Some of the main benefits are:
- Runs on minimum specification PC hardware
- Centralized administration of software installation and management
- Load sharing through remotely deployed displays and distributed client/server architecture

The benefits for the operator are ease of use through a common HMI standard that allows the grouping of FAST/TOOLS data into logical categories such as process mimics, alarm and event views, historical and real-time trending, and faceplates and reports (which can be step less zoomed and panned in real-time). Furthermore, the process mimics can contain multiple dynamic layers and visibility groups which become active and visible depending on user privileges, process conditions, zoom level, etc.

Although the FAST/TOOLS HMI is freely configurable to meet specific application needs, the basic elements that can be enabled as part of the operator environment for supervision and control are:

• Layout
• Menu
• Toolbar
• Frames
• Status line