In the dynamic world of industrial automation, data is generated continuously from machine status and production throughput, as well as alarms, safety indicators, and energy consumption. But collecting data is just the beginning. To truly gain value from this information, organizations must turn raw data into meaningful insights.
That is where visualization, dashboards, and reporting come into play. In this blog, we will focus specifically on the power and importance of reporting within industrial automation systems.
Turning Data Into Actionable Intelligence
SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and HMI (Human-Machine Interface) systems are not only responsible for monitoring and controlling industrial operations—they also play a pivotal role in transforming real-time data into actionable intelligence. Through built-in reporting tools, these systems provide visibility into key performance indicators, operational health, and process trends, helping stakeholders make faster, smarter decisions.
In ADISRA SmartView, reporting is not just an add-on; it is a core component of the platform. Built-in reporting capabilities provide real-time data visualization, historical trend analysis, and customizable reports, giving operators the tools they need to monitor operations continuously, spot issues quickly, and make informed decisions.
For organizations with more advanced reporting requirements, such as regulatory compliance or enterprise-level analytics, ADISRA SmartView integrates seamlessly with Ocean Data Systems Dream Report. This industry-leading reporting solution empowers users to create detailed, customized reports that meet the highest standards for compliance and audit readiness.
A Growing Market for Industrial Reporting
The demand for robust reporting tools in HMI/SCADA systems is rising globally. Key drivers include:
The growth of industrial automation
According to a January 2025 report by The Business Research Company, the factory automation market is projected to experience rapid growth, reaching $497.22 billion by 2029 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3%. This growth is driven by several factors, including the increasing demand for greater efficiency in shorter timeframes, the expansion of the manufacturing and industrial sectors, the implementation of autonomous plants, the rising use of remote operations, and the need for mass production while reducing operating costs.
As industrial automation continues to expand across various industries, including oil and gas, manufacturing, and utilities, the demand for robust HMI/SCADA systems capable of monitoring and controlling complex processes is also increasing. A key component of these systems is the reporting functionality, which provides real-time data visualization, historical trend analysis, and customizable reports. These tools enable operators and decision-makers to gain critical insights into system performance, detect anomalies early, and ensure smooth operations.
Real-Time Data Visualization and Reporting
Effective decision-making in industrial environments relies on immediate access to accurate data. HMI/SCADA systems provide operators with intuitive, real-time data visualization through user-friendly interfaces, enabling them to monitor equipment status, detect anomalies, and respond quickly to changing conditions. Complementing this, built-in reporting capabilities allow users to analyze historical trends, generate detailed summaries, and create customized reports tailored to operational, compliance, and performance goals. Together, these features empower organizations to optimize processes, reduce downtime, and drive continuous improvement through data-driven insights.
Ensuring Compliance Through HMI/SCADA Reporting
Reporting features in HMI/SCADA software play a critical role in supporting regulatory compliance across a wide range of industries. These reports deliver key insights that help ensure operations align with industry standards and legal requirements. By capturing and presenting operational data in a structured, traceable format, organizations can demonstrate regulatory adherence, monitor performance, and uncover opportunities for improvement.
Enhancing Safety Performance Through HMI/SCADA Reporting
Safety is a top priority in industrial environments, and HMI/SCADA reporting plays a vital role in monitoring and improving it. By leveraging real-time data gathered from HMIs and SCADA systems, organizations can track key safety parameters across processes and facilities.
These systems continuously collect and visualize safety-related data—such as equipment status, alarm events, and environmental conditions—and transform it into actionable reports. These reports help identify potential hazards, highlight safety trends, and support data-driven decisions that drive ongoing safety improvements. Whether it’s for internal audits or compliance with safety regulations, HMI/SCADA reporting ensures that safety performance remains transparent, measurable, and continuously optimized.
Driving Productivity with HMI/SCADA Reporting
HMI/SCADA reporting is a powerful enabler of strategic productivity improvement across industrial operations. By collecting, analyzing, and presenting real-time data from equipment and processes, HMI/SCADA systems empower organizations to make smarter, faster decisions that enhance efficiency, minimize downtime, and boost overall performance.
Reporting is at the heart of this capability. SCADA-generated reports deliver clear insights into key performance indicators (KPIs), process trends, and operational anomalies. These insights allow teams to monitor progress, pinpoint inefficiencies, and take proactive steps to optimize productivity. Whether used on the plant floor or in the boardroom, HMI/SCADA reports turn raw data into actionable intelligence that drives continuous improvement.
Some key reporting functionalities include:
– Audit Trails – Comprehensive records of system activity, including user logins, configuration changes, and alarm events, to support traceability and accountability.
– Data Logging – Continuous collection of process data such as temperature, pressure, flow rates, and equipment status for detailed analysis and documentation.
– Alarm Management – Reports on alarm events, highlighting severity, frequency, and response times to enhance operational safety and responsiveness.
– Trend Analysis – Visualization of historical data to identify performance patterns, detect anomalies, and support predictive insights.
– Batch Reporting – Detailed documentation of production batches, including process parameters, material consumption, and quality control metrics to ensure traceability and product consistency.
Together, these capabilities make HMI/SCADA reporting an indispensable tool for meeting compliance goals and driving operational excellence.
Easy and Flexible Reporting with ADISRA SmartView
ADISRA SmartView includes a built-in reporting tool as part of its core product with no additional modules or add-ons required. This intuitive and flexible reporting tool allows users to easily design and generate an unlimited number of reports that can be saved in multiple formats. Reports can be exported as PDF files, printed directly to a connected printer, or saved as HTML pages for viewing in a web browser.
Data for your reports can be sourced from various sources, including ADISRA SmartView’s historical data, tags, external CSV files, or SQL databases. This versatility ensures that your reports can include all relevant information, no matter where it’s stored.
With ADISRA SmartView, reports can include a wide range of elements such as:
– Text and real-time or historical tag values
– Charts (line charts, bar charts, pie charts, and more)
– Tables
– DataGrid objects
– Images (including logos or process screenshots)
The easy-to-use Report Ribbon provides a drag-and-drop interface where users can insert and format elements like charts, tables, images, and text fields. You can define report parameters, bind them to data sources, and customize the appearance to match your branding or application design. The interface is designed for simplicity without sacrificing power, making it accessible for both novice and advanced users.
Reports can be executed manually on-demand or scheduled to run automatically based on time intervals or specific system events. For example, you can schedule a monthly report that automatically gathers production data for that month and generates a professional-looking PDF using a pre-defined template—saving valuable time and ensuring consistency.
Additionally, reports can be automatically delivered via multiple channels:
– Printed directly
– Emailed to a distribution list through scripting
– Saved to a specified directory for archival or web access
ADISRA SmartView’s reporting capabilities empower users to transform raw data into meaningful insights, whether for internal analysis, compliance documentation, or executive dashboards.
Unlock the power of built-in reporting features by downloading ADISRA SmartView now and get started here.
Advanced Reporting with Dream Report: A Partnership Between ADISRA and Ocean Data
For users who need more advanced reporting capabilities beyond the built-in features of ADISRA SmartView, we have partnered with Ocean Data Systems to offer seamless integration with their industry-leading reporting platform: Dream Report.
Dream Report is a powerful, user-friendly solution designed specifically for industrial automation and process industries. It offers a comprehensive and flexible reporting environment that allows users to create highly customized reports using intuitive drag-and-drop tools. Whether you need tables, bar charts, pie charts, screen captures, statistical summaries, or regulatory-compliant documentation, Dream Report delivers with precision and ease.
Regulatory and Batch Reporting Made Simple
Many industries, such as food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology, operate in batch environments where compliance with strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) is critical. Dream Report makes it easy to generate documentation for processes like:
- Clean-In-Place (CIP)
- Sterilize-In-Place (SIP)
- Wash-In-Place (WIP)
These procedures often occur between production runs and must be thoroughly documented to satisfy internal QA standards and external regulatory requirements. Dream Report automates this documentation by detecting batch start and stop events, extracting the relevant process data, and generating tamper-proof reports. These reports can be set to be automatically generated and locked to prevent editing, ensuring compliance with industrial and regulatory standards.
This makes it an invaluable tool not only for compliance reporting but also for everyday operational insights and troubleshooting.
Tailored for Industry Needs
While Dream Report is suitable for general-purpose reporting, it also includes specialized modules and templates for industries such as:
- Water and Wastewater Treatment
- Life Sciences (Pharmaceutical and Biotech)
- Building Automation
- Oil and Gas (Upstream and Downstream)
- Automotive and Aerospace
- Power Generation and Distribution
- Utilities and Infrastructure
These industry-specific enhancements help reduce setup time and align reporting outputs with regulatory and operational expectations.
Seamless Integration with ADISRA SmartView
The Dream Report Studio interface makes it easy to connect with ADISRA SmartView data sources, whether it is real-time tag values, historical trends, or database records. Once connected, users can quickly configure a wide range of reports and dashboards to meet virtually any requirement, combining visualizations and analytics within a single powerful platform.
As the volume of industrial data continues to grow, so does the need for accessible, actionable, and compliant reporting. The combination of ADISRA SmartView and Dream Report offers a scalable solution that empowers users to unlock the full potential of their data—whether for performance tracking, regulatory compliance, or process optimization.
To explore Dream Report by Ocean Data Systems, download it directly from their website here.
Conclusion
In an era where industrial data is abundant but insights are often hidden beneath the surface, reporting within HMI/SCADA systems has emerged as a crucial feature in HMI/SCADA packages. For advanced reporting functions to support compliance and sophisticated reporting features, you can add value with the purchase of Dream Report, which delivers the necessary tools to transform data into clear, actionable intelligence. From real-time visualization and trend analysis to regulatory compliance and batch reporting, these solutions enable organizations to make informed decisions, enhance safety, boost productivity, and meet industry standards with confidence.
Whether you’re managing a factory floor, optimizing energy use, or ensuring compliance in a highly regulated environment, the ability to generate clear, insightful reports is no longer optional; it is essential. With ADISRA SmartView and Dream Report, industrial teams gain the clarity they need to operate efficiently, safely, and strategically in a data-driven world.
Join us for a free webinar on April 17th at 11 AM CDT to learn more about ADISRA SmartView and its reporting tool. Register for the event here.
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