Long considered the heart of industrial control, SCADA has profoundly shaped control-command architectures. For decades, it has enabled the supervision of complex installations, ensuring service continuity and securing industrial processes. But with the acceleration of digital transformation, IT/OT convergence and the explosion in data volumes, this industrial SCADA software can no longer be viewed as an isolated tool. It is now part of a broader ecosystem focused on overall performance, decision-making and anticipation. This evolution marks the transition from traditional SCADA to so-called intelligent SCADA.
SCADA in traditional industrial architecture
Historically, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) has played a central role in industrial environments. It collects data from the field, displays it in real time, manages alarms and controls equipment. In process industries, critical infrastructures and industrial buildings, it is the direct link between operators and physical installations.
To understand its role, it is essential to refer back to the CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing) pyramid. This hierarchical representation structures industrial systems into several levels. At the base are sensors, actuators and controllers. Above that is the control level, followed by an industrial facility control solution, which is responsible for supervising and orchestrating the whole system. The upper layers include the MES, dedicated to production management, and the ERP, focused on overall management and planning.
In this model, a SCADA platform is an intermediate tool, fundamental but limited to an essentially technical view. It provides an accurate reading of equipment operation, but often remains compartmentalised by site or business line. Exchanges with the upper levels are possible, but complex to implement, which hinders the strategic use of industrial data.
The emergence of intelligent and connected SCADA
The expectations of manufacturers have changed profoundly. It is no longer just a question of knowing whether a facility is working, but of understanding why, with what consequences and how to optimise its performance. SCADA then becomes a gateway to more intelligent, decision-oriented supervision.
This transformation requires greater interconnection with other components of the industrial system. The link with MES enriches SCADA data with production, quality and performance information. BIM operations add a spatial and asset dimension by combining industrial SCADA data with a digital model that can be used throughout the entire life cycle of the installations. Integration with ERP, meanwhile, paves the way for digital continuity between operations, maintenance and management.
In this context, the software is no longer just a visualisation tool. It becomes a component of a SCADA platform capable of aggregating heterogeneous data, contextualising it and making it usable at different decision-making levels. This evolution requires open, interoperable and scalable architectures capable of adapting to future transformations without compromising existing systems.
From SCADA to an integrated SCADA solution: a paradigm shift
The concept of integrated SCADA solution perfectly illustrates this change in approach. Whereas traditional SCADA focuses on a given perimeter, the integrated SCADA solution offers a cross-functional, multi-site and multi-domain view. It allows data from industrial monitoring, energy systems, technical equipment and business tools to be cross-referenced.
This approach provides a comprehensive view of industrial performance. Data is no longer analysed in isolation, but correlated with each other. Technical events can be linked to production indicators, energy constraints, or operating contexts. This advanced analytical capability paves the way for high value-added uses, such as early anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, and consumption optimisation.
In this model, SCADA software continues to play a key role. It remains the reliable source of field data, but is integrated into a broader digital ecosystem. It feeds advanced SCADA platforms that go beyond simple monitoring to become true strategic management tools.
SCADA has not disappeared; it has evolved. From a technical supervision tool, it has become an essent al building block of a global, connected and performance-oriented industrial system. Replaced in the CIM pyramid, enriched by MES, industrial BIM and United Control Center, it plays a full part in the digital transformation of industrial sites. For manufacturers, the challenge is no longer to choose between this solution and intelligent SCADA, but to design a coherent architecture where each component has its place in the service of a unified, exploitable and sustainable vision.
