Embedded systems consultancy ByteSnap Design has conducted research to understand what electronic design businesses expect of the future.

While exhibiting and presenting at the Engineering Design Show (EDS) last month, the ByteSnap team interviewed show visitors and asked what they felt their greatest challenges were.

Executives from electronics companies were questioned and the ByteSnap team gained valuable and specific insights into the constraints facing the industry today and into the next decade.

Survey snapshot

* 20% of respondents said their biggest challenge is political uncertainty, especially Brexit

* 20% felt that finding new business was a key concern

* 18% said that finding the right talent and skillsets was a challenge for their organisation

* 18% cited meeting project lead times as critical

* 17% were concerned about obsolete technology

Brexit is affecting key decisions

Brexit was the biggest challenge cited by 20% respondents. The UK’s potential exit from the European Union has a trove of implications for electronic design companies. Brexit may or may not happen. Several respondents were concerned about how UK and European companies would continue to do business in the event of the UK leaving the EU.

There is ambiguity around tariffs and taxes, employment of European workers, grants and exemptions, and licensing and regulations, including the Radio Equipment Directive.

The offshoot of this uncertainty is that many businesses in the UK and Europe and operating a “wait and see” approach. They are unwilling to commit to new projects and award new contracts that may be impacted by Brexit. In the worst cases, component buyers are looking away from the UK and even Europe, to avoid having to change agreements in a post-Brexit future.

Finding new business is a major concern

20% of electronics professionals stated that finding new business and retaining existing clients is even more challenging than normal.

Electronics companies who said finding new business was a challenge were divided on the more specific reasons. Several were concerned about finding enough opportunities to increase revenue and achieve growth. Others were worried about moving into new verticals, filtering real opportunities, and offering products and services to tie into new trends and technologies, such as AI (Artificial Intelligence), IoT (Internet of Things) and EV (Electric Vehicles).

Recruiting and retaining the right team is vital

18% of respondents found employing the right people was a major challenge. By far the greatest concern out of human resource challenges for the electronics sector appears to be recruiting new hires. A lack of appropriate skills and an understanding of embedded technology are also issues for industry peers.

By: DocMemory
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