ERS Automation, Inc.

If we don’t look ahead, we risk spending all our time playing catch-up. 

It’s easy to underestimate just how fast disruption can happen. For over 1,000 years, horse-based transport was the standard across the world. Then, within just 13 short years, the automobile went from a curiosity to the dominant form of transportation. The world changed, and those who weren’t prepared were left behind.

Today, industrial automation is on the brink of a similar transformation. 

The disruption we’re seeing now is the move away from proprietary, locked-down control platforms to open, PC-based control architectures. Instead of rigid, dedicated controllers tied to one manufacturer, industries are shifting toward flexible PC platforms, open-source drives, and standardized communication protocols. 

And just like with the transition from horses to cars, there are two kinds of companies: 

• Those already using PC-based controls.  
• And those who will eventually be. 

Why the Shift to PC-Based Control Is Inevitable

At ERS Automation, we’ve embraced this shift (circa 2010) because the data is clear: 

• Flexibility Wins: PC control platforms are hardware-independent, meaning you can upgrade components without a complete system overhaul. You’re no longer locked into a single vendor’s roadmap.  
• Cost-Effectiveness: Standard industrial PCs paired with open-source software deliver comparable — or better — performance than proprietary PLCs at a lower total cost.  
• Faster Innovation Cycles: Open systems mean you’re not waiting years for a single firmware update. PC platforms can adapt with yearly, even quarterly, advancements in processing speed, networking, and security.  
• Connectivity Ready: Ethernet-based fieldbus systems (like EtherCAT) are already dominant, enabling real-time control, IIoT integration, and remote diagnostics — all natively supported on PC-based systems.  
• Software Unification: Instead of juggling six different programs for logic, motion, HMI, and SCADA, modern PC-control environments can integrate everything into one development platform.  

Analysts project that industrial automation is rapidly shifting toward open and PC-based architectures, with the industrial PC market alone expected to surpass $7 billion by 2026.

Pictured: Beckhoff Automation sales chart

The Bottom Line

The industrial world doesn’t stand still — and neither should your controls. 

Whether you’re managing a CNC machine, an automated assembly line, or an entire factory floor, moving to PC-based control isn’t just an upgrade. It’s future-proofing your business. 

At ERS, we specialize in helping businesses transition to open, flexible, and scalable PC-based solutions — setting them up for decades of growth, not the last decade of status quo. 

Some companies are leading the way. Others are chasing after them.
Which will you be?

— Humam “Manny” Ould-Mey

Engineering Manager