Software Toolbox Technical Blog

On June 26, 2025, Software Toolbox hosted a live panel discussion that brought together three industry subject matter experts. They explored how organizations can unify data across legacy and modern systems, securely, efficiently, and without unnecessary disruption. In addition, they discussed in depth what it really takes to create a common data framework that’s not just effective, but scalable and future ready.

From Silos to Insights: What You Need to Know

This blog highlights the key takeaways, where the panel unpacked seven critical areas to focus on when closing data gaps across operations. You’ll discover the most common challenges companies face, why aligning technology with business goals is essential, and how open, standards-based solutions can bridge the gap between old and new, without the high costs and disruption of rip-and-replace approaches.

Shared Challenges, Shared Progress

In an industry defined by precision, tight timelines, and rapid innovation, collaboration isn’t optional — it’s essential. That may seem counterintuitive, especially when many of the companies we meet at conferences we may compete with on certain products or solutions but complement each other's solutions in other use cases". When we come together as 'Co-opetitors' to solve real problems and deliver value, cooperation becomes a strength. 

In this blog I am going to talk about two examples of such events. The first is a global gathering of some of the best System Integrators in the business, the CSIA 2025, and the second is the deeply technical workshop OPC Interop hosted by the OPC Foundation to foster suppliers delivering compliant and more importantly, truly interoperable solutions.

We’re in your corner, not your lane

At Software Toolbox, we deeply value the partnerships we have with our System Integrators. Their deep industry knowledge and hands-on expertise are key to delivering real results for end users, and our mission is to support your success, never compete with it.

In this blog post, one of our team members shares honest, insightful feedback from System Integrators about what it's like to work with us — including stories of long-term collaboration and lasting impact.

Watch the Video Testimonials below to hear directly from our partner System Integrators!

Integrating with SAP: A Simple Guide Using OPC Router

In many industrial environments, getting real-time data from machines into SAP can feel like a complex, code-heavy challenge. Whether triggering production orders, tracking materials, or sending print requests, smooth data flow is essential. This is where OPC Router makes a difference — providing a no-code solution to seamlessly connect your OPC UA-enabled systems directly to SAP.

To help you get started, we have put together a quick video demo that walks you through the setup, step-by-step.

A major pharmaceutical company struggled with manual, error-prone data extraction for monthly compliance reporting within their utilities department. The team was reliant on fragile Excel macros pulling historical LGH file data from AVEVA InTouch HMI (formerly Wonderware InTouch) systems, which frequently broke due to Microsoft Office updates, causing costly delays and requiring repeated engineering intervention. 

To streamline their regulatory reporting process and ensure data accuracy and security, the pharmaceutical utilities group sought a robust, user-friendly solution to extract water and wastewater data efficiently without IT bottlenecks or operational downtime.

If you’ve ever had to dig into historical data, you know that being able to easily access and understand it is key for gaining insights and decision making. Without the right tools, retrieving and reporting on historical data can quickly turn into a nightmare – leaving you dreaming of a better option. In today’s age of digital transformation, Dream Report gives you easy access to accurate data, allowing you to maintain a competitive edge, make informed decisions, and leave your nightmares in the past. 

In this blog post and accompanying video, you’ll learn how to use TOP Server’s Local Historian Plug-In with Dream Report to quickly capture and visualize historical data—revealing hidden trends in just 8 minutes.

A leading UK retailer, serving millions of customers through an extensive store network, set out to modernize aging infrastructure in its high-throughput distribution centers. Burdened by legacy equipment and unsupported software systems, the organization needed a reliable way to bridge communication gaps without replacing critical machinery. 

By working with a UK-based system integrator who leveraged OmniServer and OPC Data Logger software applications from Software Toolbox, the retailer achieved real-time visibility, accurate data collection, and the ability to respond quickly to underperformance. The result: improved fulfillment quality, reduced freight waste, and smarter use of transport resources.

As the Industry 4.0 movement transforms industrial automation, engineers and system administrators are tasked with managing more devices, across more locations, and under tighter security policies. For those working with TOP Server or KEPServerEX, the need for secure and scalable configuration tools has never been more critical. 

The OPC Server Remote Configuration Client enables direct configuration of remote TOP Server or KEPServerEX instances from your local machine, eliminating the need for remote desktop sessions, cloud access, or additional agents. Running entirely within your network, it ensures secure user access through the server’s built-in User Manager and offers an optional SQL audit trail for tracking configuration changes such as user identity and value changes. 

In this blog, you’ll see how the OPC Server Remote Configuration Client streamlines server management and enhances efficiency in high-security environments, helping accelerate digital transformation throughout your operations.