Software-defined automation (SDA) represents a paradigm shift in industrial and manufacturing control systems that addresses traditional operational technology (OT) architectures' limitations. As proprietary, hardware-intensive automation systems reach the end of their life cycles, they increasingly hinder innovation, scalability, and adaptability in dynamic production environments. SDA emerges as a transformative solution, offering decentralized, flexible, and open automation architecture that aligns with modern manufacturing's evolving needs.

This new approach decouples hardware from software, enabling greater interoperability and vendor-agnostic implementations. By virtualizing control systems, SDA allows the deployment of soft programmable logic controllers (PLCs) or hardware-agnostic, software-based controllers that can run on any Windows or Linux server, industrial PC, or microcomputer. This virtualization strategy enables changes to machines and processes without pausing production; it also reduces downtime and costs.

SDA also facilitates the implementation of digital twin models, allowing manufacturers to design, optimize, test, and validate machine solutions in a virtual environment before real-world commissioning. This capability can significantly reduce errors, save time and money, and accelerate time-to-market by up to 50% and commissioning time by up to 60% compared to traditional approaches.

• What are the key growth opportunities for manufacturers adopting SDA over traditional OT systems?
• How does the integration of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), AI, and machine learning within SDA frameworks improve predictive maintenance and resource utilization to achieve growth?
• How can your company leverage cloud-based deployments of software systems to enhance scalability and drive growth?