Wonderware Confidential: Interviews with the Movers and Shakers within the Wonderware Organization

Eduardo Ballina; Geo-SCADA Business Manager

Eduardo Ballina, the Wonderware® Geo SCADA Business Manager based in our Lake Forest, CA headquarters has worked in the industrial automation field for 21 years, 11 of those with Wonderware. In 1996 he joined Wonderware as an Application Engineer for the OEM sales group where he assisted key OEMs and VARs across the globe leverage Wonderware technologies through their own offerings. He later became one of the first members of the ArchestrA consultants' team helping customers adopt Wonderware ArchestrA technology. He has also held positions as Functional Manager for Device Integration and Technical Lead for the then starting, Wonderware Industrial Computers team. Today, Eduardo Ballina serves as the Wonderware Geo SCADA Business Manager in the HMI/SCADA business group.

What’s your group's mission?

Eduardo: The Wonderware mission is to further increase participation and market share in geographically distributed SCADA applications (Geo SCADA), namely: Power, Oil &Gas, Water & Wastewater, Transportation, Telecommunications and Facility Management. Since the introduction of InTouch in the late 80's Wonderware has always had a presence in these markets, but we want to become the natural choice for customers in these segments.

What are some of the most significant things Wonderware has done recently for those markets and for the Solution Provider Community (SI's, VAR/OEMs. ISV's)?

Eduardo: In the last 12 months we have spent a significant amount of time meeting with End Users, System Integrators, OEMs/VARs and ISVs focused in Geo SCADA applications throughout the world to listen to their needs and suggestions in order to make our products, offerings and operations an increasingly better fit for these markets. Their input has been very valuable in bringing additional features we have introduced in InTouch® 10.0 and System Platform 3.0, as well as additional work we have in our roadmap. 2008 will see a strong wave of Wonderware offering targeted to Geo SCADA applications all heavily influenced by the input from our Solution Provider community.

What is the impact of what you do in the Solution Provider community?

Eduardo: Our work will enable our Solution Providers focused in SCADA applications to come to market with better tools to address common requirements in these market segments. It has also resulted in closer relationships with Solution Providers.

Do you have a single philosophical point or best practice that lies behind your success?

Eduardo: We can only succeed in the same measure our customers succeed with our products. Thus, the whole point is to help our End Users, SIs, OEMs, VARs, ISVs and Distributors succeed using our technology. The same philosophy applies internally within Wonderware, and if you actually think about it, the same way of thinking can be applied to family and community. Their success with your work, with your help, is where your success ultimately comes from.

What is the most important thing we and our solution providers have to get right in the next 12 months?

Eduardo: We have to make sure that we, our community and our users realize and remain aware of what the true potential of our software is and leverage it. Wonderware has worked very hard to ensure that System Platform can address SCADA requirements. Our SCADA test bench with its Wide Area Network, low bandwidth intermittent connection scenarios, our Large Scale test bench with its 400 client, 1million IO system, and the 500 node single galaxy test performed at Microsoft Labs are some examples of the effort and commitment shown by Wonderware in the SCADA markets. Its security, management, unrivaled scalability, openness and distributed capabilities make it a natural for SCADA applications. But more importantly, System Platform allows us to deliver far more than just supervisory control in this type of applications and this is something we must not overlook. The Wonderware System Platform capabilities give our Solution Providers an advantage to handle Geo SCADA applications.

What stands out in your memory regarding the history of Wonderware?

Eduardo: Wonderware has shown continuous passion and excitement and its ability to stay in the lead in our industry is inspiring. In my years at Wonderware I’ve seen technology, industry, and global changes, but regardless of what the new challenges are Wonderware has always known how to adapt and lead. Its excitement is infectious to those who work for us or with us.