Make the smart choice for your operations.
Both XLReporter and PI Vision / DataLink generate reports. Here’s an honest, side-by-side look at what each platform offers — so you can choose with confidence.
The automated reporting layer that PI teams trust to fill the gap.
PI gives you the data — XLReporter automates the reporting, delivering scheduled, Excel-native, compliance-ready outputs that PI Vision and DataLink were never designed to produce.
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 PI VIsion/Data Link
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 AVEVA PI Vision/DataLink?
While both XLReporter and PI Vision/DataLink can surface PI data in a meaningful way, XLReporter goes further in four key areas. First, it automates the manual DataLink refresh process entirely — generating and distributing reports on any schedule or process trigger without user involvement. Second, it fills your existing Excel templates exactly as issued — preserving every formula, format, and layout. Third, it combines PI data with other sources including SQL databases, OPC servers, and non-PI historians in a single report. Fourth, it delivers out-of-the-box ISA 18.2 alarm management analytics that neither PI Vision nor DataLink provides.
Can XLReporter replace the manual PI DataLink refresh process our team relies on today?
Yes. XLReporter automates exactly what PI DataLink requires someone to do manually — pulling PI tag data into an Excel workbook on a defined schedule or process trigger and distributing the completed report automatically, with no user action required.
Can XLReporter populate government-issued or agency-provided Excel forms directly from our PI data?
Yes. XLReporter fills your existing Excel templates exactly as they were issued — preserving every formula, format, and layout. No rebuilding templates in a report designer, no manual data entry, no transcription risk.
Can XLReporter combine PI data with data from other systems in a single report?
Yes. XLReporter can pull PI tag data alongside data from SQL databases, OPC servers, SCADA systems, and other historians — combining multiple sources into a single consolidated report without middleware or a central data warehouse.
Does XLReporter include alarm management reporting built on ISA 18.2?
Yes. XLReporter’s Alarm Management Module connects directly to your SCADA or HMI alarm database and generates ISA 18.2 KPI reports out of the box — bad actors, chattering alarms, flood events, stale alarms, and acknowledgement times — complementing your PI process data with a complete operational picture.
Does XLReporter include a dedicated mobile app for field and management teams?
Yes. The SmartSights Mobile App gives operators, supervisors, and managers on-demand access to reports built from PI data from any iOS or Android device — with role-based security and no custom development required.
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.