SeQent acquires Open Automation Software

Key Takeaways

• SeQent’s purchase of Open Automation Software (OAS) expands its portfolio from alarm management into full‑stack edge‑to‑cloud data connectivity.
• The OAS Universal Data Connector (UDC) supports ≥ 30 native drivers (Allen‑Bradley, Siemens, Modbus, OPC UA, MQTT) and can buffer up to 48 h of data across multiple sites without loss.
• Combined solution provides a single, auditable data path from legacy controllers to modern visualization tools, cutting integration layers by ≈ 40 %.
• Customers retain ownership of their historical data; all logs are written in an open‑format schema to the client‑owned database.

Overview of the Acquisition

SeQent announced the strategic acquisition of Open Automation Software (OAS), a specialist in industrial data connectivity. While SeQent’s core platform has been known for ingesting alarms and events from SCADA, MES, and PLC systems and routing them to radios, smartphones, and PA systems, OAS adds a robust “data‑movement” layer that works upstream of the alarm engine.

The combined offering now spans the entire data lifecycle:

1. Edge collection – native drivers pull real‑time tags from controllers and field devices.
2. Buffering & historization – store‑and‑forward queues protect against network outages.
3. Edge compute & routing – SeQent applies escalation rules once data reaches the cloud or on‑prem DB.
4. Visualization & response – end‑users receive alerts on any device, and actions are recorded for audit.

Technical Highlights

Universal Data Connector (UDC)

• Protocol coverage: 30+ native drivers, including Allen‑Bradley ControlLogix, Siemens S7‑1500, Modbus‑TCP/RTU, OPC UA, and MQTT.
• Throughput: Up to 10 k tags per second per connector, with latency as low as 150 ms for point‑to‑point transfers.
• Buffer capacity: Configurable store‑and‑forward memory of up to 48 hours per site, ensuring no data loss during network interruptions.

SeQent Alarm Engine

• Event sources: Handles up to 5,000 concurrent alarm streams from SCADA, MES, PLCs, and now OAS‑fed sources.
• Escalation logic: Supports 10‑level hierarchical routing, with customizable time‑out windows (seconds to hours).
• Notification channels: Two‑way radios, iOS/Android push, desktop dashboards, and legacy PA systems.

Comparison: SeQent Core vs. OAS Layer

Benefits Delivered by the Integrated Solution

1. Notification from any source – Legacy PLCs, Modbus I/O, MQTT telemetry, and enterprise databases can all trigger the same escalation rules used for traditional SCADA alarms.
2. Single auditable record – Every trigger, the associated process data, and the acknowledgment status are stored in the client’s own database, satisfying ISO 27001 and IEC 62443 audit requirements.
3. Reduced integration footprint – By eliminating third‑party middleware, the critical path shrinks, delivering an estimated 40 % reduction in mean‑time‑to‑alert (MTTA).
4. End‑to‑end signal‑to‑action – From raw sensor tag to operator response, the data travels on one unified pipeline, simplifying troubleshooting and compliance reporting.

Market Implications

The acquisition positions SeQent as a full‑stack industrial IoT provider capable of supporting plants that operate four generations of equipment from three different vendors. In an era where the Unified Namespace (UNS) is becoming the de‑facto architecture for OT‑IT convergence, a vendor‑agnostic data connector reduces lock‑in risk and accelerates digital transformation timelines by up to 30 % (based on early pilot results).

Bottom Line

SeQent’s purchase of Open Automation Software bridges the gap between alarm management and enterprise‑grade data connectivity. The combined platform delivers a vendor‑neutral, high‑throughput data pipeline that not only alerts operators faster but also preserves a complete, auditable history in the customer’s own data store. For manufacturers seeking to modernize legacy lines while maintaining compliance, the integrated solution offers a single, scalable path from edge devices to cloud‑based analytics—eliminating redundant middleware and accelerating ROI on Industry 4.0 initiatives.