With the rise of the Internet of Things and the Industrial Internet of Things with it, there has been a shift in the way operations are done. For industry newcomers, IIoT platforms represent a new way to process large volumes of operational data at the edge. But for those with legacy systems, the question becomes, "Don't we already have an SCADA system?" ”
Like Schrödinger's cat – the theoretical kitten in everyone's favorite box – the answer is both yes and no.
Monitoring and data acquisition systems can monitor, collect, and process equipment information, and IIoT platforms can do a lot of the same. But it would be bad for them to put both technologies under the same umbrella. Here are four key differences to consider when considering SCADA vs. IoT Platform.
The essential difference between the SCADA system and the IIoT platform is the way they collect data. SCADA is designed to collect data from local sensors and devices for real-time decision-making. While this data can be accessed outside the plant via a SCADA computer, it is still saved and processed within the plant. Historically, sensors had to be wired to a programmable logic controller or remote termination unit, but in recent years wireless options have begun to emerge. IIoT platforms, on the other hand, use a wireless database connection to store data locally or push it to the cloud, which offers more flexibility than traditional SCADA systems.
In addition, the data collected by the SCADA system focuses on device status (speed, status, etc.) so that they can notify supervisors of any anomalies within the infrastructure. The plant manager can then control the production line through a single HMI. This approach provides good visibility and control over real-time operations.
In contrast, IIoT platforms collect more diverse data, from devices to environments to electricity meters. These platforms don't just act as alarm systems, they also provide a level of equipment monitoring, which is more suitable for maintenance and autonomous decision-making. While both can store historical data, the range of data collected by the IIoT platform lends itself to data analysis. The SCADA system will tell you when something goes wrong; The IIoT platform shows how to improve operations.
In a SCADA system, the sensor sends data to a PLC or RTU, which then feeds the data to the system. From there, the operator can access that data through a human-machine interface. This is typically a panel on an operator terminal or dedicated workstation computer – meaning that while users can technically access real-time data from anywhere, a specific setup is required first. This data is typically transmitted using a machine protocol (usually OPC), which limits its readability and prevents devices from exchanging data with each other. This siloed approach can make it difficult to integrate new devices, although SCADA systems typically work well when viewed as a centralized hub for data aggregation.
IIoT monitoring is dedicated to converting machine language into the Open Internet Protocol. Translation languages make data more accessible outside of HMI. It also allows for more specialized use cases. For example, someone who works in data analytics may prefer to access data in an easy-to-read format, such as JSON. For SCADA systems to achieve this, IT teams need to configure patchwork data adapters, but IIoT platforms can often do this automatically.
As we mentioned earlier, the IIoT platform allows data to be accessed using a variety of APIs by transforming it. In fact, some platforms can even enrich data when it comes to transformation. This makes interoperability unavailable to those who only use the SCADA system.
After all, SCADA systems monitor and control specific industrial processes. Data silos are intrinsic to their purpose (and logical!). ）。But while IIoT platforms can perform many of the same core functions as SCADA systems, their use cases are more diverse.
The transformation of data into more significant data use offers the possibility, whether it is local data analysis or transferring data to the cloud for advanced AI analysis and machine learning. Being able to extract data using JSON, SQL, and more means that more programmers and engineers can access the data in their preferred language. This makes the IIoT platform more versatile and easy to use than the SCADA platform.
For any successful industrial company, the issue of scale will inevitably arise. It may add and integrate more machines, process more data, or any situation that requires more processing power.
SCADA's legacy architecture puts it at a disadvantage in this regard; Increasing the number of users can degrade performance. In addition, most SCADA systems hold a limited amount of data for a fixed period of time – it excels at real-time data, but the limited processing power and retention capacity make it difficult to increase the data load. Finally, the lack of data conversion can make integrating new vendors or even new devices cumbersome and not worth it.
IIoT platforms lack many of these limitations. The ability to transform data allows for easier adaptation and integration with new technologies. Its serverless architecture makes it easier to scale, especially the ability to process and store data at the edge or in the cloud, allowing manufacturers to choose the best fit for each specific application.
This is a bit tricky to ask – both SCADA and IIoT platforms have their own areas of expertise. While IIoT platforms can serve the same purpose as SCADA systems, the reality is that legacy SCADA systems exist in most modern industrial environments. Instead of tearing down existing infrastructure, enhance your current system with an IIoT platform.
After all, SCADA does an excellent job of providing real-time alerts and remote operational control – there's no need to stop it from doing so. But integrating IIoT platforms opens up new possibilities for analysis and optimization at scale. SCADA and IIoT platforms work together to improve industrial operations at scale.
In addition, the combination of SCADA and IIoT platforms can create synergies in the data. The IIoT platform can provide insights and recommendations to SCADA systems based on data shared between SCADA systems. Overall, integrating SCADA systems and IIoT platforms can help industrial operations become more agile, responsive, and efficient, resulting in increased productivity and reduced costs.