The Noted Player Wins Again

HP remained the darlings of the channel with sound market focus, price performance, channel profitability and post-sales support. The surge of the e-commerce industry did dent some confidence with the company’s ability to manage traditional channels. However, it fared better than all other vendors in market.

The technological leadership of the product with its user friendliness product gained itself an edge in the market. Also, the company maintained an excellent communication regarding its schemes and incentive programs. HP has to take care of its weakness in terms of technical expertise of the personnel. Also it has to spend in the innovativeness in the market development programs.

In the new categories, HP aims to outline Microsoft’s surface with its own Windows 8.1/Windows 7-based HP Pro x2 612, as per the reports. This product functions both as a high-powered notebook and tablet, features 14-hour battery life and a screen that is 0.5 inches larger than the Microsoft Surface Pro 3.” The product is expected to be launched later in this year.

Dell remained in the tight spot number two, with a strengthened product portfolio in the entry level notebook segment. The company also improved the product vs price ratio. Its overall product reliability and the conformance to the product specifications remained its advertisement. However, it is the right advertising which has kept its dominance maintained in the some pockets of the Indian market placing it overall in the second spot.

Lenovo remained in the third spot irrespective of the fact that the company did not endorse the e-commerce companies as their partner. This was a bid to pacify its traditional partners.

However, the overall market remained grim due to the ongoing BIS certification issues, which Indian government made it mandatory for any new electronics and IT products launch. MAIT estimated the mandatory certification to cost around `1,000 crore a year for computer manufacturers and several companies became vocal of the cost involved.

SWOT Analysis of Winner Trio

HP

Strengths

 Technological leadership of the product

 User-friendliness of the product

 Promptness with which the schemes/incentive programs are communicated

Weaknesses

 Less allocation of funds for marketing (co-op funding)

 Less innovativeness of market development programs

Dell

Strengths

 Overall Product Reliability

 Conformance to specifications

 Vendor’s advertising

Weaknesses

 Inappropriate product pricing

 Not enough transparency in commercial terms and policies

 Less flexibility in commercial terms

Lenovo

Strengths

 Price vs. performance ratio

 User-friendliness of the product

 Technical Expertise of the vendor to resolve problems

Weaknesses

 Inefficient online resources offered

 Less allocation of funds for marketing (co-op funding)

 Less flexibility in conducting localized promotions