Live from Ignition Community Conference (ICC) 2025, Mike Flores sits down with Al Caceres, Business Development Manager at Avadine, to unpack what real-world digital transformation actually looks like across oil & gas, water, wastewater, agriculture, and manufacturing.

In this conversation, Al explains why Avadine operates as a true “dot connector”—bridging SCADA, custom software, databases, APIs, and edge hardware using platforms like Ignition 8.3. The discussion covers why many customers are consolidating tools into Ignition, how edge-native architectures are reshaping automation, and why culture—not technology—is still the biggest barrier to progress.

The episode also dives into:

- The generational and cultural gaps slowing automation adoption

- Why AI excites executives but rarely starts with operations

- Where machine learning actually fits today in industrial environments

- Avadine’s new Ignition-based Pump-Off Controller (IPO) and early AI integration

- What “future-ready” really means for SCADA and operations teams

If you’re an automation engineer, OT leader, integrator, or operations executive navigating budgets, modernization, and AI expectations—this episode delivers grounded insight without the hype.

0:00 – Welcome to the Energy Tech Podcast (Live from ICC 2025)

00:42 – Who is Avdine? Role, Markets, and Integration Focus

01:46 – First-Time ICC Takeaways & Learning the SCADA Ecosystem

03:18 – Why Avdine Is a “Dot Connector” (Not Just a Panel Shop)

05:01 – Custom Software, APIs, Databases & Real Integration Work

05:33 – Where Ignition 8.3 Fits in Modern Architectures

06:18 – Cutting Third-Party Apps by Consolidating into Ignition

06:38 – The Real Barrier to Digital Transformation: Culture

08:04 – Generational Gaps in Operations & Technology Adoption

09:27 – Edge Computing, Mobility & Digital Expectations

10:20 – Avdine’s Technology Stack: Opto22, Canary, Tosibox & More

10:52 – What “Future-Ready” Means for Integrators

11:32 – AI & Machine Learning: Business Excitement vs Ops Reality

13:08 – Ignition IPO: AI-Enabled Pump-Off Controller Explained

14:31 – Why Integration Matters More Than AI Hype

15:50 – What Avdine Is Really Great At

16:27 – Closing Thoughts from ICC 2025

Music: Uygar Duzgun / “Fast Life” / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com