Schneider Electric Strengthens Partner Ecosystem for Software-Defined Automation

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Company and Product News

Industrial automation is undergoing a significant architectural shift. As manufacturers seek greater flexibility, stronger data integration, and more resilient operations, open, software-defined automation is gaining momentum. In environments where equipment from multiple vendors is the norm, integrating systems can be complex and restrictive. Open architectures help overcome these challenges by improving interoperability and decoupling applications from the underlying hardware, giving organizations greater freedom to adapt and scale.

However, successful implementation requires more than technology. Organizations need experienced system integrators with the expertise to design, deploy, and scale these architectures effectively. Recognizing this, Schneider Electric has expanded its efforts around EcoStruxure Automation Expert (EAE), its automation platform based on the IEC 61499 standard, helping partners build the capabilities needed to deploy open automation architectures.

Building Practical Expertise Through the Automation Partner Accelerators

Between February and June 2026, Schneider Electric conducted a series of in-person Automation Partner Accelerator events. The initiative reached more than 400 professionals from over 215 partner organizations across nine countries.

Participants worked through practical topics, including:

  • System and architecture design. 

  • Application development using reusable libraries. 

  • Configuration and orchestration. 

  • Testing, validation, and commissioning. 

The program also covered commercial topics, including how to communicate the benefits of open automation and adapt offerings to changing customer needs.

System Integrators and the Shift to Open Automation

From ARC's perspective, the growing interest in open, software-defined automation is part of a broader move toward more flexible and software-centric operations. In this transition, system integrators will play a critical role in helping end users design, deploy, and support new automation architectures. While the advantages of openness and interoperability are becoming clearer, adoption will ultimately depend on whether companies and their partners have the skills and experience to implement these technologies successfully. Schneider Electric's Automation Partner Accelerators address this need by strengthening capabilities across its partner network and equipping system integrators with the skills to deploy and support open, software-defined automation architectures.

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Related ARC Insights

ARC Advisory Group has examined software-defined automation, open control architectures, and hardware-independent automation across several recent analyses. These articles provide additional perspective on the technologies and architectural changes underlying Schneider Electric’s approach.

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