Some partnerships are transactional. Others become part of how you work; built into your processes, your people, and the way you solve problems for clients.
The relationship between DPS Group and Schneider Electric is firmly in the second category.
For over 30 years, DPS Group has held Certified Alliance System Integrator status with Schneider Electric, a recognition that reflects not just technical capability, but a shared commitment to delivering real value for industrial customers across the UK and Ireland.
In a recent interview produced by Schneider Electric, Martin Brownlee, founder of DPS Group, sat down to reflect on what this partnership has meant over the decades, and where it’s headed next.
What a Schneider Electric Alliance System Integrator Actually Delivers
The Schneider Electric Alliance Partner programme is built around a simple idea: customers benefit most when they work with system integrators who have deep, proven knowledge of the technology they’re deploying. Certified partners aren’t just resellers; they’re technically qualified teams who design, build, and integrate complete solutions.
For DPS Group, that means delivering end-to-end automation capability across a project’s full lifecycle, from initial electrical design and control panel build, through to PLC, SCADA, and drive system integration, and on to advanced digitalisation and long-term lifecycle support.
It’s a broad scope, and deliberately so. Industrial customers don’t benefit from fragmented delivery. They need one team that understands the whole picture: the process, the technology, and the business case behind the investment.
Guiding Customers Through Digital Transformation, Without the Disruption
DPS Group have a structured approach to digital transformation. For many industrial operators, the challenge isn’t a lack of ambition, the challenge is knowing where to start and how to make progress without disrupting live operations.
DPS Group uses a six-step framework to guide customers through this process, focusing on measurable outcomes at each stage. In practice, that typically means helping customers unlock value across:
- Energy management: reducing consumption and improving visibility of energy use across sites
- Condition monitoring: moving from reactive maintenance to predictive asset intelligence
- OEE improvements: identifying and addressing the production losses that quietly erode performance
- Scalable digital insights: building connected data visibility from instrument to cloud
The goal is to help customers move at a pace that makes sense for their business, building confidence at each step, rather than attempting a wholesale transformation in one go.
Ageing Systems, Modern Platforms: Migration Without the Risk
Legacy systems are one of the most common challenges facing industrial operators today. Ageing infrastructure that’s still running critical processes can’t simply be switched off and replaced. But it can’t be left unchanged indefinitely either, as components age, the risk of failure and the cost of support both increase.
DPS Group has developed a track record in designing migration strategies that minimise disruption. By working closely with customers to understand their operational constraints, the team can plan phased transitions that keep systems running while progressively adopting modern Schneider Electric platforms.
It’s an approach that reflects one of the core principles Martin describes: the creativity in how you solve a problem matters as much as the technology you’re deploying.
Why the Partnership Works After Three Decades
Long-term partnerships in industry tend to endure for one reason: they keep delivering. The DPS Group and Schneider Electric relationship has survived market cycles, technology shifts, and significant change in how industrial businesses operate. That longevity comes from a shared focus on customer outcomes and a willingness to evolve.
For DPS Group, the Alliance Partner ecosystem provides direct access to Schneider Electric’s latest platforms, technical resources, and product roadmap, which in turn means customers benefit from solutions that are both proven and forward-looking.
For Schneider Electric, having deeply experienced system integrators like DPS Group in their partner network means customers receive implementations that are genuinely fit for purpose, not just technically correct, but operationally intelligent.
Watch the Full Interview
Martin covers a lot of ground in the interview, from the early days of the partnership through to where DPS Group is taking its digitalisation and digital transformation offer today. If you’re an industrial operator thinking about automation upgrades, digital transformation, or getting more from your Schneider Electric systems, it’s worth 10 minutes of your time.
Work with a Certified Schneider Electric System Integrator
If your business is looking to modernise its automation infrastructure, improve operational efficiency, or begin a structured digital transformation programme, DPS Group brings the technical depth and partnership experience to make it happen.
From instrument to cloud, we design and deliver solutions that connect every layer of your operations, backed by 30 years of trusted delivery as a Schneider Electric Certified Alliance System Integrator.
Get in touch with the team to discuss your project: Contact DPS Group