Why we’re retiring AVEVA PI System’s PI ProcessBook

Plus, everything you need to know to migrate from PI ProcessBook to AVEVA™ PI Vision™ 

Posted: 20 October, 2021

After a strong run spanning decades, we are officially retiring PI ProcessBook as we transition to AVEVA PI Vision. PI Vision, an intuitive and modern, web-based dashboarding tool, provides a comprehensive replacement.

Why is PI ProcessBook being retired, and why now?

Simply put, the existing code base is outdated compared to the new products we offer. In addition, security is a top concern for many regulated environments. PI Vision does not rely on outdated technology and brings modern security to critical operations visualization. Officially retiring PI ProcessBook also allows our engineers to focus their efforts on software that will support you for 25 years and beyond years to come.

So why now? PI Vision 2020 offers a compelling path forward, especially for former PI ProcessBook customers. Remote work boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it's made cybersecurity a more critical priority than ever. PI Vision is a highly secure, scalable, and truly modern architecture to support today’s operations.

Why switch to AVEVA PI Vision?

Never worry about running back to the control room again. AVEVA PI Vision lets you take your operations data anywhere by giving you access to all your real-time process dashboards through any phone, tablet, or laptop. Whether you’re a technician troubleshooting a piece of equipment on the plant floor, or a plant manager that wants to check on their operations from home, you’ll always have real-time data available at a moment’s notice.

Modern visualization built to scale across the organization

Since PI Vision is installed on a single web server, upgrades only need to be done on a single machine. This spares you the time-consuming process of individually rolling out an upgrade every time a new version or patch is released. And since it’s a web-based application, you can simply copy the URL to instantly share displays with other team members or departments. Maintain a single source of truth and prevent the clutter and confusion of multiple versions of the same displays.

The full power of AVEVA™ PI Server behind your displays

PI Vision leverages the various components of AVEVA PI Server to provide users with all the information they need to quickly make decisions. PI Server’s Asset Framework component natively integrates with your displays, allowing streamlined scalability as assets come online or get retired. Its event frames can also be visualized, communicated, and tracked through your displays to help teams respond to critical issues quickly and keep them aligned. The Notifications component allows users to embed links to PI Vision displays so anyone receiving an alert will get instant access to a visual display of the issue.

How can I make the switch?

The process of moving from PI ProcessBook to PI System Vision is seamless and ensures that none of your data is lost in the transfer. The PI System ProcessBook to Vision migration utility allows you to analyze your ProcessBook displays and migrate them to PI Vision.