Client: Global manufacturing company with operations in Central Europe

Industry: Industrial manufacturing, production automation

Focus: Paperless processes, SCADA system integration, UX optimization

Technologies: Ignition SCADA, Python scripting, SQL, mobile (Zebra), custom UI/UX

Engagement: Ongoing partnership since 2021

The Challenge: Digital Demands Without Internal IT Capacity

A globally recognized manufacturing company  with a legacy of technical precision and innovation  was facing increasing demands for digital tools on the shop floor. But with no in-house software team, they needed a trusted partner who could not only deliver solutions, but lead and scale their development efforts long-term.

The company had already selected a SCADA-based platform to serve as the foundation for future shop floor data collection. What they lacked was a reliable, agile development team to turn their requirements into functional, scalable, and user-friendly tools.

Key expectations included:

• Independent design and development of custom tools
• Deep understanding of manufacturing workflows and constraints
• Ability to enhance and extend the existing platform (Ignition)
• Long-term collaboration with proactive communication and technical guidance

Our Approach: Agile Delivery, Practical Innovation, Operator-First UX

Tech Path Advisors was brought in as a full-cycle partner — from UX design to backend logic and deployment. Instead of outsourcing isolated tasks, the client entrusted us to build and run a complete, dedicated development team.

Phase 1: Start small, earn trust

We focused initially on tools supporting production inputs — small but high-impact solutions for shop floor operators. Our goal was to simplify their experience, reduce interaction time, and eliminate paper-based documentation.

Key improvements included:

• A responsive UI that adapts to desktop kiosks and mobile Zebra devices
• Automated data fields to reduce unnecessary input
• Custom keypad components to replace complex native keyboards
• Context-aware notifications that only appear when user action is needed

Operators no longer wasted time filling in redundant forms. Their experience became focused, fluid, and aligned with their real-world workflow.

Phase 2: Platform optimization and custom enhancements

We used our cross-platform experience and close collaboration with the Ignition community to push the platform further and deliver advanced improvements tailored to manufacturing needs.

1. 1. Smart input system — optimized alphanumeric data entry directly within the interface
   2. Improved CRUD performance — efficient handling of large, real-time data with reduced latency
   3. Fast rendering of visualizations — aggregated data from multiple sources displayed with high performance

Fallback modes for device failures — logic-based manual input interfaces in case of scanner/hardware issues

The Results: Sustainable Digital Growth and Reduced Operator Overhead

Thanks to the collaboration, the client achieved a fully operational, responsive development model — without needing to hire or manage an internal IT team.

Key outcomes:

• Reduced operator workload through smart automation
• Elimination of paper forms in key production steps
• Unified design across systems for easier onboarding and training
• Agile response to business needs via an on-demand team
• Proven scalability — solutions now support growing workloads and complexity

What’s Next: Scaling from Local to Global Solutions

Following the success of the initial rollout, the client has invited Tech Path Advisors to contribute to global-level initiatives across multiple sites and countries.

In response, we launched a specialized, on-demand development team — fully certified on the Ignition platform — capable of designing, delivering, and maintaining scalable industrial solutions across their entire manufacturing ecosystem.