2017 Global Distributed Control Systems Company of the Year Award

assistance 24/7. Problems are solved before they become failures by utilizing data insights and advanced analytics and through remote collaboration that enables real-time customer interaction. With two DCS product lines - ABB Ability System 800xA and ABB Ability Symphony® Plus - ABB addresses the specific needs of various industries. Both DCS solutions are industryleading and proven over decades evident by their installed base. Symphony Plus is tailored to the power generation and water industries whereas System 800xA is targeted towards all other industries. Both solutions support customers by driving gains in performance, productivity, efficiency, and safety throughout the end-user business operations lifecycle, from the planning stage to the maintenance stage. With the help of domain expertise and process knowledge, ABB has developed an overarching digital architecture that augments the human expertise of the clients to deliver improved performance. ABB also has a footprint across a broad range of industry verticals, more than any other participant in the industrial space. ABB’s years of domain expertise, combined with its huge installed base, distinguishes it from other automation vendors in the Global DCS market. Further, it enables ABB to design its solutions based on the context of each end-user requirement.

Customer Service Experience

In line with its growth strategy, ABB extends its expertise and resources into key target markets such as power generation, oil and gas, and metals and mining, where process automation systems have significant growth opportunities in both greenfield and brownfield projects. The ABB Value Provider Program (VPP), a one-of-its-kind program in the market, is aimed at developing ABB’s third-party channels including distributors, technical distributors, system integrators, panel builders, and service providers. With the help of this program, ABB locates a third-party provider in close proximity to its end-users in order to reduce the response time to its clients’ sales, support, service, and engineering needs. The value provider’s in-depth knowledge about local markets coupled with an expertise in ABB’s products enables it to function as an extension of ABB, resulting in extensive coverage in targeted regional segments.

ABB has leveraged its decades of experience in the DCS market to develop the capability of a Main Automation Contractor (MAC). This means that ABB can offer a wider scope than conventional vendors by working proactively with clients to deliver a complete automation solution, from automation/instrumentation selection to commissioning and after-sales support. This helps end-users reduce the project schedule, engineering required, and change requests. Also, with the introduction of Ability, ABB is well qualified to deliver turnkey Main Automation, Electrical and Information Contractor (MAEIC) solutions. Only one other company, apart from ABB can deliver a similar solution. This is another critical differentiating factor for ABB.

Conclusion ABB equips industrial customers with the digital technology and cloud platform to empower every person, team, and business system within an organization to glean new insights and drive smarter, faster and simpler decision-making—thereby helping every customer seize new growth opportunities. By offering ultimate flexibility in the field, ABB sets a new standard in the execution of automation projects. ABB will continue to stay ahead of developments in the DCS market because it takes inspiration directly from evolving customer needs and industry standards. Continuing its decades of innovation history, ABB is a pioneering leader in DCS market and leads the digitalization of the energy industry. With its strong overall performance, ABB is recognized with Frost & Sullivan’s 2017 Company of the Year Award.

Significance of Company of the Year

To win the Company of the Year Award (i.e., to be recognized as a leader not only in your industry, but among your non-industry peers as well) requires a company to demonstrate excellence in growth, innovation, and leadership. This kind of excellence typically translates into superior performance in three key areas: demand generation, brand development, and competitive positioning. These areas serve as the foundation of a company’s future success and prepare it to deliver on the two criteria that define the Company of the Year Award (Visionary Innovation & Performance and Customer Impact).

Understanding Company of the Year

As discussed above, driving demand, brand strength, and competitive differentiation all play a critical role in delivering unique value to customers. This three-fold focus, however, must ideally be complemented by an equally rigorous focus on Visionary Innovation & Performance to enhance Customer Impact.

Key Benchmarking Criteri

For the Company of the Year Award, Frost & Sullivan analysts independently evaluated two key factors—Visionary Innovation & Performance and Customer Impact—according to the criteria identified below.

Visionary Innovation & Performance Criterion 1: Addressing Unmet Needs