PROFINET has been described as the “all-encompassing Industrial Ethernet” since it can be used for virtually any function required in automation: discrete, process, motion, peer-to-peer integration, vertical integration, safety, and more.
Because PROFINET uses standard IEEE 802.3 Ethernet, it inherently works over 
IEEE 802.11 wireless Ethernet. Wireless is a necessity when untethered devices like AGVs (Automatic Guided Vehicles) must be controlled. Existing installations using wireless in concert with PROFIsafe show the power of the combination of these two technologies.
In motion control applications, PROFINET can control 150 axes of motion in one millisecond with one microsecond of jitter. This is suitable for demanding applications like printing presses where PROFINET is currently installed.
PROFINET is the only Industrial Ethernet whose standard defines communication of Plant Asset Management (PAM) and other information needed by Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
PROFINET protects users’ investments in their current plant equipment and networks by seamlessly assimilating existing PROFIBUS installations and installations of other fieldbuses like Modbus and DeviceNet.
While embracing industry standards like Ethernet, TCP/IP, XML, and OPC, PROFINET itself is an open, industrial standard supported by PI (PROFIBUS and PROFINET International).
Currently more than 100 engineers from at least 50 different companies are working in 20 distinct Working Groups to continue to advance PROFINET.