Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) technology is a form of software-based industrial automation that helps improve plant efficiency and boost occupational safety.
Globally, power generation and distribution companies are continuously investing in SCADA technologies to consolidate control and distribution in the power industry. This is one of the key drivers for the technology’s wide implementation in the power sector.
The global SCADA market is expected to pass the $19 billion mark by 2019, growing at a CAGR of 6.29%.
This growth is primarily due to a few trends that are helping the SCADA market evolve and infiltrate a wide range of industries.
Top 3 trends in the global SCADA market
Rise in big data analytics
Big data analytics has transformed manufacturing processes in recent years. While the technology was originally confined to the IT industry, it has started gaining ground in the oil and gas, chemicals, and power sectors.
Prior to big data analytics, SCADA was merely a tool to supervise and collect data in plants. Now, SCADA is integrated with data sources to compile and analyze information across equipment and operations, both within and outside plants.
End-users in the oil and gas industries have started using SCADA systems that incorporate big data analytics in exploration and production, midstream pipelines and transportation, and downstream refining and petrochemicals processes that require real-time data streaming.
We expect that this trend of incorporating analytics and SCADA will introduce SCADA systems to industries that deal with large volumes of real-time data, as the use of predictive analytics can be used to reduce the time end-users take to solve complex problems.
Growth in MAC concept
End-user demands for complete solutions from automation manufacturers has helped develop the concept of main automation contractors (MACs). The MAC handles coordination, installation, and maintenance of all automation and related activities for end-users, and can offer savings ranging from 10% to 30% when compared to the traditional multi-vendor approach.
Large multinational automation manufacturers see this as an opportunity to establish long-term relationships with end-users and gain market advantage.
Some of the benefits offered by MACs are:
- Lower delivery times
- Total project management
- Single point of responsibility and contact
- Early risk mitigation
The MAC oversees all the phases of projects and ensures each stage of a project is ready before the next stage begins. It also provides maintenance and support services after the installation. Since SCADA is an ongoing project that demands continuous services and support from providers, acceptance of the MAC approach has bolstered demand for SCADA systems.
Mobile SCADA
Mobile SCADA that can access any zone of a plant through mobile devices has become essential for the evolution of the SCADA market.
The technology has become possible through a combination of embedded tech like Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) beacons, NFC, and GPS, and geotags deployed in each zone of a plant.
These help the mobile application identify the requested zone and transfer the access of location to an authorized person after verifying his or her identity. Each plant is also equipped with mobility servers that are connected to each zone of the plant. When workers demand access to any specific equipment or zone, the app sends a request to the mobile server that is subsequently transferred to the specific zone.
The visibility that this gives to all aspects of plant operations is what will make mobile devices the common platform used for communications, monitoring, and controlling operations in the future.
Want full market insights in less than a minute? Subscribe to Technavio’s YouTube channel!
