Services, Security, and “Ergonometrics” Drive Growth
The growing market for HMI services will be driven by end users’ and OEMs’ needs for additional supplier-provided technical expertise to support HMI software and systems, as end users and OEMs will not fully replace the internal support personnel lost during this past recession. As a result, the HMI software and services market is in a period of recovery, with the services portion expected to grow at a higher rate than the total market.
End users and OEMs will replace HMI software based on older operating systems with new software packages based on operating systems designed with security in mind. Security issues will drive upgrades from legacy HMI software to the latest HMI platforms. This, combined with the greater use of more powerful, 64-bit microprocessors, will shift end users and OEMs from HMI solutions based on Windows XP or Server 2003 platforms to ones based on Windows 7 and Server 2008.
Maximizing operator effectiveness requires deploying the latest HMI software packages designed for “Ergonometrics” where increased ergonomics help increase KPI and metric results. New packages offer the best resolution to support 3D solutions and visualization. Integrating real-time live video into HMI software tools provide another opportunity to maximize operator effectiveness, providing a “fourth dimension” for intelligent solutions.
HMI software solutions focused on the building automation industry and other non-manufacturing applications experienced the most rapid growth. These solutions were applied in either off-the-shelf or embedded forms and were accompanied by a full range of services. These products are replacing proprietary, device-specific solutions that often lack the full feature set and adherence to industry standards.
Strategic Issues
Cloud computing and software as a service (SaaS) have the potential to deliver business benefits across enterprises, manufacturing operations, and IT areas. With typically lower cost and reduced risks for end users and OEMs, this technology could have a significant impact on how IT infrastructure is obtained and supported and how HMI software is implemented and used. This is a key strategic issue for future HMI software solutions, along with:
- How will Collaborative Production Systems, which eliminate barriers to information, affect new HMI solutions?
- Where does HMI software fit into common automation, energy management, and production management platforms?
- If the economic climate remains tenuous, and access to capital is limited, how should the HMI suppliers respond?
- Will HMI software suppliers create user friendly migration tools that help users easily move to the latest HMI software?