In the fast-paced world of technology and industry, the importance of accurate and reliable test and measurement (T&M) cannot be overstated. For businesses in India, as well as across the globe, ensuring product quality, compliance, and efficiency remains a top priority. To help navigate the ever-evolving landscape of T&M, we present a comprehensive overview of the top trends that are shaping the industry, tailored for the Indian B2B market.
The test and measurement (T&M) industry is a vital part of the electronic systems design and manufacturing (ESDM) sector, as it ensures the quality and performance of a wide range of electronic products. The Indian T&M market has witnessed steady growth in recent years, driven by technology developments, expanding end user applications and the growing need for precision testing at every stage of the product life cycle. In this article, we will explore some of the top trends that are shaping the T&M industry in India and how they offer new opportunities and challenges for the players in this domain.
Trend 1: Big Data and Multi-Axis Sensors
One of the major trends in the T&M industry is the increasing demand for more data from the T&M tools to enable accurate and comprehensive product design and testing. This requires advanced sensor technologies that can provide more force data on more axes, such as 2, 3 or 6-axis sensors. These sensors can capture complex forces and moments in multiple directions, which are essential for applications such as robotics, aerospace, automotive, biomechanics and more. Interface, a leading provider of precision measurement products and services, offers a wide variety of multi-axis sensors that can meet the diverse needs of customers1.
Another aspect of big data is the embedding of sensors and measurement capabilities within the products themselves, to provide real-time feedback on the health and performance of machines, components, equipment and consumer products. These sensors can help predict failures, optimize maintenance schedules, enhance user satisfaction and safety, and reduce downtime. Interface is also investing in more automation capabilities to produce high volume sensor solutions for OEM customers1.
Trend 2: 5G and IoT
The next generation of wireless communication, 5G, promises to revolutionize various industries and applications with its high speed, low latency, high reliability and massive connectivity features. However, 5G also poses significant challenges for the T&M industry, as it requires testing at higher frequencies (up to 100 GHz), higher bandwidths (up to 1 GHz), and more complex modulation schemes. Moreover, 5G testing needs to cover various scenarios such as indoor/outdoor environments, mobility, interference, beamforming and more. The T&M industry needs to develop innovative solutions that can address these challenges and ensure the quality and performance of 5G devices and networks.
Another related trend is the Internet of Things (IoT), which refers to the interconnection of various devices and objects through the Internet, enabling data exchange and automation. IoT applications span across various domains such as smart cities, smart homes, smart factories, smart healthcare, smart agriculture and more. IoT testing involves verifying the functionality, interoperability, security, scalability and reliability of IoT devices and systems. The T&M industry needs to provide comprehensive solutions that can test various aspects of IoT such as sensors, gateways, cloud platforms, protocols, standards and more.
Trend 3: Government Initiatives and Standards
The Indian government has launched several initiatives to boost the ESDM sector in India, such as Make in India, Digital India, Smart Cities Mission and Defence Manufacturing Drive. These initiatives aim to promote domestic manufacturing, digital transformation, urban development and self-reliance in defence production. These initiatives also create new opportunities for the T&M industry in India, as they require high quality and reliable electronic products and systems that need to be tested and verified by T&M equipment.
Another factor that drives the growth of the T&M industry is the stringent quality, safety and environmental standards that are imposed by various regulatory bodies and industry associations. These standards ensure that electronic products and systems meet certain criteria such as performance, compatibility, durability, efficiency and emissions. The T&M industry needs to provide solutions that can help customers comply with these standards and certify their products accordingly.
Test and Measurement Market Overview
- The market size of T&M equipment in India is estimated to be USD 220 million in FY19, out of which telecom constitutes almost 33% of the overall market1.
- The Global Test and Measurement Equipment Market Size accounted for USD 32.5 Billion in 2022 and is projected to achieve a market size of USD 53.7 Billion by 2032 growing at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2023 to 2032.
- India Test and Measurement Equipment Market was valued at USD390.77 million in 2022 and is anticipated to project robust growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 4.33%.
- The key end user segments for the Indian T&M market are telecom, aerospace and defence, automotive, education and research, and industrial electronics2.
- The major challenges faced by the Indian T&M industry are competition from low-cost players, lack of skilled manpower, infrastructure gaps, and regulatory hurdles2.
- The major opportunities for the Indian T&M industry are the adoption of 5G and IoT technologies, government initiatives such as Make in India and Digital India, and the increasing demand for precision testing and calibration services21.
Market Drivers
- Increasing demand for quality and safety in manufacturing
- Growing adoption of IoT and Industry 4.0 technologies
- Rising demand in the automotive, aerospace, defense, and healthcare industries
- Increasing investments in research and development to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of the equipment
- Adoption of Industry 4.0 and the increasing demand for automation, drives the test and measurement equipment market size
Market Opportunities
- Growing demand for wireless test and measurement equipment due to the increasing adoption of wireless technologies
- Rising demand in the renewable energy sector, including solar and wind power
Some key players include Keysight Technologies, Rohde & Schwarz, National Instruments, Anritsu Corporation, Tektronix, Fluke Corporation, Yokogawa Electric Corporation, and Advantest Corporation. They offer a wide range of products and services to cater to the diverse needs of industries and research institutions.
The market is witnessing steady growth due to the rapid development of new, more complex consumer technologies, such as 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), and autonomous vehicles. Besides increasing demand for high-quality products, these advancements have required advanced test and measurement solutions to meet stringent regulatory requirements.
Trends in instrumentation and test equipment call for offering more portability, smaller size, and lower weight. Instruments need to have greater networking and connectivity capabilities to easily integrate into ATE systems. The most equipment provides multiple features and functionality — which used to require multiple types of test equipment – all in one instrument. Other trends are offering greater precision, accuracy, resolution, and reliability than ever before.
Future Prospects:
The Indian T&M market is expected to witness new opportunities and growth drivers in the coming years, such as the adoption of 5G and IoT technologies, the development of smart cities and smart grids, the emergence of electric vehicles and renewable energy, and the increasing demand for medical devices and equipment. These sectors will require high quality and reliable T&M solutions to ensure the performance, safety and efficiency of their products and systems. The Indian T&M industry also has the potential to become a global hub for T&M equipment manufacturing and exports, leveraging its low-cost advantage, skilled workforce, and innovation capabilities.
Government Projects and Initiatives: The Indian government has launched several projects and initiatives to boost the ESDM sector in India, which will also benefit the T&M industry. Some of these are:
National Policy on Electronics 2019 (NPE 2019): This policy aims to promote domestic manufacturing and export of electronics products and components, including T&M equipment, by providing incentives, subsidies, infrastructure support, skill development, R&D funding, and ease of doing business.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: This scheme provides incentives to eligible manufacturers of specified electronic products, including telecom and networking products, for incremental production over a base year. The scheme also includes a design-led manufacturing component to encourage domestic design and innovation in T&M equipment.
BharatNet Project: This project aims to provide broadband connectivity to approximately 260,000-gram panchayats (village councils) and is being implemented in phases to connect every village through optical fibre by 2025. This project will create a huge demand for T&M equipment for fibre optic testing and monitoring.
National Digital Communications Policy 2018 (NDCP 2018): This policy aims to provide universal broadband connectivity at affordable rates, create 4 million additional jobs in the digital communications sector, enhance the contribution of the digital communications sector to 8% of India’s GDP from ~6% in 2017, propel India to the Top 50 nations in the ICT Development Index of ITU from 134 in 2017, enhance India’s contribution to global value chains, and ensure digital sovereignty¹. This policy will also facilitate the deployment of 5G services in India, which will require advanced T&M solutions.
Test & Measurement Market-
Challenges Designing challenge coupled with high cost
With the growing advancement in electronic device, systems are moving towards a complex setup which needs advance test & measurement equipment too. This leads to development of multi-functional test & measurement equipment. Manufacturers are facing both designing and cost challenge to meet the emerging need of end users. As per major electronic instrument manufacturers the cost of a modern network analyzer has increased by 15%-20% due to the use of advanced and expensive component.
R&D, Investment/Funding
- In 2019, Liquid Instruments announced to raise $8.16m to increase its product line for research, education, and industrial measurement markets in the US, Europe, and Asia.
Conclusion
The Indian T&M market is expected to grow at a healthy rate in the coming years, as it is influenced by various technology trends, end user applications and government initiatives. The T&M industry needs to adapt to these trends and provide innovative solutions that can meet the evolving needs of customers. The T&M industry also faces some challenges such as competition from low-cost players, lack of skilled manpower and infrastructure gaps. However, these challenges can be overcome by investing in R&D, training programs and partnerships with other stakeholders.
