National Instruments

What National Instruments does

National Instruments (NI), founded in 1976 in Austin, Texas and operating as part of Emerson Electric's Test & Measurement business group following its October 2023 acquisition for approximately $8.2 billion, is a global provider of software-connected automated test and measurement systems. NI's core architecture combines modular PXI-based hardware (high-performance instruments, oscilloscopes, SMUs, software-defined radios, vector network analyzers) with CompactDAQ and CompactRIO platforms for data acquisition and distributed control. Its software portfolio centers on LabVIEW, a 40-year-old graphical programming environment, complemented by TestStand for test execution, VeriStand for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, DIAdem for data analysis, SystemLink for test operations management, and OptimalPlus for semiconductor manufacturing analytics.

NI generates revenue through five streams: hardware sales (modular instruments and platforms, typically configured-to-order), software licenses (annual subscriptions or perpetual), professional services (consulting and integration), training and certification, and managed hardware services (repair and calibration). The company serves eight primary verticals: semiconductor, aerospace/defense/government, transportation (including EV and ADAS), academic and research, industrial machinery, life sciences, electronics, and energy. Major customers include Airbus (using NI System on Module for embedded systems development) and Zap Energy (fusion energy instrumentation). NI distributes through a hybrid model combining direct enterprise field sales with a global network of authorized distributors and system integrators across 19+ countries spanning the Americas, EMEA, and APAC, with European regional headquarters in Munich, Germany.

The company's strategic posture emphasizes platform integration of hardware and software to address increasing test complexity across semiconductor, EV, 5G/6G, and aerospace applications, with recent M&A activity (OptimalPlus, MonoDrive, NH Research, Heinzinger EV Systems, SET GmbH) expanding capabilities in manufacturing analytics, autonomous driving simulation, electrification, and power semiconductor test.

Name

National Instruments

Legal name

National Instruments Corporation

Website

https://ni.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

National Instruments, now part of Emerson's Test & Measurement group, provides modular PXI hardware and LabVIEW-based software for automated test and measurement across semiconductor, aerospace/defense, transportation, and electronics industries. It serves 5,001-10,000 employees globally via direct sales, distributors, and system integrators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Test and Measurement Instrumentation

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811210)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

Test, Measurement & Calibration Equipment Manufacturing Services (ATE, DAQ, metrology electronics) (IMAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Embedded Software & Firmware Tools (Compilers, Debug, RTOS tooling) (HDAHAFAE)

Keywords

• Automated test systems
• Modular instrumentation
• Test and measurement software
• Data acquisition hardware
• Hardware-in-the-loop testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of modular test and measurement hardware including PXI instruments, CompactDAQ, CompactRIO, oscilloscopes, signal generators, power supplies, and RF/wireless test equipment. Hardware typically sold as configured systems with software integration.
2. Software Licenses: Software products including LabVIEW, TestStand, VeriStand, DIAdem offered under subscription (annual) or perpetual license models. Subscription licenses include access to software service agreements with updates and technical support.
3. Professional Services: Technical consulting, standard integration services, lifecycle analytics integration, and test insights consultation to implement and expand NI technologies in customer applications.
4. Training and Certification: Instructor-led and virtual training courses on NI products, with certification programs to validate employee skills. Courses available globally in multiple languages.
5. Repair and Calibration Services: Hardware service programs including repair, calibration, and software configuration to protect customer investments and minimize downtime.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

National Instruments designs and sells modular hardware platforms (PXI, CompactDAQ, CompactRIO) and instruments (oscilloscopes, SMUs, RF/wireless instruments, source measure units, vector network analyzers) paired with proprietary test and measurement software (LabVIEW, TestStand, VeriStand, DIAdem, SystemLink, OptimalPlus). The platform is sold to engineers in aerospace, semiconductor, automotive, electronics, energy, life sciences, and academic research to develop automated test, validation, and production systems. NI complements hardware and software with training, calibration, repair, and integration services delivered through direct sales, distribution partners, and system integrators globally.

Product overview

National Instruments (now part of Emerson) offers a modular platform-plus-software architecture for automated test and measurement systems. The core hardware platforms include PXI (high-performance modular instruments), CompactDAQ (modular data acquisition), and CompactRIO (distributed measurement and control). The software portfolio centers on LabVIEW (visual programming language, now 40 years old) and the LabVIEW+ Suite, complemented by TestStand for test execution, VeriStand for hardware-in-the-loop testing, FlexLogger and InstrumentStudio for interactive test configuration, DIAdem for data analysis, SystemLink for test operations management, and OptimalPlus for manufacturing analytics. Hardware spans data acquisition modules, oscilloscopes, switches, SMUs, LCR meters, digital multimeters, electronic loads, power supplies, waveform generators, FlexRIO instruments, and RF/wireless products including software defined radios and vector network analyzers. Driver software (NI-DAQmx, NI-VISA, NI-488.2) enables hardware communication. The company also offers training, calibration, and repair services globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LabVIEW Visual programming language and development environment for test, measurement, and control applications, enabling engineers to create applications that interface with measurement hardware and communicate with other devices. Sold to engineers and scientists across aerospace, semiconductor, automotive, electronics, and research industries.
• LabVIEW+ Suite Integrated software suite combining LabVIEW with additional tools for automated test system development, offering engineering-specific software for measurement, analysis, and test in a single bundle for engineering teams building automated test systems.
• TestStand Test execution engine for automated test and validation, enabling rapid development and execution of test sequences across multiple test hardware platforms. Used by production test engineers in manufacturing and validation environments.
• VeriStand Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test development software for real-time testing of embedded systems, enabling engineers to create and execute real-time test applications. Targeted at embedded controls and mechatronics test engineers in automotive, aerospace, and industrial machinery.
• FlexLogger Free interactive test software for NI data acquisition hardware, enabling quick and intuitive sensor and signal measurement setup without programming. Targeted at test engineers who need fast DAQ configuration without writing LabVIEW code.
• InstrumentStudio Free interactive software for PXI hardware, providing an instrument-centric environment for configuring, interfacing, and debugging PXI-based test systems. Used by engineers assembling and validating PXI test systems.
• DIAdem Data analysis and visualization software for processing and analyzing large sets of measurement data, supporting technical report generation. Used by test engineers and scientists to post-process and report on large measurement datasets.
• SystemLink Test operations software for managing connected systems and test deployments, enabling centralized management of test software and hardware assets. Targeted at operations and test engineering managers running distributed test fleets.
• OptimalPlus Manufacturing analytics software providing data analytics solutions for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing test operations. Used by semiconductor and electronics manufacturers for yield improvement and production test analytics.
• PXI Platform High-performance modular instrumentation platform (PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation) featuring industry-leading modular instruments and configurable software interfaces for demanding test objectives. Used by engineers building automated test systems for production and validation.
• CompactDAQ Modular data acquisition system offering precise measurement quality with built-in signal conditioning for sensors, voltage, current, and digital I/O. Targeted at distributed measurement and data logging applications in test, research, and industrial monitoring.
• CompactRIO Distributed measurement and control platform combining real-time processing with FPGA-based hardware for embedded and industrial applications. Used by control engineers building embedded monitoring and control systems in industrial machinery, energy, and aerospace.
• Source Measure Units (SMUs) Precision instruments that combine the capabilities of a power supply, DC power meter, and electronic load for testing power semiconductors and other components. Targeted at power semiconductor characterization and production test in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing.
• Software Defined Radios RF instruments enabling software-defined wireless communication testing, signal generation, and analysis for 5G and 6G technology development. Used by RF engineers in wireless device validation and aerospace/defense communications.
• Vector Network Analyzers RF test instruments for characterizing RF components and networks, supporting vector network analysis for wireless design and test applications. Used by RF engineers for component-level and subsystem-level network characterization.
• NI System on Module (SOM) Embedded module combining Xilinx Zynq All Programmable SOC with supporting components on a small PCB, designed to help engineering teams reduce time and risk in developing embedded software for industrial, aerospace, and automotive applications.
• Training Courses Instructor-led and virtual training courses on NI products with certification programs to validate employee skills. Courses available globally in multiple languages for engineers learning LabVIEW, TestStand, and other NI tools.
• Repair Services Hardware service programs including repair and replacement to protect customer investments and minimize downtime on NI test and measurement equipment.
• Calibration Services Calibration services for NI hardware to maintain measurement accuracy and traceability, supporting quality systems in regulated industries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Airbus estimates development costs at one-tenth of alternative approaches using NI SOM technology

Named customers2 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• Zap EnergystrategicTechnology or Integration · 16 May 2026Zap Energy, a private fusion company, partnered with National Instruments for high-precision instrumentation to enhance system reliability and reduce technical risks in fusion development, aiming to accelerate development timelines.
• SET GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020NI made strategic minority investment in SET GmbH in 2020, followed by full acquisition in 2023. SET develops semiconductor testing systems for power semiconductor reliability and automotive applications, focusing on silicon carbide and gallium nitride materials.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Keysight Technologies: Direct competitor in electronic test and measurement. Both companies sell modular (PXI/PXIe) instruments, oscilloscopes, RF/wireless test gear, and software to semiconductor, aerospace/defense, and automotive customers.
• Tektronix (Fortive): Direct competitor in oscilloscopes, signal analysis, and electronic test instrumentation across R&D and production test. Both companies target similar electronics, semiconductor, and aerospace engineering customers.
• Rohde & Schwarz: Direct competitor in RF/wireless test, oscilloscopes, and aerospace/defense test solutions. Both companies sell modular and box-instrument platforms into similar wireless, defense, and automotive verticals.
• Anritsu: Direct competitor in RF/wireless test, optical test, and electronic measurement instruments serving telecom, semiconductor, and aerospace customers with overlapping product categories.
• Fluke Corporation (Fortive): Direct competitor in handheld and benchtop electrical test instruments (DMMs, scopes, calibrators). Overlap with NI's lower-end CompactDAQ/DAQ portfolio and industrial/field service customer base.
• Teledyne Technologies (Test & Measurement): Teledyne LeCroy and Test & Measurement segment compete in oscilloscopes, protocol analysis, and aerospace test. Comparable in serving similar engineering customers with overlapping instrumentation products.

Broad incumbents

• VIAVI Solutions: Broader test & measurement and optical networking player with overlapping presence in wireless/RF test, network monitoring, and service assurance — comparable customer base in communications and defense.

Emerging players

• Pickering Interfaces: Specialized PXI/LXI switching and instrumentation vendor. Directly comparable PXI-format products with significant overlap in aerospace/defense and electronic test switching applications.
• Marvin Test Solutions: Niche supplier of PXI-based test systems focused on military/aerospace test programs. Smaller scale than NI but directly comparable product format and customer focus.
• ADLINK Technology: Modular computing, PXI/PXIe platforms, and edge AI hardware vendor with overlap in CompactDAQ/CompactRIO-style embedded measurement and control applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/niglobal
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NIApps/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalInstruments
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-instruments
• Instagraminstagram.com/niglobal/?hl=en

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A18 records

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Instruments