A Message from the Editor: A Fluid, Evolving Transformation

Summary

This 10^th edition of the Industrial Automation & Control Trends Report from Automation.com is NOT comprehensive. It does not make predictions or provide data regarding which trends are most important. But it does highlight topics important to manufacturing, industrial and automation professionals across industries and around the world: artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality, communications protocols, open automation technology, remote operations, sustainable manufacturing and more.

The voices in this issue are varied, and so are the opinions. Many, no doubt, will create some lively discussions within ISA Connect or on LinkedIn. I highly recommend it.

What we’re NOT talking about in this issue is “Industry 5.0,” what some are saying is the next step, the newest thing, the evolution of the 4^th Industrial Revolution.

That’s because I agree with Jeff Winter, an Industry 4.0 & digital transformation enthusiast and member of the ISA executive board: “I love what Industry 5.0 stands for—human-centricity, sustainability and resilience…. But the name… I just can’t get behind it,” said Winter.

“If you think Industry 4.0 is a fixed set of 9 technologies cooked up in Germany in 2011, then, yeah, Industry 5.0 might feel like the necessary next chapter,” Winter continued. “But if, like me, you see Industry 4.0 as the era we’re still living in—a fluid, evolving transformation—we haven’t finished this revolution yet, let alone started the next one.”

So, enjoy the trends in this issue. Use them to chart the course of your own company’s transformation. Then take a few minutes to let me know what trends I missed, or which ones you’re actively pursuing. Bonus points if you want to write an article describing your journey. I’d love to publish your insights next.

_{This feature originally appeared in the May 2025 edition of Automation.com Monthly.}