The process industries face a relentless drive toward digital transformation. Operators must balance the rigid stability of a Distributed Control System (DCS) with the agility of modern cloud-native technologies. ABB’s "Automation Extended" strategy addresses this tension directly. It moves away from monolithic, proprietary hardware toward an open, software-defined future. This approach aligns with major industry movements like Open Process Automation (OPA) and NAMUR, ensuring that factory automation remains competitive in a volatile global market.
