01246 437600.