Schneider Electric Tops ABI Research’s Software-Defined Automation Ranking
Event summary
- ABI Research ranked Schneider Electric, Siemens, Bosch Rexroth, SUPCON, Honeywell Technologies, and CODESYS as leaders in software-defined automation (SDA) on September 29, 2026.
- Schneider Electric led the ranking due to its openness strategy, global deployments, and support for software-defined PLC and DCS environments.
- SDA controller revenue is projected to grow from $500 million in 2025 to $4.7 billion by 2035, a 22.3% CAGR.
- Automotive remains the largest opportunity for pure PLC players, with food and beverage, semiconductors, and data centers emerging as high-potential segments.
The big picture
Software-defined automation is becoming a strategic battleground as manufacturers prioritize flexible, intelligent, and scalable automation platforms. The market opportunity is accelerating, driven by the need for faster time to market, lower hardware dependence, and more resilient control architectures. ABI Research’s ranking highlights the vendors best positioned to capitalize on this shift, with Schneider Electric leading in openness and global deployments, and Siemens excelling in AI integration.
What we're watching
- Market Expansion
- The pace at which SDA adoption expands beyond pilot projects into broader industrial segments.
- Technological Differentiation
- How vendors like Siemens and Schneider Electric will leverage AI and openness as key innovation differentiators.
- Regional Growth
- Whether EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and North America will sustain the strongest growth due to reshoring and industrial modernization.
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