Unification of HMI Systems
Clarity, Efficiency, and Future-Proofing through Standardization
In many mechanical engineering companies, different HMI solutions evolve over the years – even for similar or related machines. The reasons for this are diverse:
- Parallel developments at different locations or by different teams.
- Adaptations to regional markets and customer requirements.
- Product variations that have led to their own operating concepts.
- Technological leaps introducing new frameworks or platforms.
- Mergers or partnerships bringing together different software philosophies.
- Lack of central UX or design guidelines, resulting in independent, inconsistent solutions.
The result: Multiple HMIs with differing logic, design, and technical foundations – leading to significant effort in development, training, maintenance, and support.
Why Unification Makes Sense
A consolidated HMI platform brings efficiency, clarity, and long-term security:
- Centralized development: New features, security updates, or compliance requirements (e.g., Machinery Regulation, CRA, NIS2) only need to be implemented once.
- Improved reusability: Modules, components, and UX elements can be reused across systems.
- Consistent user experience: Operators benefit from a unified logic and visual language – regardless of the machine.
- Knowledge consolidation: Insights from different teams come together to create a sustainable, high-quality solution.
- Future-oriented development: Focus shifts from technical maintenance to innovation and added value.
How Alphagate Approaches It
Alphagate supports companies on their path to a harmonized HMI landscape – structured, methodical, and focused on users and efficiency.
- Analysis Phase
Existing HMI solutions, frameworks, and design systems are analyzed from technical, functional, and UX perspectives. Workshops with stakeholders and users create understanding of usage contexts, strengths, and weaknesses. - Evaluation & Strategy
Together with the client, Alphagate identifies synergies and key differences. The goal is a clear strategy: what remains, what is unified, and what is reimagined – including compliance with regulatory requirements. - UX Concept & Design System
Based on the findings, Alphagate develops a shared interaction concept and modular design system that provides both technical and visual consistency – scalable across product lines and generations. - Prototyping & Validation
Concepts are tested using clickable prototypes and interactive user testing. This ensures that the new solution is not only efficient, but also intuitive and well accepted. - Implementations & Handover
Architecture, code structure, and guidelines are defined so that the new platform can be maintained, extended, and reused for future projects – whether developed by Alphagate or the client’s own team.
The Result
A unified, future-ready HMI System that reduces technical complexity, delights users, and paves the way for innovation.
Alphagate combines decades of experience in HMI development with proven UX methodologies – enabling a sustainable and meaningful evolution of machine interaction.
