What Makes HELIO Unique?
HELIO is a no-code tool for creating industrial HMIs that is different from others.
To understand why HELIO works the way it does, let's look at the challenges product teams are facing and the aspects that make HELIO unique in solving them.
Challenges for Product Teams
Good UX is a Great USP But it Takes Time and Skills
Good User Experience is a great way to stay ahead of competitors because it allows customers to fully utilize the potential of a machine. However, the truth is, it's also damn hard to accomplish!
Engineering teams need to create an HMI that not only reflects their own mental model, but more importantly, that of their customers. This can be a challenging task, especially if the team that is responsible for the HMI is mostly composed of engineers also involved in developing PLC that controls the machine.
Incorporates Guardrails to Create Engaging And Future-Proof HMIs
The HELIO Runtime, paired with its corresponding HELIO Design System, reflects the knowledge and proficiency of our design and user experience specialists.
With over 20 years of experience, particularly in the industrial sector, we've made many informed design decisions to create durable and engaging HMIs. This enables you and your team to focus on your main task: engineering the product.
Industrial HMIs Need to Adapt to Different Output Devices & Panel Suppliers
And as if that wasn't enough, they have to accomplish all of this while the parameters and usage context of their HMI are subject to change: panel suppliers are being switched, larger HMI panel sizes are becoming available, and some of their bigger customers want to equip shift supervisors with smaller mobile tablets to easily monitor their machines from anywhere in the production facility.
Is a Tool for Content Modeling First, Not for Creating Pixel-Based Screens
A key feature of HELIO is its emphasis on content modeling and structured content. Rather than defining fixed layouts, this approach allows teams to establish a content structure that serves as the foundation for developing HMIs adaptable to various panel sizes, screen dimensions, and types of user input.
Every Machine is Different – Customization is not the Exception, but the Rule
Industrial machines as well as their HMIs are often developed for highly specialized use cases in small to medium quantities. This requires a high degree of flexibility and adaptability to different equipment and customer requirements.
Is a No-Code Solution that Allows All Members of Your Team to Participate
If customizations require coding, only a limited number of people can contribute. However, with a No-Code IDE, not just developers, but also project managers and UX designers can contribute and make changes to your HMIs. This enables interdisciplinary teams to quickly adapt HMIs to meet specific needs.
UX Consistency Across Different Products & Teams Is a Sisyphean Task
Ensuring a consistent UX across different teams is challenging due to the varying needs, requirements, and tech stacks of each product. This complexity makes it difficult to establish a standard design system that meets the needs of all products and teams.
HELIO Is a Toolbox To Scale Your Corporate Design System
HELIO provides you with a head start through its built-in HELIO Design System, which features the most important input and output elements. By separating content from style, HELIO ensures that product teams stay within the boundaries of this design system.
The Key for Building Engaging HMIs: Test & Iterate on Actual Devices
When developing interfaces, quick feedback is essential. Questions like, "How will this page appear on a smaller screen size with real data from my PLC?" need timely answers.
Unfortunately, HMI Tools can impede this rapid iteration and testing process, for example due to lengthy compilation steps that prevent product teams from experimenting with and testing different versions.
HELIO Let’s You Design & Iterate as Close to your Machine as Possible
HELIO provides a range of features designed to streamline your HMI development process. These include the option to customize preview dimensions for your panel sizes, the ability to use a browser on your target panel for quick testing of your development version running on another device, and the possibility to connect your HMI to a real PLC during development.
Edit your HMI in real time; there's no need for compilation.