This report provides Transforma Insights’ view on the Remote Process Control market. It comprises two applications: Industrial Remote Process Control and Crop Irrigation Systems. The Industrial Remote Process Control Application includes factory automation, airport automation systems, baggage handling, and automated port systems. Remote Process Control is suitable for multiple enterprise sectors including manufacturing, construction, and agriculture. Some of the primary drivers for its adoption are increased operational efficiency, worker safety, the creation of new business models, and cost savings for operators. Most of these solutions support the use of large and expensive equipment and can help to reduce maintenance bills and machine downtime. Several government initiatives such as Germany’s Industry 4.0, Made in China 2025, and Japan’s Society 5.0 have also been driving adoption and support, particularly in the manufacturing industry.
The report provides a detailed definition of the sector, analysis of market development and profiles of the key vendors in the space. It also provides a summary of the current status of adoption and Transforma Insights’ ten-year forecasts for the market. The forecasts include analysis of the number of IoT connections by geography, the technologies used and revenue.
A full set of forecast data, including country-level forecasts, sector break-downs and public/private network splits, is available through the IoT Forecast tool.
The report examines key factors that are influencing the development of the Remote Process Control market, including:
This section first explains the key components of Remote Process Control (including collecting machine data and automatic response in real-time) and claims that the primary driver for its adoption is the remote actuation and control of industrial processes. It then talks about the benefits and end results of increased automation, like greater agility and easier expansion.
It then discusses how the automation of industrial equipment also enhances workers’ safety, which in turn, also lowers the risk to facilities and goods. For instance, at the Skoda plant in Mladá Boleslav, two cranes with hydraulic lifts unload EV batteries along a 107-meter platform, reducing lead time and enhancing safety in battery handling. It then charts how increased automation in manufacturing supports greater customisation and personalisation of mass-produced goods and explains how Remote Process Control devices also create new business models for vendors, which is another driver behind their increasing adoption.
This subsection explains how government initiatives are also driving adoption, through various national initiatives, specifically to encourage IoT adoption in the manufacturing sector. For example, China’s Made in China 2025 and Japan’s Society 5.0 encourage the integration of IoT services to enhance productivity, flexibility, and efficiency of production processes.
This subsection discusses some of the barriers that may hamper the adoption of Remote Process Control equipment. For instance, although their cost has reduced significantly over the years, the upfront cost of these devices still remains high, which may hamper their adoption in markets where labour is cheaper.
This section first discusses how modern industrial processes embrace automation and the benefits of doing the same, such as reducing the cost of manual labour.
This subsection first talks about the types of devices that fall under this Application Group and explains how the new variants of these devices are equipped with connectivity and how old ones can be retrofitted with IoT devices. It then claims that the greatest variety of machinery controlled by Industrial Remote Process Control can be found in the manufacturing sector. For instance, robotic press brake tending automation systems are used to form multiple bends on metal sheets.
It goes on to explain where automation features in automated ports and container terminals, and at airports. In automated ports and container terminals, automation spans from terminal gates to safely placing cargo on ships. Similarly, at airports, automating check-in conveyors, baggage screening, sorting, and reclaim reduces labour, cost, and time.
This subsection expounds upon the issue of cyberattacks and discusses how data security is one of the key concerns in the automation of industrial assets, which can breach intellectual property rights and compromise workers’ safety.
This subsection charts the connectivity technologies used in industrial remote process control applications. It also discusses why LPWA technologies like LTE-M are particularly useful for providing connectivity to devices that are located in remote areas such as mining sites and construction sites.
It then throws light upon cases where mobile private networks are being increasingly adopted and the advantages of these networks, like allowing organisations to operate local networks, based on the needs of the specific organisations.
It then discusses a few examples of relevant IoT deployments in this application, like the Stansted Airport (UK) using an automated baggage handling system from Beumer Group, and New Heat using connected cranes to handle large volumes of biomass across heat and power plants.
This section first defines what crop irrigation systems are and their benefits, like reducing overwatering and improving plant health and quality.
This subsection discusses the general challenges faced by the agriculture industry, including depleting groundwater resources, uneven water distribution, and erratic weather conditions. It also talks about the crucial aspect of water wastage in irrigation and explains how connected crop irrigation systems assist farmers in overcoming such challenges. For instance, the International Center for Water Technology ran some pilot tests and found that smart irrigation controllers saved 20% more water than traditional irrigation controllers. It then talks about the principal components of a smart crop irrigation system and how they automate water delivery - based on the data gathered from soil sensors.
This subsection discusses the connectivity technology used in the devices of this category and explains why such particular technologies are the most suitable ones. For instance, Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) connectivity technologies are suitable in these cases, owing to their low power, low cost, low data rate, and long-range connectivity capabilities.
Apart from the benefits of such specific communication technologies like LoRaWAN, it also talks about some of their disadvantages, which may impact their adoption. To cite an example, in some regions, even the 10-15 km range of LoRaWAN is not enough, which requires Satellite connectivity, which involves high costs in terms of infrastructure.
It then provides a few examples of relevant IoT deployments in this application, like FarmX adopting LoRa-based IoT solutions for soil monitoring, irrigation management and weather monitoring.
The key vendors section lists some of the main providers of products and services related to the market, such as ABB, Beumer Group, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, HydroPoint, Siemens, and Bosch. The report provides profiles of the various vendors including aspects most relevant to this Application Group, such as product offerings, pricing, financial results, and technology.
In the market forecasts section, we provide a summary of the forecasts from the Transforma Insights IoT Forecast Database:
The report charts the growth in the number of Remote Process Control devices, which will increase from 77.5 million in 2023 to 121 million in 2033.
Transforma Insights forecasts are compiled on a country-by-country basis. This report includes a regional summary, showing splits between Australasia, Greater China, North America, Europe, Japan, Latin America, MENA, Russia & Central Asia, South East Asia, South Korea, India & South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Transforma Insights’ IoT forecasts include splits between the various connectivity technologies as follows: 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G mMTC, 5G non-mMTC, LPWA (non-mMTC), Satellite, Short Range, and Other.
This section discusses which technologies will be used in the remote process control application group.
This part of the report discusses the market growth in terms of revenue (module revenue, service wrap revenue, and VAC revenue). Transforma Insights estimates that the revenue in the Remote Process Control Application Group will grow at a CAGR of 8%.
