Embedded Systems: Technologies and Markets

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Highlights

- The global market for embedded technology was valued at over $158 billion in 2015. The market should reach $169 billion in 2016 and nearly $221 billion in 2021, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% from 2016 to 2021.

- The global market for embedded hardware was valued at $152.5 billion in 2015. The market should reach over $163 billion in 2016 and $213.7 billion in 2021, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2016 to 2021.

- The embedded software market was valued at $5.6 billion in 2015. The market should reach $5.9 billion in 2016 and $7.2 billionin 2021, growing at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2016 to 2021.

Study Goals and Objectives

This research, which builds on published reports from 2011 and 2014, focuses on a market analysis and forecast for the embedded hardware and software technology market through 2021. The report explores the macroeconomic factors and dynamics impacting various end product markets, quantifies and analyzes major market segments, and highlights key players and emerging trends. Over the past ten years, market dynamics affecting embedded technology have changed radically. New buzzwords have emerged and "hot" devices and technologies have become "cold," e.g. MP3 players, one of the must-have devices of 2003, have gone out of fashion. Many "embedded" devices have become "open" because it is now possible to upload programs since the introduction of Android and Linux ecosystems. Google's Android, an open-source operating system, has generated widespread interest globally and has quickly become the preferred OS for mobile devices. Many companies now use it in a variety of embedded devices, although Linux also continues to be a popular choice. 

Semiconductors have continued to shrink, but the fundamental size limitations of transistors have resulted in foundries taking longer to introduce new technologies.

Price erosion and decreased profitability in this market has led to a significant increase in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and the report examines their affects on each market segment. The IoT has emerged as a new "hot" technology in embedded markets. IoT promises to connect every device to the Internet and allow them to talk to each other. The implications of this technology are mind-boggling and IoT technology is expected to touch everyone's life over the next several years.

Consumer technology has continued to evolve and both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) promise to unleash a wide range of applications. Tablets, a once "hot" technology in the embedded market, are now being replaced by "convertible laptops" that work as both a tablet and a laptop. Due to their low cost, tablets are beginning to be deployed as display units in many low-end embedded devices.