1. A method of delivering data using a device communicatively coupled to a communications network of a process plant, the process plant having equipment configured to control one or more processes, and the method comprising: collecting data at the device, the data including at least one of: (i) data that is generated by the device, (ii) data that is created by the device, or (iii) data that is received at the device, the data corresponding to at least one of the process plant or a process controlled by the process plant, and a type of the device is included in a set of device types, the set of device types including a field device and a controller; storing, in a cache of the device, the collected data; and causing at least a portion of the collected data to be transmitted for storage at a unitary, logical data storage area of a process control big data appliance corresponding to the process plant, the unitary, logical data storage area being configured to store, using a common format, multiple types of data from a set of types of data corresponding to at least one of the process plant or the process controlled by the process plant, and the set of types of data including continuous data, event data, measurement data, batch data, calculated data, and configuration data.