A New Approach to Modernizing Industrial Automation Systems
As industrial enterprises face increasing pressure to digitize operations, many continue to struggle with aging automation infrastructure, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and growing demands for operational agility. To address these challenges, Schneider Electric has launched Industrial Automation Modernization as a Service, a new offering developed in collaboration with HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise).
Rather than requiring organizations to replace existing control systems through large-scale capital projects, the new service model enables gradual modernization while maintaining production continuity. This approach allows manufacturers to evolve their automation environments at a pace that aligns with operational and financial objectives.
Combining Software-Defined Automation with Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure
At the heart of the solution is Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Automation Expert (EAE), an open automation platform designed around software-defined automation principles. The platform is integrated with HPE SimpliVity hybrid cloud infrastructure, providing a scalable foundation for industrial workloads, data management, and system resilience.
By combining automation software and hybrid cloud technologies, the offering aims to provide a more flexible architecture that can adapt to changing production requirements while supporting digital transformation initiatives.
Three Core Pillars of the Modernization Framework
The service is structured around three interconnected layers that address both technology and operational requirements.
1. Infrastructure Foundation
The solution leverages HPE's computing, storage, and data protection technologies to support industrial applications. This infrastructure layer is designed to deliver reliability, high availability, and secure data management for critical operations.
2. Automation Software as a Service
Through EcoStruxure Automation Expert, organizations gain access to centralized software-defined control capabilities. This enables more flexible deployment and management of automation applications across multiple facilities and operational environments.
3. Lifecycle and Managed Services
Beyond technology deployment, Schneider Electric provides consulting, migration planning, cybersecurity services, operational support, and continuous optimization. This helps organizations reduce implementation complexity while ensuring long-term system performance.
Shifting from Capital Investments to Operational Flexibility
One of the most significant aspects of this offering is its financial model. Traditional automation modernization projects often require substantial upfront investments, creating budgetary barriers for many industrial companies.
By introducing an "as-a-service" framework, Schneider Electric allows customers to transition portions of their modernization journey from capital expenditure (CapEx) to operating expenditure (OpEx). This can improve financial flexibility while accelerating access to advanced automation technologies.
Supporting Open Standards and Vendor Independence
The modernization platform is closely aligned with the industry's growing movement toward open automation standards. Both Schneider Electric and HPE actively participate in UniversalAutomation.org, an initiative promoting software-defined automation based on the IEC 61499 standard.
This commitment to openness helps industrial operators avoid excessive dependence on proprietary hardware ecosystems. Instead of being tied to a single vendor's technology roadmap, organizations can pursue a more flexible and future-ready automation strategy.
Enabling Edge, Cloud, and Hybrid Deployment Models
Modern industrial operations increasingly require automation systems capable of operating across diverse environments. Schneider Electric's new service supports multiple deployment options, including:
- On-premises industrial control environments
- Private cloud infrastructures
- Distributed edge-to-cloud architectures
This flexibility enables manufacturers to balance operational control, cybersecurity requirements, and data accessibility while maintaining application portability across various platforms.
My Perspective: Why This Could Be a Turning Point for Industrial Automation
From an industrial automation engineering perspective, this announcement reflects a broader industry transition from hardware-centric automation to software-centric operational models.
For decades, automation upgrades were often associated with costly controller replacements, extensive downtime, and significant project risks. The emergence of software-defined automation changes that equation by separating application logic from underlying hardware infrastructure.
What makes this collaboration particularly interesting is not simply the technology stack itself, but the business model supporting it. Many manufacturers want to embrace digitalization, AI-driven analytics, and industrial data platforms, yet remain constrained by legacy systems and investment limitations. A service-based modernization framework provides a practical pathway for these organizations to modernize incrementally without disrupting production.
Looking ahead, I believe solutions that combine open automation, hybrid cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity services, and lifecycle management will become increasingly common across industries such as chemicals, energy, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and discrete manufacturing. The companies that successfully modernize their automation foundations today will be better positioned to leverage future innovations in industrial AI, predictive operations, and autonomous manufacturing.