Schneider Electric Introduces Software-Defined DCS for Industrial Automation

Schneider Electric launches EcoStruxure Foxboro SDA, the first open, software-defined DCS for process and hybrid industries.

Leading global energy technology company Schneider Electric today introduces EcoStruxure Foxboro Software Defined Automation (SDA), the first open, software-defined Distributed Control System (DCS) designed for process and hybrid industrial settings.

The technology combines Foxboro's existing control capabilities with a software-defined architecture to assist industrial operators in modernizing operations while lowering upgrade risk and ensuring reliability. The system is driven by EcoStruxure Automation Expert and is intended to handle distributed control setups while ensuring high availability and digital continuity throughout the plant's lifetime.

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

He added that software-defined strategy reduces maintenance costs, protects legacy automation investments, and ensures digital continuity across the full plant lifecycle. With cybersecurity at its core and a commitment to open, interoperable standards, Foxboro SDA allows manufacturers to modernize at their own pace, accelerate IT and OT convergence, and increase their adoption of next-generation technologies like AI, edge computing, and autonomous operations.

Foxboro DCS has been the brain of industrial operations for decades, allowing complex processes to be coordinated and controlled in real time. However, the current environment demands speed, fewer expensive improvements, and easier compliance. And that's precisely what EcoStruxure Foxboro SDA offers, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and flexibility without compromising dependability.

By separating control software and hardware, EcoStruxure Foxboro SDA increases flexibility and accessibility in a variety of automation scenarios. While protecting current investments, the architecture supports a lower-risk, gradual modern approach along with evolving operational requirements.