When my friend who supplied my desktops all these years put his gloves down 6 months back for want of order, I could see the writing on the wall. He is among the lucky few to have switched over in time to ‘servicing’ PCs instead of pure hawking.
This development of branded PCs gradually eating into the share of unbranded ones has been happening for quite some time. This is because the PCs are now considered essentials instead of luxury items, and the boom in PC sales is a direct result of government’s realistically rationalizing the tax imposed on it.
But there have been advances on other fronts. Internet communication is now possible on mobile handsets, and even laptop prices have nosedived. Though these cutting-edge products are still beyond the means of most people, what has happened is that a brand-awareness has grown.
People are no longer hesitant to spend a few thousand more to buy branded PCs. The fuel for branded PC sale has been and continues to be due to massive requirements in offices and schools. People, including students, who use computers at workplaces, find it difficult not to have one at homes, which is why there is a phenomenal growth in needs of PCs at home.
In India, branded PCs are expected to occupy 60-70 % market share this year, feels MAIT (Manufacturers Association for Information Technology). According to it, in developed countries, the share of unbranded PCs hovers around 20%.
It is tempting to forecast same thing for India, but that may be a mistake. Because India’s PC market is still not large, since there remain huge untapped markets in small towns. The big cities being already spoilt for options among various brands, the fight for market share will now begin in small cities in right earnest.
All this of course is little solace for my friend simply because he cannot hope to constantly relocate to places where promise lies. For him then the time is ripe to singularly focus on servicing PCs, for that is where he, with years of experience behind him, can hope to remain in contention.
Here’s wishing him best of luck.
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