Both platforms digitize shop-floor work instructions, skills tracking, and shift handoffs. The differences that matter most for mill managers and corporate IT are licensing model, hardware requirements, and OSHA compliance depth.
| Feature | Meridian ✓ | Poka ✗ |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone required |
No — PIN on shared tablet
Any tablet at the station. Workers without phones can sign in.
|
Yes — worker needs a smartphone
BYOD model; no shared-station option
|
| Per-worker licensing |
No — flat platform pricing
Add workers at no additional cost; team growth doesn't increase your bill
|
$10–20 / worker / month
Enterprise negotiated but still seat-based; scaling costs grow
|
| OSHA / LOTO integration |
Yes — linked to LOTO Tracker
1910.147 lockout/tagout workflows alongside work instructions; single Prelion suite
|
No OSHA LOTO module
Separate system required for compliance workflows
|
| SAP / ETQ integration |
API-driven
Open REST API; connects to existing SAP / ETQ workflows
|
Native integration
Deep SAP / ETQ native connectors; requires enterprise tier
|
| Demo before purchase |
Yes — self-serve live demo
Live at /meridian/floor and /meridian/admin — prospects self-demo before talking to sales
|
No self-serve demo
Requires sales call and scoping process
|
| Start-of-shift checklists |
Yes
Tap-to-check runner on shared tablet; audit trail per run
|
Yes
Mobile-first checklists; requires smartphone
|
| Skills matrix |
Yes
Certifications, training levels, expiry tracking per worker
|
Yes
Competency and skills tracking per worker
|
| Shift handoffs |
Yes
Shift notes handoff with timestamp and author attribution
|
Yes
Digital shift handoff and communication tools
|
| Tablet-first design |
Yes — full tablet-first
Shared-station PIN keypad, 48px touch targets, industrial floor environment
|
Partial
Primarily mobile / smartphone; shared-station not a design priority
|
| Part of a safety suite |
Yes — LOTO Tracker built in
One vendor for both connected worker and LOTO compliance (1910.147)
|
No
Focuses on manufacturing operations only
|
Flat platform pricing means adding a new shift, crew, or facility doesn't trigger a license review. Poka charges $10–20 per worker per month — and that bill grows every time you hire.
Workers without smartphones can still sign in at the station. No app download, no account setup. Works on any iPad or Android tablet on the floor.
Meridian exposes REST endpoints for equipment data, work instruction content, and checklist results. Integrate with SAP, ETQ, or any MES without a vendor-specific connector.
Meridian ships alongside LOTO Tracker — the same Prelion suite handles your 1910.147 energy isolation permits, not a separate vendor with a separate contract.
Prospects explore Meridian live at /meridian/floor and /meridian/admin before booking a sales call. Eliminates the "let me get you a demo" friction in the buying cycle.
Built for mill managers and corporate IT alike. PIN auth, audit trail, shift handoffs — designed for the people who actually run the floor, not just the ones buying it.
Floor operator view and admin dashboard are both live. Self-serve before you contact us.