What SCADA Actually Does
SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is designed for real-time control — it reads sensor values AND sends commands back to PLCs. If you need to start/stop machines, change setpoints, or control valves from software, SCADA is the right tool.
When a Custom Web Dashboard Is Better
If you only need to monitor (read data, show trends, send alerts) and do not need to control hardware, a custom web dashboard is cheaper, more flexible, and accessible from any device. No thick client, no site licences, no proprietary runtime.
Cost Comparison
A SCADA system (Wonderware, Ignition, FactoryTalk) costs ₹5–25L for licences alone plus implementation. A custom web dashboard costs ₹3–8L total with no annual licence. For monitoring-only use cases, the custom approach wins every time.
The Hybrid Approach
Many factories we work with use both: SCADA for machine control at the operator level, and a web dashboard for management-level KPI monitoring accessible on phones and laptops. The web dashboard pulls data from the SCADA historian or directly from the PLC, giving managers visibility without touching the control layer.
Use SCADA when you need control. Use a custom web dashboard when you need visibility. Use both when you need both — they complement rather than replace each other.
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