The Timely Rise of Open Source in Industrial Data Infrastructure

Open source software in the industrial space is having a moment. The full operational data stack – from data ingestion, storage, analysis, and visualization – has an increasing number of open source options. These open source projects have steadily become more capable in some key areas, namely performance, ease of integration, and user friendliness.

For many industrial companies, there’s up until now been some deal breakers when it comes to open source in their operational data infrastructure. For one, there haven’t been many projects developed specifically with industrial environments in mind. Without special security considerations, especially at the edge, some projects are a non-starters. Another deal breaker is lack of product support. A company needs the ability to pick the phone up any time of day or night, and get help with a software issue should one arise and disrupt operations. That’s why it’s encouraging to see the emergence of companies that back industrial open source projects and offer support agreements.

This shift comes at an opportune moment. While the AVEVA PI System remains a premiere solution for operational data, the evolving landscape of industrial operations demands more flexibility. Open source tools can be integrated with the PI System, offering a cost-effective way to expand or enhance the system’s capabilities without foregoing the robustness and reliability that PI provides. This hybrid approach allows companies to leverage the best of both worlds: the unparalleled support and functionality of the PI System and the innovation and cost-effectiveness of open source solutions.

As the industrial world evolves, so too does the approach to managing operational data infrastructure. By integrating open source solutions with the AVEVA PI System, companies can create a more flexible, cost-effective, and innovative data management environment to meet the needs of tomorrow’s industrial operations.