Comparison
Custom MES (Ajinkya) vs Licensed MES platform
Buy a licensed MES platform if your floor already fits a vendor’s reference architecture and you value a fixed roadmap over control. Build a custom MES with Ajinkya if the shop floor has bespoke process rules, legacy machine protocols, or ERP/SCADA/PLC integrations that a packaged product will not cover without heavy customisation.
Feature and fit matrix
| Feature | Custom MES (Ajinkya) | Licensed MES platform |
|---|---|---|
| Time to first shop-floor value | 10 to 16 weeks for MVP on one line, then iterative rollout | 3 to 6 months typical, driven by vendor implementation partner availability |
| Machine connectivity | OPC UA, Modbus, MQTT, direct PLC/SCADA integration, and older serial protocols where required | OPC UA and a shortlist of certified drivers; anything outside needs a paid connector or middleware |
| Custom process rules | Written in code by the same team that owns the deployment - no config-language ceiling | Configurable within the platform’s data model; heavy rule work often needs vendor consulting |
| ERP integration | Direct integration with SAP S/4HANA and other ERPs; the schema follows your master data, not the reverse | Pre-built connectors for major ERPs; custom fields and non-standard flows are additional work |
| Ownership of IP | Full source, full IP handover on contract close if you want it | Licensed use of the platform; source and IP stay with the vendor |
| Roadmap control | Your backlog is our backlog - new features ship when your operations need them | Vendor roadmap; enhancement requests compete with global demand |
| Support model | Same engineering team, plant-side visits included, SLA against your uptime | Tiered support desk; on-site visits usually billable |
| Vendor risk | Concentrated on one partner - you take on integrator-quality risk | Vendor pricing changes, license audits and end-of-life cycles are real |
When to choose Licensed MES platform instead
- You run one plant with standard discrete or process flows and no legacy machine protocols.
- Procurement requires a globally-recognised vendor brand for audit or capex-committee reasons.
- You have an existing internal integrator team that has already trained on that specific platform.
- You do not want to own the codebase and prefer a licence-based support model with a fixed SLA.
Pricing posture
Time-and-materials for the build phase, then a fixed managed-service fee for the ownership phase. No per-user or per-machine licence. Concrete numbers on the discovery call after we see the scope; we do not publish list prices because MES scope varies too much to quote honestly on a page.
Named-user or per-machine licences plus annual maintenance (typically 18 to 22 percent of licence value). Add implementation, add training, add every non-standard connector. Public list prices vary; large deployments always negotiate off list.
Implementation reality
Two-week discovery, then a 10-to-16-week MVP on one line with three named engineers on your account. We insist on a shop-floor kick-off - no MES has ever shipped from a video call. Common pitfall: MDM (master data) is never as clean as the ERP suggests; we budget 3 weeks explicitly for that.
Vendor sales team hands off to an implementation partner. Timelines run 3 to 6 months for a single plant. Common pitfall: platform configuration meets a process rule the platform does not model, and the project sprouts a custom-development stream that was not in the original quote.
FAQ
Can Ajinkya build on top of a licensed MES platform we already own?
Yes. We frequently build custom modules, integrations and analytics on top of existing SAP MII, GE Proficy, Siemens Opcenter and Rockwell deployments. The comparison in this page is for buyers still choosing.
How do you avoid the "custom software forever" trap?
We treat the codebase as a product with a real backlog and release cadence. Documentation, source, CI/CD and runbooks are yours. A second vendor could take over without our cooperation if it ever came to that; we have handed over projects on request before.
What is included when you say "full IP handover"?
Source in your git, credentials in your vault, infrastructure in your cloud accounts, all documentation and architectural decisions in your Confluence or Notion. No hidden dependencies on Ajinkya services.
How do you price it if scope is unclear?
The two-week paid discovery ends with a fixed-price MVP quote. If you do not proceed after discovery, you keep the deliverables (target architecture, backlog, integration plan) and owe nothing further.
Do you have references from custom MES deployments?
Yes. The Ajinkya team has shipped MES for JSW Steel and Hindalco Industries, among others. We can arrange a reference call under an NDA once the discovery scope is agreed.
Sources
- Ajinkya positioning: MES, IIoT, RFID for enterprise manufacturers - https://www.ajinkyatechnologies.com/solutions/mes
- Ajinkya reference clients (JSW Steel, Hindalco, Samsung Electronics) - https://www.ajinkyatechnologies.com/about
Not sure which side you sit on?
Book a 30-minute discovery call. We’ll ask about your plant footprint, your team, and your timeline - then tell you honestly which route fits.
Book a 30-min callReviewed by Amey Kadle, Founder, Ajinkya Technologies. Last reviewed: 2026-08-29.