Control Engineering 2023 SCADA research: Many wait too long to upgrade
Upgrades for SCADA software should be implemented sooner for better results, admitted Control Engineering SCADA software buyers, specifiers and integrators, according to recent research.
Learning Objectives
- Discover that many Control Engineering survey respondents admit they should upgrade SCADA software sooner for better results.
- Understand how survey respondents use SCADA software, benefits and the value it brings is included in survey results.
- Learn and link to an online report that has more SCADA survey results.
SCADA software survey insights
- Many Control Engineering survey respondents admit they should upgrade SCADA software sooner for better results.
- How survey respondents use SCADA software, benefits and the value it brings is included in survey results.
- An online report with more SCADA survey results is available.
When upgrading supervisory control and data acquisition software, it’s “Do as I say and not as I do,” said Control Engineering subscribers who buy, specify or integrate SCADA software in an August survey. Among respondents, 79% said SCADA upgrade should happen before the software is not supported, though only half said they actually upgrade before then. Similarly, only 13% said SCADA software should be upgraded after the software is not supported, though, remarkably, 39% said that’s when they upgrade.
Click here to download the report.
More concerning, 64% said SCADA software should be updated before unexpected downtime that could have been prevented by advanced software, though only 35% actually upgrade SCADA software by then. About half said SCADA should be upgraded before talent leaves, and only 27% do so.
A later question noted that an updated SCADA platform has considerable value or is very valuable in upskilling and in efforts to attract new talent, according to 64% of respondents.
Given these results, think again about when your organization upgrades SCADA software.
How do you use SCADA?
Respondents explained how they use SCADA software and were allowed to select more than one reply.
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71% SCADA software enables automation and control applications
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47% SCADA is another word for human-machine interface (HMI) software
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45% SCADA operates mostly process-related applications
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45% SCADA operates in hybrid applications
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21% SCADA operates mostly discrete-related applications
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10% Other.
SCADA features and value
What features do you want in your next SCADA software that you don’t have (or are inadequate) in current SCADA software? Leading responses (multiple were allowed), all in a statistical tie for first place, were:
Easier data sharing 53%; universal connectivity (for I/O readiness, Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing)
52%; Easy conversion from prior software 50%; Analytics 50%; Easier programming 49% and Automated transfer of screen design to other devices, such as tablets, smartphones 49%.
Tied for second place at 37% and 36% were automated tag updates and programming object libraries. Integration of AI/ML capabilities was farther down the list at 27%.
A related question put ranked traits or features to value of an upgrade, “What are key traits, features or justifications of SCADA software packages (some may be considered platforms) that make an upgrade worth the investment?” Leading replies were consistent: Built-in communications and easier connections to other devices, software and systems 67%; Better integration with distributed control system (DCS), process control software or other systems 59% and Analytics 53%.
Control Engineering 2023 research on SCADA software said an updated SCADA platform has considerable value or is very valuable in upskilling and in efforts to attract new talent, according to 64% of respondents. Courtesy: Control Engineering research
Benefits of SCADA software suggest upgrades should happen sooner
Given usefulness assigned to SCADA software, it is surprising that many respondents were not upgrading as soon as they should. Respondents were asked to finish this sentence (with the following supplied answers and several others): “SCADA is helping my organization with….” Leading replies were:
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Preventive/predictive maintenance 64%
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Avoiding downtime 60%
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Greater return on investment (ROI) 39%
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Sustainability 38%.
When asked to rate the value of the following SCADA upgrade advice based on experiences, the leading responses (great value, tied for first) were: Reduce HMI/SCADA screen cognitive load for the user; Use high-performance HMI techniques and Get help from SCADA system integrator.
Methods, more information in the full SCADA report
Other information covered in the research (download the full SCADA software report to see) include SCADA software vendors in use and suppliers that respondents would like to use and if hardware and if SCADA software are bundled or purchased separately along with more details and responses on the questions above.
August emails were sent to Control Engineering subscribers, asking about SCADA use; 135 who buy, specify or perform system integration with SCADA software are included in the research results.
Mark T. Hoske is content manager, Control Engineering, CFE Media and Technology, mhoske@cfemedia.com. Amanda McLeman is the research director and project manager of awards programs for CFE Media and Technology.
KEYWORDS: SCADA software upgrades, SCADA value
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