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spun out Versinetic to focus solely on EV charger design. Today, we provide IP blocks that manufacturers worldwide use to build their chargers.
CIE: What excites you most about your current role? DP: I enjoy the international side of the business and the strategic, long-term thinking. But what I really love is helping customers shape product concepts. Many companies struggle to get products to market – success rates can be as low as 1 in 17. Over the years, I’ve developed a good instinct for what makes a product viable. I’m not always right, but I’ve seen enough successes and failures to understand the patterns. Helping companies navigate that journey is something I’d like to continue doing for years to come.
CIE: What does the consulting process that you offer typically involve? DP: When companies come to us, we’re not just doing design work – we’re helping them think through the business case. Startups often come in excited about technology but without a clear business model. Part of our job is to explore whether the idea is commercially viable.
It’s a bit like Dragon’s Den, except without the stack of cash on the table. Sometimes great products fail because of technical issues, lack of funding, or simply losing focus. Startups often try to add too many features and end up with a Swiss Army knife instead of a hunter’s knife. People don’t want unnecessary complexity.
There’s also a lot of noise in the industry, AI being the latest example. We’re seeing more companies trying to sell AI solutions than customers actually needing them for embedded applications.
CIE: What are the advantages of a career in electronics today? DP: Engineering is fundamentally about
Photo credit: Indutosense
solving problems. If you enjoy puzzles – Sudoku, crosswords, murder mysteries – you’ll probably enjoy engineering. It’s creative, international, and intellectually rewarding. The world has huge challenges ahead, especially around climate change and electrification. Engineers will be at the centre of solving those problems. Low- carbon transport, renewable energy, electrified infrastructure – these are massive, long-term opportunities. It’s a great time to be in electronics.
CIE: How can the industry better inspire the next generation? DP: There’s a lack of awareness in schools about what engineers actually do. Teachers often encourage bright students to become doctors because engineering isn’t well
ByteSnap Design recently launched OMaaS – Obsolescence Management as a Service.
understood. Britain has long had an image problem – engineers are seen as people in overalls fixing photocopiers, which isn’t accurate.
We need more engineers going into schools, doing careers days, and showing students what’s possible. We’ve been involved in STEM initiatives like primary school car-building competitions and, more recently, robot-building challenges. Things like Robot Wars and Tomorrow’s World on TV inspired many engineers, including me.
CIE: What other new
developments are happening at ByteSnap? DP: We’ve recently launched OMaaS – Obsolescence Management as a Service. It’s a proactive service where we monitor customers’ bills of materials, track lifecycle alerts, assess risks, and advise on redesigns only when necessary. It grew out of the supply chain crises of 2021–2022, when many companies were forced into redesigns simply to keep products available. OMaaS helps avoid that panic by staying ahead of obsolescence.
CIE: Which technologies or trends are you most enthusiastic about? DP: ATEX design is a strong area for us, and we’re seeing increasing demand. I’m also excited about new low-power radio standards
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that enable cellular communication on extremely low-power devices. That opens up product opportunities that didn’t exist before. In EV charging, the industry has matured after the initial gold rush around 2020. Growth is steady, and new standards like ISO 15118 (plug-and-charge) are raising the barrier to entry. We’re seeing fewer players but stronger, more sustainable businesses.
CIE: What challenges do you anticipate in the short term? DP: One is the excess inventory hangover from the supply chain crisis – many companies overbought components and are still working through stock, which delays new product development.
Geopolitical instability is also shifting demand. Some sectors grow while others contract. It’s a mixed landscape.
CIE: What are your predictions for the UK electronics sector? DP: Excess inventory will take another year to clear, but after that, demand should stabilise. We’re seeing more companies wanting to design and manufacture in Europe rather than relying on the US or China. That creates real opportunities for UK engineering firms to keep development local and build resilience into their supply chains – so, I’m optimistic!
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Components in Electronics December/January 2026 43
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