Schneider Electric moves towards SDA with new DCS

Schneider Electric has announced EcoStruxure Foxboro Software Defined Automation (SDA) — what it says is the industry’s first open, software‑defined DCS.

For decades, distributed control systems have enabled real-time control and coordination of complex processes. But today’s business environment is demanding greater agility, fewer costly upgrades, and simplified compliance. Open automation and process control systems are seen as a way towards greater flexibility, scalability and cost efficiency.

“EcoStruxure Foxboro SDA marks a defining moment for industrial automation,” said Hany Fouda, Senior Vice President, Process Automation, Schneider Electric. “By embracing openness and software-defined architecture, we’re giving our customers the agility to modernise without compromise, protecting their investments while unlocking future-ready capabilities.”

Schneider Electric says that Foxboro SDA decouples hardware from software to protect existing investments and enable a smooth, lower-risk modernisation path. The result aims to be simpler workflows, faster insights, and sustainable performance gains.

The company says Foxboro SDA is built with secure-by-design principles and IEC 62443-3-3 compliance, and that users can lower CapEx and OpEx, streamline deployment with intuitive tools, and minimise downtime by avoiding obsolescence and enabling predictive maintenance.

Schneider Electric says its customers benefit from a future-ready upgrade path, built-in cybersecurity, and simplified operations that support IT/OT convergence and advanced technologies like AI and machine learning.

“The launch of EcoStruxure Foxboro SDA marks a major milestone in the evolution of process automation,” said Craig Resnick, Vice President at ARC Advisory Group. “By decoupling control logic from hardware, Schneider Electric is providing manufacturers with the agility to scale, adapt and simplify their operations.”

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