Many organizations invest in a historian expecting clarity, but end up with complexity instead.
This guide shows you how to evaluate solutions that deliver both reliability and long-term value.
Stop Guessing Which Historian Is Best for You
Selecting a historian is not about chasing features. It’s about aligning technology with how your organization operates, scales, and evolves.
This is not a product comparison. It’s a strategy guide.
It helps you choose a historian that supports both your technical and business goals.
What’s Inside the Guide
The Key Evaluation Categories That Matter Most
Understand the 11 core areas that separate strong historians from fragile ones, from data acquisition and storage to usability and governance.
The Hidden Costs and Risks of Migration
Learn how to evaluate migration complexity, data integrity, and dependencies that can make or break modernization projects.
How to Design a Proof of Concept That Predicts Real Success
See how to build a test environment that exposes weaknesses early and validates long-term performance.
What a Successful Selection Process Looks Like
Discover how leading industrial teams move from evaluation to implementation without regret.
The Key Evaluation Categories That Matter Most
Understand the 11 core areas that separate strong historians from fragile ones, from data acquisition and storage to usability and governance.
The Hidden Costs and Risks of Migration
Learn how to evaluate migration complexity, data integrity, and dependencies that can make or break modernization projects.
How to Design a Proof of Concept That Predicts Real Success
See how to build a test environment that exposes weaknesses early and validates long-term performance.
What a Successful Selection Process Looks Like
Discover how leading industrial teams move from evaluation to implementation without regret.
Backed by Real-World Experience
This guide was written by Dexcent’s industrial data and automation experts—engineers who have spent decades helping OT and IT teams modernize historians, protect data integrity, and turn information into insight.
“You don’t need more options.
You need a clear path forward.”
This guide helps you find it.
Get the Free eBook Now
Is This Guide for You?
If your historian is mission-critical but underperforming—or if you’re choosing a new one—this guide gives you the clarity to move forward confidently.
Frequently Asked Questions
This ebook is designed for leaders and engineers who manage operational data systems in industries like energy, mining, utilities, and manufacturing. If you’re responsible for historian performance, data integrity, or modernization strategy, this guide will help you make the right decision.
No. This is a free resource built from Dexcent’s field experience. You don’t need to be a client to use it.
Organizations that follow this approach reduce implementation risk, improve data accuracy, and achieve faster adoption across teams.
Yes. Even if you’re not replacing your historian, this guide helps you benchmark its performance and plan for the future.
We’ll send you the ebook and occasional insights about OT data strategy. You can unsubscribe anytime
Once you’ve read the guide, our consultants are available to review your historian strategy and discuss how your current system compares to best practices.
Andrew Capper is Vice President of Industrial Digital Transformation at Dexcent, helping industrial organizations improve data-driven decision-making by optimizing the data journey, reuniting siloed information, and delivering a trustworthy version of the truth.
With more than 25 years of experience, he is known as a results-driven leader who delivers on commitments and tackles complex information management challenges with a practical, human-centric approach. His work spans digital transformation strategy and roadmaps, governance, digital maturity assessments, and performance measurement through clear KPIs and metrics. Andrew is a NAIT graduate with training in Instrumentation Engineering Technology and Security Systems, and he brings a strong focus on safer, more effective operations from data producers through to data consumers
Nader Asgharinia, PMP, P.Eng., is Vice President of Enterprise SCADA & Advanced Applications at Dexcent, leading the delivery of complex, mission-critical solutions with a clear focus on client experience and operational excellence. With more than 30 years in business execution and over 25 years managing multi-million-dollar programs for mission-critical and SCADA systems, he brings a pragmatic, delivery-at-scale approach to every engagement. Nader is recognized for building high-performing teams, driving disciplined portfolio execution, and delivering measurable business outcomes, including significant growth in program portfolios and team capacity over time. He holds a B.Sc.(Hons.) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Newcastle-Upon-Type in the UK, a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Calgary, completed Georgetown University’s Director’s Program, is a Professional Engineer in Alberta, and a Project Management Professional.
Tobias (Gerrit) Nel, CISSP, CISM, is Vice President of OT Infrastructure and Cyber Security Services at Dexcent, leading the development and delivery of practical services and solutions that integrate, complement, or replace OT infrastructure and protect OT assets from cyber threats. He is known for building resilient security frameworks, governance processes, and integrated solutions that reduce risk and support compliance across diverse industries. Gerrit has over 40 years of relevant IT/OT experience and has built and delivered highly skilled and high-performance delivery teams. His strengths include Cyber Security roadmaps, security architecture, incident response, and alignment to standards such as IEC 62443, NIST, and NERC CIP. Furthermore, he has deep foundational technical experience in Networking and OT infrastructure systems architectures that he leverages in building and leading successful delivery teams. Gerrit holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Johannesburg and brings deep cross-sector experience supporting clients in oil and gas, mining, chemical, healthcare, financial, and government environments.
Jaydeep Deshpande, P.Eng., is a seasoned and decisive executive with over 25 years of experience driving operational excellence, profitability, and market growth in national and multinational organizations. As President, he is recognized for his strategic leadership, disciplined execution, and ability to lead organizations through change. Jaydeep is passionate about developing people, building strong leadership teams, and fostering a positive, performance-driven culture. His expertise spans strategic planning, business diversification, financial management, and organizational transformation, with a consistent focus on delivering growth-oriented, profitable results. He holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Alberta, is a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner and Project Management Professional (PMP), and has completed the CMA Accelerated Accounting Program, bringing deep financial and strategic insight to executive decision-making.
Karim Amarshi is Chair of Dexcent’s Board of Directors, providing governance leadership and strategic oversight to support the company’s long-term strategy and executive team. With nearly 40 years as an entrepreneur and owner-operator, he is recognized for building high-performance organizations and forging strategic alliances across Information Technology, government, health care, education, and energy. He is the former co-owner and Chief Executive Officer of one of Canada’s leading enterprise Information Technology solution providers, where he led the organization through three successful mergers and helped scale long-term client and vendor partnerships. Karim remains active across a diverse business portfolio, serving as a founding principal, officer, and advisor to organizations spanning Information Technology, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, and real estate in Canada and internationally.
Yasmin Jivraj, FCIPS, I.S.P., is a Board Member at Dexcent, providing executive guidance and strategic oversight to support corporate management and long-term business direction. Over a 35-year career, she has held senior leadership roles across private, public, and non-profit organizations, with a track record of building operating foundations and driving profitable growth. Following a 15-year tenure as a co-owner and President of one of Canada’s leading strategic Information Technology solution providers, she expanded her governance leadership through active board service in post-secondary education and community-focused organizations. She is recognized for decisive, purpose-led leadership, clear communication, and deep expertise in technology, business models, and methodologies that help enterprise organizations advance digital transformation.
As Chief Executive Officer, Nadir is accountable for providing overall leadership and Dexcent’s Industrial operational performance. Nadir has been involved as an executive sponsor with Oil & Gas and Mining companies for over 35 years, and through the years has developed a strong working relationship with the Executive leadership team of many Fortune 500 companies.
Nadir is known for recognizing value and superior investment opportunities in the technology services sector. His pursuit of highly prospective technology companies around the world has resulted in numerous company start-ups. Prior to starting Dexcent, Nadir had led companies through highly profitable business transactions, including the merger of Atlas Systems Group with CompCanada (later renamed Acrodex) in 2000 and later as Chairman of the Board of Axcend Pvt – an engineering solutions provider – based in Bangalore, India from 2004 – 2014. Acrodex and Axcend were sold in 2015
