Pack analyst btn         PAC        
 
Report 12 Feb 2026

Software-defined Automation – a Vendor Landscape Analysis – InBrief Analysis

Software-defined automation (SDA) is reshaping industrial control by decoupling software from hardware to speed up innovation and enable scalable operations. This report examines what vendors lead this shift, the practical benefits, and what to watch next.

SDA promises faster deployment, greater flexibility, and tighter IT/OT integration. This report presents vendor strategies, real-world capabilities, and actionable takeaways for customers and IT vendors.

Key findings

  • Core trends: vPLC adoption, industrial DevOps, and IT/OT integration
  • Relevant standards: IEC 61499 vs IEC 61131
  • Vendor types: large industrial automation vendors (Siemens, Rockwell), hardware providers (ASRock, Advantech), and start-ups

Practical value

  • Vendors offer very different things under the SDA umbrella.
  • Use SDA for scalable controller management and faster updates.
  • Expect hybrid deployments: physical PLCs alongside vPLCs.

Recommended advisory: PAC Leadership Session – Vendor Landscape at the Intersection of IT and OT in Europe

profile-image
Arnold Vogt

SHARE :

Related Content

View all reports >

Digital Customer Engagement - NCR Voyix - Vendor Profile - Worldwide

The Digital Customer Engagement vendor profiles portray leading providers in the Digital Customer Engagement area, analyzing their strategies and ...

Event Date : April 23, 2024

Read more >

adesso - Figures - Worldwide

This Excel document is part of the company profiles PAC publishes every year at local, regional and worldwide level.

Event Date : January 13, 2025

Read more >

IT Security by Segments - Market Figures - Czech Republic

This document provides market volumes, growth rates and forecasts for the IT security market in Czech Republic for the 2023-2029 period.

Event Date : May 22, 2025

Read more >

Sopra Steria - Figures - Germany – FY 31-Dec-2025

This Excel document is part of the company profiles PAC publishes every year at local, regional and worldwide level.

Event Date : March 06, 2026

Read more >

CxO Survey - Investment Priorities - Detailed Datamart - Switzerland

This document contains the detailed findings for Switzerland from PAC’s SITSI® CxO Investment Priorities Survey 2024/25, in which IT ...

Event Date : May 05, 2025

Read more >

Latest Publications report

View latest publications Reports >

Free reports & webinars

View All Free Reports & Webinars >