Why Systems Integrators Should Bet on Kanoa MES

An open, extensible MES platform built for the way integrators actually work

Systems Integrators are the architects of Smart Manufacturing — bringing together OT, IT, and real-world operations to solve complex challenges across the shop floor. But when it comes to implementing MES and data-driven manufacturing solutions, integrators are often stuck choosing between tools that are too rigid, too risky, or too resource-draining.

Kanoa MES was built to change that.

Whether you’re a solo integrator or part of a multi-office engineering firm, Kanoa is designed to help you deliver faster, scale smarter, and maintain less. We give you a platform you can trust — and the freedom to design and deliver the solutions your customers need.

The Integrator’s MES Dilemma: Three Imperfect Paths

When a manufacturer turns to you for a digital solution, you usually have to pick from three imperfect paths:

1. Custom Development

You build exactly what the customer asks for — tailored, powerful, and efficient. But it comes at a cost:

• Reusability is low — most projects are one-offs

• Every enhancement or new site requires more dev time

• Long-term support burdens your team, often without revenue

2. Off-the-Shelf Software

You adopt a commercial MES platform — faster to deploy, with built-in structure. But the trade-offs?

• You play by their rules, often sacrificing flexibility

• Custom workflows are hard to implement or require extensive workarounds

• Licensing and service fees can balloon, eating into project margins

3. Build Your Own Toolkit

You standardize your own MES framework. More control, more reusability. But now you’ve created software:

• You’re on the hook for updates, bug fixes, documentation, and training

• It’s hard to staff, hard to scale, and not always customer-friendly

• It creates vendor lock-in — not always in your client’s best interest

Kanoa MES: A Platform Built for Integrators

Kanoa offers an alternative: a smart manufacturing platform that’s off-the-shelf, but fully open. It gives you structure when you need it, and flexibility when you want it.

✅ Fully Open and Extensible — Built in Ignition Perspective

KanoaAPP is developed entirely in Ignition Perspective and is fully open. That means you’re not locked into proprietary tools or abstracted configurations. You can see how we built every screen, every tag binding, and every workflow. Want to tweak the production start logic? Modify how downtime events cascade? Build your own scheduling algorithms? You can — right inside the project.

This openness isn’t just about code — it’s about control. You keep the flexibility and creativity of custom development, but within a supported and standardized architecture.

✅ Low Code to No Code — Fast Time-to-Value

Kanoa’s configuration-first design means you can get a working system running in hours or days, not weeks:

• Use built-in tools to define asset hierarchies, materials, and downtime reasons

• Configure quality plans and traceability rules

• Set up OEE and performance tracking with no custom scripting

It’s not just fast — it’s repeatable. This makes Kanoa ideal for pilot projects, MVPs, and plant-level rollouts.

✅ Documented, Supported, and Backed by Experts

You don’t need to figure it all out alone:

• Our platform documentation covers everything from architecture to APIs

• Our support team responds to bug reports and technical issues quickly

• And yes — we actively support first-of-kind implementations, especially when working with new integrators or unique customer scenarios

But we’re not building a services arm. Our goal isn’t to compete for implementation — it’s to empower integrators to own the delivery.

We want to be your platform partner — not your competitor.

Built for the Business of Integration

Kanoa isn’t just good software. It’s a good business decision.

💵 Lower Cost of Delivery

With Kanoa, you avoid the cost of:

• Starting from scratch on every job

• Maintaining your own codebase

• Fighting with locked-down vendor platforms

You save time on support, reduce your team’s non-billable hours, and increase project margins.

🔁 Repeatable Projects, Without Cookie-Cutter Outcomes

Kanoa gives you a reusable MES foundation, while still enabling deep customization for each client. That means:

• Faster ramp-ups

• Easier multi-site rollouts

• More opportunities to upsell enhancements, analytics, and integrations

You get to keep the creative edge that sets your team apart, without rebuilding from zero each time.

🤝 No Lock-In — For You or Your Clients

We believe in open ecosystems. If you’re building on Kanoa, your client is getting a supported platform with no strings attached. That builds trust — and long-term relationships.

And as an integrator, you’re not beholden to Kanoa’s roadmap or service model. You can extend the system, offer your own tools, and differentiate your offering.

Why SIs Are Choosing Kanoa

Let’s break it down:

Ready to Build Smarter?

If you’re a Systems Integrator ready to:

• Deliver MES projects faster and with less risk

• Offer a scalable, supportable solution to every client

• Differentiate your business with custom capabilities on a solid core

• Build long-term partnerships with clients instead of just projects

Then Kanoa MES is your platform.

Train your team. Get a pilot going. Build something amazing.

👉 Contact us to schedule a technical demo or start your SI onboarding.
Let’s build the next generation of smart manufacturing solutions — together.