A Comparative Analysis
of VROC's DataHUB+
and OSIsoft PI

In today's digital landscape, optimizing operations and gaining insights from process data are imperative for businesses. This article presents a comprehensive comparison between VROC's DataHUB+ and OSIsoft PI, shedding light on their architecture, visualization features, analytics capabilities, scalability, and cost structure. Let's delve into the details to understand how these platforms stack up against each other.

Introducing VROC's DataHUB+

VROC's DataHUB+ emerges as a next-generation process data historian and visualization platform, designed to eliminate data silos and facilitate holistic analysis of time-series and operational data. DataHUB+ is a powerful tool designed to enable organizations to rapidly extract valuable insights from their operational data, for improved decision making.

Architecture:

Utilizing a distributed data storage approach with microservices, DataHUB+ ensures scalability, reliability, and speedy data processing, offering automatic server recovery for uninterrupted operations. Its system-agnostic nature enables seamless integration with various existing systems, including SCADA, DCS, PLC, Siemens, Rockwell, AWS, and Azure. Moreover, DataHUB+ supports an infinite volume of both structured and unstructured data, further enhancing its versatility. With rapid deployment, DataHUB+ can start improving operational efficiency in less than four weeks.  

Visualization Features:

DataHUB+ boasts built-in data analytics and visualization tools, empowering users to create dynamic dashboards effortlessly or customize visualizations using drag-and-drop features according to specific requirements. Real-time monitoring of processes and equipment is facilitated through continuously refreshing dashboards, allowing operational teams to stay updated on key performance metrics. Additionally, the platform enables the creation of thresholds and operating envelopes on sensors, triggering alerts for timely intervention by maintenance and operations teams.

Analytics Features:

Equipped with advanced data analytics and exploration tools, DataHUB+ facilitates comprehensive analysis across all data sources. Users can delve into root cause analysis beyond traditional process boundaries, leveraging free-form calculations and statistical analysis. Additionally, customers can subscribe to VROC's no-code AI solution, OPUS, for predictive modelling and anomaly detection. The seamless integration of AI models with DataHUB+ enables automated deployment and real-time model insights, enhancing decision-making capabilities.

Scalability Features:

DataHUB+ offers unparalleled scalability, allowing organizations to effortlessly expand their operations by adding distributed plants, assets, and equipment to a single instance. Customizable ingestion and run-time speeds cater to diverse requirements, ensuring optimal performance tailored to each organization's needs.

Cost Model:

DataHUB+'s transparent pricing model, based on the number of data tags, ensures affordability without hidden licensing fees or additional hardware costs. With each tag accommodating unlimited data volume, businesses of all sizes can leverage DataHUB+ without financial constraints.

OSIsoft PI System: A Familiar Name in Process Data Management:

OSIsoft PI System, now known as AVEVA PI System, has established itself as a prominent player in the process data management realm. Renowned for its robust data collection, storage, analysis, and display capabilities, OSIsoft PI caters to the specific requirements of industrial processes, offering operational intelligence and analytics functionalities.

Architecture: 

OSIsoft PI utilizes a proprietary time-series database within the PI Server, complemented by PI Interfaces and Connectors for seamless data integration. However, reviews highlight the complexity of the system's architecture, with installations spread across multiple servers, potentially complicating deployment time and on-going system maintenance.

Visualization Features:

The transition from PI ProcessBook to PI Vision introduces a web-based visualization platform, enabling users to create customized visualizations using drag-and-drop tools. However, limitations such as the lack of scripting support and reported usability issues with large datasets raise concerns regarding user experience. Read our comparison of PI ProcessBook to DataHUB+ 

Analytics Features:

While OSIsoft PI integrates with familiar reporting and analytics tools, its built-in analytics capabilities are deemed limited by some reviewers. Basic arithmetic calculations are supported, but advanced analytics require additional components, potentially adding complexity and cost to the system.

Scalability Features:

OSIsoft PI's extensive library of over 400 standard interfaces and connectors facilitates data collection from various sources, contributing to its scalability. However, concerns regarding system performance, data delays, and server connectivity have been raised, impacting data quality and reliability.

Cost Model:

The pricing model of OSIsoft PI, based on factors such as the number of users, data tags, transfer rate, and storage, may pose challenges for medium-large organizations with multiple users and locations. Cost considerations, coupled with reported complexities in deployment and maintenance, prompt organizations to explore alternatives.

Why Consider an Alternative to OSIsoft PI System?

Recent developments, including the retirement of PI ProcessBook and performance issues, prompt organizations to re-evaluate their process data management solutions. Concerns regarding data quality, reliability, and scalability, coupled with potential cost implications, underscore the need for viable alternatives.

VROC's DataHUB+: The Ideal Alternative:

In comparison, VROC's DataHUB+ emerges as a compelling alternative to OSIsoft PI, offering a user-friendly interface, robust analytics capabilities, and transparent pricing. With its ability to handle large volumes of data and seamless integration with existing systems, DataHUB+ empowers organizations to make informed decisions in real-time, driving operational efficiency and productivity.

VROC's DataHUB+ presents a compelling alternative to OSIsoft PI, revolutionizing process data historians with its innovative features, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. By prioritizing user experience, advanced analytics, and affordability, DataHUB+ emerges as the next-generation solution for managing and analyzing process data, empowering organizations to thrive in today's dynamic business landscape.