EcoStruxure Foxboro SDA ushers in an open, cybersecure, and hardware‑agnostic future for process and hybrid industries
Schneider Electric has unveiled EcoStruxure Foxboro Software Defined Automation (SDA), the industry’s first open, software‑defined Distributed Control System (DCS), marking a major shift in how manufacturers modernize and scale their operations. Announced in Dubai, the new platform blends the reliability of Foxboro with the agility and interoperability of software‑defined automation, helping industries reduce risk, manage aging systems, and prepare for digital transformation at speed.
For decades, Foxboro DCS has been at the heart of complex industrial processes, providing real‑time control and orchestration. But as operating environments grow more dynamic and regulatory pressures intensify, companies require greater flexibility and fewer disruptive hardware upgrades. EcoStruxure™ Foxboro SDA delivers that shift, decoupling software from hardware to create a more modular, adaptable, and future‑ready automation layer.
New global research by Schneider Electric and Omdia underscores the urgency for openness, revealing that closed automation systems cost mid‑sized industrial firms an average of 7.5% of annual revenue due to downtime, inefficiencies, and the expense of compliance retrofits.
“EcoStruxure Foxboro SDA is a defining moment for industrial automation, giving customers the agility to modernize without compromise,” said Hany Fouda, Senior Vice President, Process Automation at Schneider Electric. “By embracing openness and software‑defined architecture, we’re enabling future‑ready, cybersecure operations that protect investments and accelerate digital transformation.”
Foxboro SDA introduces several advances: an open, interoperable architecture; built‑in security aligned with IEC 62443‑3‑3 standards; and the ability to integrate AI, machine learning, and autonomous operating models. The system enables faster deployment, predictive maintenance, and reduced CapEx and OpEx through simplified workflows and the avoidance of hardware obsolescence.
Powered by EcoStruxure Automation Expert, the solution maintains high availability while ensuring digital continuity from design through maintenance, enabling smarter real‑time decisions and rapid adaptation.
Industry analysts say the launch is a milestone in automation’s evolution. By detaching control logic from hardware, the platform empowers manufacturers to scale and innovate without disrupting critical operations.
