Schneider Electric Launches Open Automation Movement in India to Drive Industrial Transformation!

Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management and automation, has launched the Open Automation Movement in India, aiming to accelerate the adoption of software-defined, vendor-independent automation systems across various industries. This initiative marks a significant shift from traditional, closed infrastructure to open and interoperable frameworks, paving the way for more efficient, flexible, and scalable industrial operations.

The Open Automation Movement introduces a new standard in industrial automation, focusing on solutions that are scalable, flexible, and plug-and-play. This new approach aims to enhance operational efficiency, streamline integration across multiple platforms, and ensure long-term resilience for industries. By decoupling hardware from software, Schneider Electric seeks to help industries overcome the limitations imposed by legacy systems. This enables greater agility, data transparency, and better access to real-time information, which are crucial in an increasingly competitive market.

According to Deepak Sharma, Zone President – Greater India, Managing Director & CEO, Schneider Electric India, “India’s industrial future depends on a decisive transition toward intelligent, sustainable, and scalable systems. Open, software-defined automation represents a foundational shift, delivering vendor independence, improved data accessibility, and real-time control. Our vision is to support the development of digitally empowered industrial ecosystems capable of supporting the country’s long-term growth goals.”

India’s industrial sector has long been constrained by outdated infrastructure that relies on single-vendor dependencies and lacks integration capabilities. The introduction of EcoStruxure™ Automation Expert, Schneider Electric’s flagship software-centric solution, is specifically designed to address these issues. The platform separates application development from underlying hardware, enabling faster implementation and a streamlined system architecture. This approach ensures that industries can scale operations more effectively while maintaining flexibility and reducing engineering complexity.

Arvind Kakru, Vice President – Industrial Automation, Schneider Electric India, emphasized, “Open, software-defined automation represents a transformative advancement in industrial engineering. With EcoStruxure™ Automation Expert, we are developing modular and fully interoperable systems that bridge the IT-OT gap, reduce engineering complexity, and drive efficiency. These systems form the basis for resilient, data-driven, and energy-efficient industrial environments.”

One of the key aspects of the Open Automation Movement is its focus on supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by offering cost-effective and scalable automation technologies. Historically, many SMEs have struggled to implement automation solutions due to high infrastructure costs and vendor lock-ins. By providing affordable and customizable solutions, Schneider Electric aims to democratize access to automation, allowing smaller businesses to compete in the global market. The initiative targets sectors such as Water & Wastewater, Consumer Packaged Goods, Food & Beverage, and Life Sciences.

The launch event saw participation from key industry players, with Rajat Abbi, Vice President – Marketing, Schneider Electric India, highlighting the importance of engagement across various sectors. He remarked, “This initiative reflects our long-standing commitment to reshaping industrial automation. Through coordinated engagement across multiple sectors and marketing platforms, we intend to demonstrate the measurable value of open, software-defined automation and empower Indian industries to achieve next-generation operational excellence.”

As part of Schneider Electric’s overarching mission, this initiative is designed to drive positive change by empowering businesses to optimize their energy use and resources, fostering a balance between progress and sustainability. By combining automation with sustainability, Schneider Electric is helping India’s industrial sector transition to a more efficient and resilient future. With its deep domain expertise in electrification, automation, and digitization, Schneider Electric is paving the way for smarter industries and future-ready infrastructure.

Through the Open Automation Movement, Schneider Electric is not only promoting technological innovation but also driving sustainable growth, empowering businesses to embrace digital transformation in a rapidly evolving market.