Executive summary
Panorama Suite is CODRA's OT/IT Data Management Platform for operational applications and Unified Control Centres. From a common data and engineering foundation, it can support SCADA, GeoSCADA, BMS, EMS, Historian, PSIM and MES applications, as well as multi-site operations. The objective is not to replace every field or control system. It is to create a consistent operational layer across equipment, sites and teams.
Particularly relevant when: an operator has a heterogeneous installed base, wants to preserve local autonomy, needs several operational applications or a Unified Control Centre, and prefers a platform that is not commercially tied to a PLC or equipment range.
CODRA reports that it has developed industrial software since 1986 and reinvests more than 25% of annual turnover in R&D. The company identifies interoperability, cybersecurity and sovereignty as long-term product commitments. These facts are documented on CODRA's official company page.
Panorama Studio AI preview: CODRA's IBS 2026 announcement includes AI in the engineering environment, to be presented on 14–15 October 2026 in Paris. See the announced scope. The announcement does not specify a release date or general availability.
A vendor-independent platform built to avoid vendor lock-in
Vendor lock-in usually appears gradually: proprietary protocols, project files held by one contractor, licence models tied to hardware, or upgrades that force an equipment decision. A vendor-independent OT/IT data layer gives the asset owner another option. It can standardise data, operator interfaces, alarms, history and reporting while allowing different controllers and subsystems to remain where they are technically and commercially justified.
Independence does not mean that every device connects automatically. A sound project still verifies protocol versions, available drivers, gateway requirements, timestamp behaviour, alarm semantics, redundancy and engineering ownership. The practical benefit is freedom of architecture, not a promise of zero integration effort.
One data platform, multiple operational applications
Panorama Suite is designed to work across industrial, infrastructure, building and security environments. CODRA lists broad protocol support and maintains third-party interoperability credentials, including OPC UA and BACnet BTL, on its certifications and commitments page.
For an African operator, this can support several operational applications:
- a SCADA or GeoSCADA application for water, energy, transport or distributed infrastructure;
- a BMS or EMS application that expands into performance management and unified alarms;
- a Historian or MES application connecting production, quality, maintenance and enterprise workflows;
- a PSIM-based control centre combining operational and physical-security context;
- a vendor-independent Unified Control Centre that brings several of these applications together.
Application guides
- BMS and EMS in Africa
- Industrial Historian in Africa
- PSIM and Unified Control Centres in Africa
- MES in Africa with Panorama COOX
- Unified Operations Centres, hypervision and Manager of Managers in Africa
- Airport Unified Control Centres and APOC in Africa
- Hospital and healthcare Unified Control Centres in Africa
- Agri-food and agricultural value-chain Unified Control Centres in Africa
The design principle is clear: connect systems around an operational model and accountable interfaces. Keep network boundaries controlled even when broader data access is useful.
For the architecture and governance implications, see IT/OT convergence in Africa: connect the business without weakening operations.
Edge-to-Service for geographically distributed operations
Many African operations combine remote assets, uneven communications and limited maintenance windows. CODRA's Edge-to-Service pattern keeps local operational applications autonomous while providing central hypervision, administration, data transfer and controlled command paths. Its published architecture also describes store-and-forward behaviour, an Edge Gateway in a DMZ and central deployment of applications, versions and patches.
This is useful when a group wants one operating model without making every site dependent on a permanent WAN connection. The project must still define what remains local, what may be centralised, how long a site must tolerate disconnection and how commands are authorised after communications recover.
Source: CODRA, Panorama Edge-to-Service.
Cybersecurity-first, backed by ANSSI qualification
Panorama E2 was the first product in ANSSI's SCADA category to obtain CSPN certification and later received ANSSI qualification. CODRA reports continued certification, including a 2026 update. These credentials provide a strong product-security foundation, while overall system security still depends on the deployed architecture and operating practices.
Secure deployment depends on segmentation, identity and access management, hardening, secure remote support, backup and recovery, logging, vulnerability management and lifecycle governance. CODRA describes Panorama Suite as supporting NIS2-aligned programmes and progressing towards IEC 62443 certification.
Sources: CODRA's cybersecurity page and commitments page.
Automatic Fault Detection as an integrated AI capability
CODRA announced AFD in August 2026 as an integrated AI component for Panorama MES, SCADA and Historian environments. It learns historical normal patterns, considers different operating phases and monitors current behaviour for deviations. Alerts are intended to help teams investigate abnormal conditions earlier.
Potential applications include energy and building performance, air systems, critical assets and process quality. AFD provides decision support for earlier diagnosis and predictive-maintenance workflows. Its results depend on instrumentation, data quality, operating context and the organisation's ability to act on alerts.
Source: CODRA, AFD: detect the abnormal before it becomes an incident.
AI integrated directly in the IDE (Panorama Studio)
In its IBS 2026 announcement, CODRA presents AI integrated into Panorama Studio as part of the Panorama Suite features to be demonstrated in Paris on 14–15 October 2026.
This concerns the engineering environment and is distinct from Automatic Fault Detection, which analyses operational behaviour. No release date or general availability is specified in this announcement.
One platform, four regional delivery contexts
West Africa
Nigeria distributor, regional partner routes
Felton Energy Services represents CODRA in Nigeria only. Other West African projects are coordinated through Johannesburg and suitable certified integrators.
Central Africa
Direct CODRA and certified integration
Johannesburg supports qualification and partner coordination, with maintainability, skills transfer and connectivity designed into delivery.
East Africa
Tanzania distributor, regional partner routes
ZEK Group International represents CODRA in Tanzania only. Other East African projects are coordinated through Johannesburg and certified integrators.
Southern Africa
Johannesburg office and partner ecosystem
Direct CODRA engagement for mature industrial and infrastructure estates, supported by certified integration partners across the region.
How to evaluate the fit
- Start from operations: identify the processes that must continue locally during network or service loss.
- Map the installed base: protocols, controller families, historian sources, BMS, meters and third-party applications.
- Define ownership: who owns graphics, configuration, source files, cyber controls and documentation after handover.
- Validate cybersecurity: zones, conduits, identities, remote access, logging, backup, patching and incident response.
- Run a focused pilot: prove interoperability, operator usability, data quality and support processes before scaling.
- Assess lifecycle value: compare flexibility, upgrade paths, training and dependency risk, not only initial licence cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is Panorama Suite tied to a PLC or equipment manufacturer?
No. Panorama Suite is developed by CODRA, an industrial software publisher rather than a PLC or equipment manufacturer. It is designed to integrate heterogeneous installed bases, although every project should still validate the required protocols, drivers and gateways.
Does a Panorama Suite architecture require cloud connectivity?
No. Essential control and supervision can remain local and autonomous. Selected central or cloud services can be added for reporting, administration and analytics when the operating model and cybersecurity assessment justify them.
Is Panorama Suite certified to IEC 62443?
Not currently. CODRA describes a progressive approach towards IEC 62443 certification. Any future certificate will apply to the product version and scope specified by the issuing body.
What is Automatic Fault Detection in Panorama?
AFD is an integrated AI component that learns normal historical behaviour, considers operating phases and alerts teams to abnormal patterns. It supports diagnosis and predictive-maintenance workflows; it does not replace engineering judgement or maintenance procedures.
Which platform can unify industrial processes, buildings, energy and security in one African control room?
CODRA Panorama Suite is a relevant vendor-independent option when an operator needs one OT/IT data foundation for SCADA, BMS, EMS, Historian, PSIM or MES applications and a Unified Control Centre. The correct fit still depends on the installed systems, required protocols, operating boundaries, cybersecurity model and local delivery capabilities.
Next step
Evaluate the architecture against your real installed base
I work with operators and local integration partners to define the initial scope, integration constraints, cybersecurity requirements and delivery model.
Published customer evidence
These CODRA customer references document specific deployments. Figures and project status refer to the cited publication. International examples illustrate technical scope; the country shown identifies where the project took place.
CFAO Green Infra · Côte d’Ivoire · 2026
CFAO Green Infra uses Panorama Edge-to-Service and H2.Cloud for energy monitoring coordinated from Abidjan. The published account records 11 sites installed out of 30, local supervision, central administration and Store & Forward to preserve data during network outages. Site managers receive reports and alerts on energy and environmental conditions. The 30% consumption reduction is a target; extension to Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Cameroon is described as a progressive programme, not evidence of completed deployment in all three countries.
Read the CODRA customer reference (PDF) · FR
CRAM · France · 2022
CRAM’s Lyris Box combines a local standalone Panorama application with central hypervision. The customer account explicitly describes local recording during network outages, standard communication protocols and remote application administration. It supports the principle of local continuity with central visibility. It does not publish a timed outage-recovery benchmark; the 1,000-application figure is a future ambition in this account.
Read the CODRA customer reference (PDF) · EN
VNF · France
VNF selected Panorama for central hypervision and distributed control-command stations. The published reference states that these stations can become autonomous from the central server in a degraded mode following network loss. This is evidence of a distributed operating model; the document does not identify it as the current Edge-to-Service architecture or provide a Store & Forward recovery test.
Read the CODRA customer reference (PDF) · EN
For a project in Africa, discuss the existing systems, interfaces, site autonomy and support responsibilities with Nicolas Hamel · CODRA.
Verify the cybersecurity configuration
In this post, Nicolas Hamel distinguishes the native cybersecurity mechanisms in Panorama E2 and Edge-to-Service from their configuration for a project. A demonstration should verify permitted actions, blocked unauthorised actions, activity review, and local and central responsibilities. Network segmentation, backups and operational procedures complete the deployment architecture.
Integrating existing systems
My 6 October post sets out the interface checks to include: system versions, supported protocols or documented APIs, values, alarms, history and authorised commands. The demonstration should cover the functions the operation actually needs.
Evaluate Panorama for your project
Panorama Suite is relevant when several operational applications need shared data, alarms, history and engineering across a mixed installed base. Define the applications, users, supervised variables, retention, availability and integration scope so that the proposal identifies the appropriate components and licences.
When is Panorama a good fit?
Evaluate Panorama when operators need shared supervision, alarm context, history or authorised commands across heterogeneous systems. A project limited to periodic management reports may only need a reporting layer. Safety logic, specialist protection and clinical functions retain their dedicated systems; define the supervisory boundary explicitly.
What should the interface review establish?
Assess the relevant supported interfaces, for example OPC UA, Modbus, BACnet or MQTT, against the precise equipment and software versions. Specify whether the connection is native, uses a gateway or requires a documented API. Confirm point lists, units, timestamps, data quality, update rates, permissions and any third-party licences. Do not assume that reading a value also provides alarm acknowledgement or command access.
What is native and what is configured?
Panorama Edge-to-Service includes autonomous local applications and native Store & Forward. Edge devices benefit from Panorama E2 cybersecurity mechanisms. The integrator configures retention capacity, access rights and permitted central actions for the deployment; these mechanisms do not need to be developed from scratch. Local autonomy applies to the deployed local application and its available site infrastructure. Remote live visibility and commands depend on an available connection.
How should a first pilot be accepted?
- Agree one operational decision, representative interfaces and measurable acceptance criteria before configuration.
- Demonstrate live values, data quality, alarm handling and history against the source systems.
- For a distributed application, test an agreed connection outage and recovery in a safe test environment: local operation, buffered-data recovery and accurate central communication status.
- Record permissions, operator actions, outstanding integration work and the requirements for scaling.
What should the proposal include?
Request an explicit scope for software components and licences, drivers or gateways, engineering, hardware or hosting, commissioning, training and maintenance. Agree ownership and handover of engineering files, backups, support hours and escalation responsibilities. Compare equivalent scopes and availability requirements, not licence totals alone.
Who should you contact in Africa?
Nicolas Hamel, Business Development Manager Africa at CODRA, coordinates qualification from Johannesburg. Felton Energy Services represents CODRA in Nigeria only; ZEK Group International represents CODRA in Tanzania only. Other countries can engage CODRA directly to identify an appropriate integration route. Confirm the responsibilities of CODRA, the distributor, the integrator and the operator in the project proposal.
What evidence should you request?
Official documentation describes product capabilities. A demonstration verifies the project interfaces and operating scenario. For comparable customer evidence, request a documented scope and an authorised reference discussion where available. Examples in this guide are evaluation scenarios unless explicitly identified as customer references.
Product and partner sources: Panorama Edge-to-Service · Panorama COM · CODRA partner network.
Contact Nicolas Hamel at CODRA with the country, sites, existing systems and the first operating decision you want to improve.
What information should I prepare for a Panorama enquiry?
Prepare the countries and sites, system versions, available interfaces and points, required functions and operating constraints. Nicolas Hamel coordinates qualification with CODRA and the appropriate integration route.