Why a first-of-its-kind event is changing the world of SCADA.

Attending the inaugural OT SCADA CON in Houston can only be described as “a breath of fresh air.” I attend a lot of automation industry events, and this one was a hit—thanks in large part to its excellent format.

Informative sessions were kept to 30 minutes—a block of time long enough to highlight each speaker’s real-world experience and expertise, but short enough to keep the audience engaged, attentive, and in some cases, QUITE entertained.

Concise yet Comprehensive Content

OT SCADA CON sessions covered a wide range of topics from basic I/O types and field instrumentation to advanced SCADA design, machine vision, robotics, and cybersecurity. Each session showcased the speaker’s real-world experience, offering practical insights, which were far more valuable than theoretical concepts.  

Presentations assumed limited prior knowledge, and the speakers did a great job filling in knowledge gaps and providing valuable information for those unfamiliar with specific technologies. I may know my PLCs, I/O, and SCADA, but I left the event with a much greater understanding of machine vision, robotics, and virtualization.

Next Level Networking

I had a blast getting to know attendees, speakers, and fellow sponsors. From the onsite happy hour, to the Goode and Co. BBQ feast for dinner, to (my personal favorite) Karaoke, there were plenty of opportunities to get to know each other and to learn from each other’s experiences in the industry.

And who did I meet? Self-starters with unique stories of how they wound up in automation. Some started as technicians and mechanics, others migrated from other engineering disciplines, like chemical and mechanical. Of course there were a few, like me, who grew up on controls. 

There were a few locals and many who traveled from far and wide—some from as far as Pakistan. The common thread? Dreams of changing industries and the world with better tech, open standards, and most importantly, sharing what we know with our community.

Swag and Raffle Revelry

The Automation Ladies put together an amazing “swag bar” with some awesome giveaways including some of our own groov gear. And I’ll be honest, I was a bit jealous of the attendees when I saw the raffle items, one of which was our own groov RIO. 

OT SCADA CON—See you Next Year!

The Automation Ladies (be sure to follow them on LinkedIn) rocked this event, and the bar is set high for 2025. 

Everything is bigger and better in Texas, right? Well, from what I hear, next year’s OT SCADA CON 2025 in Houston is going to live up to that saying! 

So if you missed it this year, I highly recommend marking your calendar for the next one!