Apparatus for determining operation compatibility of a first field device and a second field device, the second field device being a candidate for replacing the first field device in an industrial process, the first and second field devices configured to communicate using the same communications protocol, the apparatus comprising: a processor; and a memory containing instructions which, when executed under control of the processor, control the apparatus to: retrieve data relating to the first field device and data relating to the second field device; perform a compatibility check based on the data relating to the first and second field devices to determine whether the second field device is compatible as a replacement for the first field device in the industrial process; and generate, for display, on a display, a result of the compatibility check, wherein the apparatus is configured, under control of the processor, to perform the compatibility check by performing a first compatibility check including comparing the data of the first field device with the data of the second field device to determine whether the data of the first and second field devices are the same, wherein comparing the data includes comparing model, revision and vendor information relating to the first field device and the second field device, and wherein the apparatus is configured, under control of the processor to perform the compatibility check by: performing a second compatibility check, when it is determined in the first compatibility check that the data of the first field device and the data of the second field device are not the same, including initiating a lookup module providing predetermined combinations of compatible field devices; and comparing the data relating to the first field device and data relating to the second field device with the predetermined combinations of compatible field devices. a processor; and a memory containing instructions which, when executed under control of the processor, control the apparatus to: retrieve data relating to the first field device and data relating to the second field device; perform a compatibility check based on the data relating to the first and second field devices to determine whether the second field device is compatible as a replacement for the first field device in the industrial process; and generate, for display, on a display, a result of the compatibility check, retrieve data relating to the first field device and data relating to the second field device; perform a compatibility check based on the data relating to the first and second field devices to determine whether the second field device is compatible as a replacement for the first field device in the industrial process; and generate, for display, on a display, a result of the compatibility check, wherein the apparatus is configured, under control of the processor, to perform the compatibility check by performing a first compatibility check including comparing the data of the first field device with the data of the second field device to determine whether the data of the first and second field devices are the same, wherein comparing the data includes comparing model, revision and vendor information relating to the first field device and the second field device, and wherein the apparatus is configured, under control of the processor to perform the compatibility check by: performing a second compatibility check, when it is determined in the first compatibility check that the data of the first field device and the data of the second field device are not the same, including initiating a lookup module providing predetermined combinations of compatible field devices; and comparing the data relating to the first field device and data relating to the second field device with the predetermined combinations of compatible field devices. performing a second compatibility check, when it is determined in the first compatibility check that the data of the first field device and the data of the second field device are not the same, including initiating a lookup module providing predetermined combinations of compatible field devices; and comparing the data relating to the first field device and data relating to the second field device with the predetermined combinations of compatible field devices.