In this Automation World podcast episode, sponsored by DigiKey and Phoenix Contact, host Chris McNamara, head of content for Automation World, sits down with Chris Barber, product marketing manager for Phoenix Contact, to discuss the future of industrial automation.

The episode focuses on how industrial automation is shifting toward web-based HMIs, industrial PCs, edge computing, and software-defined control. Chris Barber describes Phoenix Contact’s PLCnext approach, which combines traditional OT programming with IT-friendly tools and protocols to reduce integration complexity, improve real-time processing, and bridge the IT/OT gap. Barber cites a water-wastewater example where edge PCs improved local alarm-handling and data reliability.

The discussion closes with Phoenix Contact’s hardware strengths, customer support, and future trends like cloud-edge convergence, smarter connected systems, and simplified deployment.