Ignition or EnvisionSCADA – which one suits you?
Elio supplies both Ignition and EnvisionSCADA. Both are modern, web-based platforms with no cost per user. Even so, they are built on very different licensing models – and that is exactly where the difference lies when it is time to choose.
Ignition: pay for the modules you use
Ignition from Inductive Automation is modular. You buy a server licence and the modules you need – for example visualisation, alarm notification, history and reports – and expand as you go. In return, each server has an unlimited number of tags, connections and clients.
That makes Ignition strong for large plants and where many systems, databases and locations are to be brought together on one platform. Ignition is built on open standards such as OPC UA, MQTT, SQL and Python, and has a large ecosystem of modules and integrations.
The downside is that a small plant that needs many functions can become expensive – because each function is a separate module.
EnvisionSCADA: everything included, priced by size
EnvisionSCADA from Omnicon Automation is a European HMI and SCADA platform. Here all functions are always included, and the price is set by the number of tags. Development is free – you only pay when the plant goes into operation.
That makes EnvisionSCADA an affordable and complete choice for small and medium-sized plants, where you want alarms, trends, reports and remote access without working out module costs. The platform also includes many PLC drivers.
How to think about it
- Many signals, many systems, several locations? Ignition scales well, and unlimited tags make growth predictable.
- One well-defined plant that needs many functions? EnvisionSCADA gives you everything in one package, at a price that follows the size of the plant.
- Unsure how the plant will grow? Then it is worth calculating both, using today's and the expected number of tags.
It is not about the brand
There is no single platform that is best at everything. The right choice depends on how large the plant is, how much it will grow, and which functions are needed. Because we supply both, we can give honest advice – and as a Gold Certified Ignition integrator, we also know Ignition in depth when it is the right choice.
Would you like help calculating for your plant? Read more about SCADA or get in touch with us.