Schneider Electric, HPE Launch Service Model for Automation Upgrades

Schneider Electric and HPE partner on automation modernization service

Schneider Electric has introduced Industrial Automation Modernization as a Service, a new offering developed with HPE that aims to help manufacturers upgrade aging control systems without halting production. The service combines Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Automation Expert platform with HPE SimpliVity hybrid cloud infrastructure, creating what the companies describe as a foundation for software-defined automation.

The partnership addresses a common industrial challenge: how to modernize legacy programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and distributed control systems (DCS) while maintaining operational continuity. Many manufacturers face pressure to strengthen cybersecurity, close workforce skill gaps, and prepare infrastructure for AI-driven operations, but are constrained by proprietary system architectures and the risk of disrupting production during upgrades.

Why it matters

This service-based approach represents a shift from traditional capital-intensive automation upgrades to an operating expense model. For industrial organizations, that means the ability to modernize incrementally rather than replacing entire control systems at once—reducing both financial risk and operational disruption. The emphasis on open standards through UniversalAutomation.org and IEC 61499 also signals an industry move away from vendor lock-in, giving manufacturers more flexibility in how they evolve their automation infrastructure over time.

Three-layer architecture for industrial modernization

The offering is structured around three core components. The infrastructure layer uses HPE compute, storage, and data protection technologies designed for industrial workloads. The software layer delivers control as a service through open, software-defined automation that can be deployed and managed centrally. The third layer provides lifecycle services including system assessment, migration support, managed operations, cybersecurity, and ongoing optimization.

According to Schneider Electric, the architecture supports multiple deployment models—on-premises control, private cloud environments, and distributed setups—allowing operators to maintain governance and uptime requirements while gaining application portability across edge and cloud infrastructure.

Open standards and vendor independence

Both Schneider Electric and HPE participate in UniversalAutomation.org, an industry initiative promoting open, software-defined automation based on the IEC 61499 standard. This standards-based approach is designed to help customers modernize without being tied to a single vendor's hardware roadmap, a common pain point in industrial automation where proprietary systems can lock organizations into costly upgrade cycles.

The companies demonstrated a working deployment combining operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) workloads at HPE Discover 2025 and Automate 2025, according to Schneider Electric.

The service model reflects broader industry movement toward managed frameworks that bundle automation software, infrastructure, lifecycle support, and cybersecurity into integrated offerings. For manufacturers evaluating modernization paths, this approach offers an alternative to traditional rip-and-replace strategies.

Details of the announcement were first reported by ARC Advisory Group on Automation Watch.