Make the smart choice for your operations.
Both XLReporter and Crystal Reports generate reports. Here’s an honest, side-by-side look at what each platform offers — so you can choose with confidence.
Built for OT. Not adapted from IT.
Most reporting tools treat industrial data as just another database — XLReporter was designed specifically for the historians, SCADA systems, and compliance workflows that plant floor teams live in every day.
Try before you commit
XLReporter’s free trial gives you full access to every feature and connector from the moment you install — connect to your real data sources, build your first report, and see exactly what XLReporter can do before you spend a penny.
Up and running in hours, not weeks
XLReporter works the way your team already works — bring your existing Excel knowledge, start with spreadsheets you already have, and build your first automated report without writing a single line of code, script, or SQL.
Works with everything you already run
With 90+ pre-built industrial connectors, XLReporter integrates directly with the historians, SCADA systems, and databases already running on your plant floor — no middleware, no custom development, no rip and replace.
How SmartSights compares to Crystal Reports
What SmartSights customers say.
LCWSA replaced paper logs with real-time, data-driven operations.
“By upgrading and integrating technology like SmartSights WIN-911 and XLReporter, we are able to make more informed, data-driven decisions. Bridging the gap between people, processes, and tools allows us to empower our team and strive for a more proactive and efficient operation.”
Frequently asked questions
Can’t find your answer here? Our team is available to walk through any question you have.
What is the difference between XLReporter and Crystal Reports?
While both XLReporter and Crystal Reports can generate formatted reports from data sources, XLReporter was purpose-built for industry — designed from the ground up for the historians, SCADA systems, and compliance workflows that plant floor teams depend on every day. XLReporter goes further in three key areas. First, it connects natively to 90+ industrial historians and SCADA platforms with no database or ETL layer required. Second, it fills your existing Excel templates exactly as issued — preserving every formula, format, and layout without rebuilding them in a proprietary designer. Third, it delivers out-of-the-box ISA 18.2 alarm management analytics and event-triggered reporting that Crystal Reports — as a general-purpose business tool — was never designed to provide.
Does XLReporter connect directly to our historian and SCADA system without needing a database in between?
Yes. XLReporter connects natively to all major historians and SCADA platforms — including AVEVA, Ignition, GE Proficy, Rockwell FactoryTalk, Emerson DeltaV, and Siemens Simatic — with no intermediate database, ETL pipeline, or custom data modeling required.
Can XLReporter populate the exact Excel forms our regulators require without reformatting them?
Yes. XLReporter fills your existing government-issued or agency-provided Excel templates directly from live process data — preserving every formula, format, and layout exactly as issued. No rebuilding, no reformatting, no transcription risk.
Does XLReporter require SQL knowledge or scripting to build and maintain reports?
No. XLReporter is designed for process and automation engineers, not developers. Reports are built in a familiar Excel-style environment using skills your team already has — no SQL queries, no scripting languages, no dedicated IT resource required.
Can XLReporter trigger reports based on what is happening in our process, not just a fixed schedule?
Yes. XLReporter can monitor process conditions and trigger report generation automatically when a defined event occurs — a batch completing, a tag crossing a threshold, or any detectable state change in your SCADA or historian — without any operator involvement.
Can XLReporter report on batch or production run boundaries rather than fixed time periods?
Yes. XLReporter uses Event Frames to capture the exact start and end of a production run and queries your historian using those boundaries — so each report reflects exactly what happened during that specific batch or machine cycle, not an arbitrary time window.
See XLReporter live in your plant.
Start a free trial or talk to one of our experts. No pressure, no obligation.
Start your free trial
Evaluate XLReporter on your actual systems before committing to anything. No cost, no obligation.
Connect in a day
Direct connects to AVEVA, Rockwell, GE, and Ignition mean your SCADA is live in hours, not weeks.
Go live with confidence
Your team gets hands-on training. We validate every alarm route before cutover. Zero disruption.