-- Seamless integration of functionalities holds the key for automation vendors
SINGAPORE, Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Intensifying demand from industries such as water and mining is fuelling the automation market and the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems segment in particular within Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). In the face of inadequate water supply and scarce resources, these systems will enable enhanced control over large-scale projects and effective resource management, which are essential requirements to keep pace with the rising needs of industries.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.industrialautomation.frost.com/), ANZ SCADA Market, finds that the market earned revenues of US$150.0 million in 2012 and estimates this to reach US$215.0 million in 2018. The research covers the SCADA hardware, software and services market for major end-user industries such as mining, water/wastewater, power, and oil and gas.
"A heightened focus on clean energy by industries in ANZ has further widened the potential of the SCADA market," noted Frost & Sullivan Industrial Automation & Process Control Research Analyst Krishnan Ramanathan. "As energy needs are constantly on the rise, emerging industries in the power sector, such as solar and hydroelectric, signify growth prospects for SCADA systems."
Most end users have a wide range of installed SCADA equipment, which makes it imperative to standardise SCADA. As ANZ are advanced nations with access to essential infrastructure, SCADA is proving to be indispensable and cross functional.
However, the transition from aging infrastructure to standardised SCADA systems will not be an easy task, as most systems have been customised based on the end-user requirements by several vendors with varying approaches. Therefore, it is likely that end users will change over to newer systems completely rather than adopt a piecemeal approach. This is the reason automation vendors wish to be seen as a single stop for automation services.
While the market demonstrates tremendous growth potential, industry players need to be wary of vulnerabilities associated with SCADA systems. Given that data security is not a key focus area, these systems are prone to malware and viruses. Moreover, most of the older systems transmit data and control commands in unencrypted clear text, which increases vulnerability. These security soft spots are expected to be mitigated by software and tools that tackle hacking and related issues.
"As competition intensifies in the ANZ SCADA market, security and technical support will become the main competitive factors for automation majors," said Ramanathan.
"To gain an edge, experience, support structure, and the ability to invest are important. Open architecture and adherence to International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) protocols will also be critical for customer buy-in," he added.
ANZ SCADA Market is part of the Industrial Automation & Process Control Growth Partnership Service program. Frost & Sullivan's related research services include: Southeast Asia SCADA Market, Automation and Control Solutions (ACS) Market in Malaysian Oil and Gas Upstream, and ACS Market for Emerging Sectors in SEA and ANZ. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.
