A process module is automatically configured for operation in a plant. During the operation of the process module in a first phase in a first operational environment, operational data that is related to the process module is received by a computer data system. In a second phase, when the process module is connected to a second operational environment, operational data is received again. The computer data system has a reply function that receives and processes a query and provides a response. Processing the query includes processing the operational data that was received during the first and second phases. The process module is then configured by using configuration parameters that are derived from the response.