IO-Link

What IO-Link does

IO-Link is the first globally standardized IO technology (IEC 61131-9) for point-to-point communication between sensors, actuators, and controllers in industrial automation. Operated by PROFIBUS Nutzerorganisation e.V., a German non-profit registered association headquartered in Karlsruhe and operating under the umbrella of PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI), IO-Link functions as a technology standard and community organization rather than a commercial vendor. The standard provides bidirectional data exchange over the conventional 3-wire sensor/actuator connection, enabling advanced diagnostics, remote configuration, and transparency from the field level up to IT and cloud systems without requiring specialized cabling. Extensions include IO-Link Safety for safety-critical applications, IO-Link Wireless for cable-free installations, and the recently released JSON Integration specification (Version 2) that exposes IO-Link data via OpenAPI/AsyncAPI and MQTT for IIoT use cases.

The technology ecosystem comprises the core protocol, the IODD (IO Device Description) format for device parameterization, standardized Device Profiles, and the IODDfinder online discovery service. As of 2025, approximately 71 million IO-Link nodes are installed globally, with 9.7 million new devices and master ports added during the year — figures the organization characterizes as a normalization phase following particularly high prior-year volumes. The standard is implemented by hundreds of member companies (sensor, actuator, master, and tool manufacturers) and is targeted at four primary personas: end-user industrial manufacturers seeking modernization and reduced downtime, OEMs and machine builders requiring standardized device integration, system integrators/distributors, and device manufacturers themselves.

IO-Link's business model is community-led rather than commercial. Revenue mechanics consist of membership dues from companies joining the IO-Link Community and modest fees for specialized events — notably the annual IO-Link Interop Workshop at €285 per participant — alongside free user workshops and freely downloadable specifications. Marketing and adoption are driven through multilingual web presence (8 languages), training workshops, the Interop interoperability testing event, and an annual IO-Link Forum. The organization is governed by an executive board representing PNO, with no venture capital or private equity involvement, and operates as a member-supported standards body serving the global industrial automation ecosystem.

Name

IO-Link

Legal name

PROFIBUS Nutzerorganisation e.V.

Website

https://io-link.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

IO-Link is a globally standardized (IEC 61131-9) point-to-point communication technology for industrial sensors and actuators, operated as a non-profit community under PROFIBUS & PROFINET International serving device manufacturers, OEMs, system integrators, and end-user industrial manufacturers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Communication Protocols

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Telecommunications (517), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171)

SIC

Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829), Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Networking & Connectivity (Industrial Ethernet, Fieldbus, IO-Link) (IMAHAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Connectivity & Networks (5G/LPWAN/TSN/Industrial Ethernet) (IMAIAMAH), Asset Tracking, RTLS & Industrial Visibility (IMAIAMAE)

Keywords

• Industrial communication protocol
• Sensor actuator networking
• Industrial automation standard
• IIoT connectivity
• Field device integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlsruhe

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: IO-Link operates as part of PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI) organization. Companies can become members of the IO-Link Community, which provides access to specifications, support, and participation in working groups.
2. Training and Workshop Fees: Free user workshops and training classes are offered, with IO-Link Interop workshops charging 285€ per participant. These events provide hands-on training, interoperability testing, and technical knowledge exchange.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IO-Link is the first globally standardized IO technology (IEC 61131-9) enabling point-to-point communication between sensors, actuators, and controllers in industrial automation. The technology provides bidirectional data exchange, advanced diagnostics, remote configuration, and seamless integration with higher-level systems such as PROFINET. The offering is maintained as a community-driven standard through PROFIBUS Nutzerorganisation e.V. under PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI), with extensions for safety (IO-Link Safety), wireless (IO-Link Wireless), and IT/IIoT integration (JSON Integration specification).

Product overview

IO-Link is a comprehensive industrial communication technology ecosystem comprising the core IO-Link standard (IEC 61131-9) for point-to-point sensor/actuator communication, along with specialized extensions including IO-Link Safety for safety-critical applications and IO-Link Wireless for cable-free installations. The ecosystem includes supporting technologies such as IODD (IO Device Description) for device parameterization, Device Profiles for standardizing device types, and IODDfinder as a discovery service. For IT integration, the JSON Integration specification enables machine-readable API access using OpenAPI/AsyncAPI standards with MQTT support for cloud and IIoT applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IO-Link (Core Technology Standard) The first globally standardized IO technology (IEC 61131-9) enabling point-to-point communication between sensors, actuators, and controllers in industrial automation. Provides bidirectional data exchange for advanced diagnostics, remote configuration, and transparency across all automation levels, and is based on the established 3-wire sensor/actuator connection.
• IO-Link Safety Safety extension to the IO-Link standard enabling safety-related communication for industrial automation applications.
• IO-Link Wireless Wireless extension to IO-Link enabling communication over wireless connections for mobile applications, rotating machine parts, or hard-to-reach installations.
• IODDfinder Online service for finding IO-Link devices and their IODD (IO Device Description) files, supporting the developer and integration community.
• JSON Integration for IO-Link Machine-readable specification for JSON mapping of IO-Link data, enabling standardized IT-oriented integration using OpenAPI and AsyncAPI, with MQTT support for IIoT and cloud applications. Version 2 (2026) adds IO-Link wireless support and expanded MQTT functions.
• IO-Link Device Profiles Standardized profiles that define common device functionality and data structures for specific device types, ensuring interoperability across manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 71 million total IO-Link nodes installed globally as of 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIO-Link is part of PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI), one of the world's largest industrial automation organizations. PI provides strong global support, standardized development, and broad industry adoption for IO-Link. The organization continuously develops IO-Link including IO-Link Safety and IO-Link Wireless extensions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EtherCAT Technology Group: The ETG promotes EtherCAT, a competing high-performance industrial Ethernet protocol widely used in factory automation. It is comparable to IO-Link as a member-driven, vendor-neutral standards body for industrial communication between controllers and field devices.
• AS-Interface International (ASi): AS-Interface is the closest functional peer to IO-Link — a point-to-point/lower-level digital interface for connecting binary sensors and actuators in industrial automation. It addresses the same application layer (sensor/actuator integration) with an alternative standardized approach.
• Modbus Organization: The Modbus Organization stewards the Modbus protocol, a foundational open industrial communication standard widely used in industrial automation. It is comparable to IO-Link as a non-profit, vendor-neutral standards body for industrial device communication.
• CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA): CLPA promotes the CC-Link family of open industrial network protocols. It is comparable to IO-Link as a member-driven, multi-vendor standards body for industrial automation networking.
• PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI): PI is the parent standards organization under which IO-Link is operated and also maintains competing/sibling industrial communication standards (PROFIBUS, PROFINET). It is the most directly comparable peer because it operates the same governance, member, and standardization model for industrial networking.
• ODVA: ODVA develops and promotes EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, and CIP — competing industrial networking standards used for controller-to-device communication. It is comparable to IO-Link as a global standards organization whose members build interoperable industrial devices.
• FieldComm Group: FieldComm Group manages HART and FOUNDATION Fieldbus, two widely deployed industrial communication standards. It is comparable to IO-Link as a member-based organization developing and maintaining open protocols for process and factory automation.

Broad incumbents

• KNX Association: KNX is an open standard (ISO/IEC 14543) for building and home automation. While oriented toward building automation rather than factory automation, it is comparable to IO-Link as a globally standardized, member-supported industrial/automation communication protocol.
• Beckhoff Automation: Beckhoff is the originator of EtherCAT and a major industrial automation vendor offering controllers, I/O, and drives. It competes with IO-Link-enabled ecosystems via its own fieldbus-based architecture and serves many of the same end users and OEMs.
• Rockwell Automation: Rockwell Automation drives CIP/EtherNet/IP adoption through its Logix controllers and FactoryTalk suite. It competes with IO-Link as a dominant industrial automation incumbent whose protocols, devices, and tools are widely deployed across factory environments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/io_link

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about IO-Link