APC forays into Laptop Accessory Business

APC, the market leader in UPS, has carved a new identity for itself. It is the laptop accessory business, which is going to add a lot to the revenue stream of the company. 

 

Subodh Tagare, Marketing Manager, APC India, says, “One of the waves that is passing across India is the increasing adoption of laptops. It has moved beyond the top executives to the consumers. And, thus, laptop accessories business is catching a lot of attention.” 

 

APC has a vast range of Productivity Solutions for the Mobile Professional. Subodh adds, “We have a host of these products, including the surge arrest notebook protector, universal external batteries for notebook computers, notebooks cases or bags, biometric password manager, international plug adapters, USB battery extender, travel mice, retractable cables, notebook stands, etc.””

 

As per APC, where data availability is concerned, the company will contribute to a large extent – be it power management – to make the data available in your server or desktop or notebook stands, travel mouse or even universal power adapter to make the data available to the mobile users. 

 

For desktop, one may not require specialized equipments, but for laptops, one requires specialized equipments. The off-site workers or the mobile workers need to be enabled with the right kind of equipments. For example, you need to have the right kind of notebook bag to carry your backup and other utilities, including the power backup, PDA or mobile phones, identity management device and a universal power adapter. The equipment should not come in the way of your business success. Rather, it should facilitate its execution. Imagine if your bag does not have a universal power adapter and the electric socket of the travelling nation is of different standard, then your productivity becomes zero. 

 

These days, cars and airplanes come with DC power sockets. If you have a handy DC to AC converter, then you can work while flying. Similarly, notebooks are also not immune from power surges. If you have a USB cable and surge protection device, you can have uninterrupted computing. All these actually matter when you become a high-flying executive or a top-class businessman. 

 

Earlier, these utility products were available in the Indian market, but from unidentified sources. Here comes a trusted vendor – APC, who you can bank upon as a trusted partner, who provides you these mobile utility products. On top of it, APC provides one to two years warranty on the products.

 

 

Subodh says, “These products do not require complex sales methodology. From the training and engagement perspective, there is no challenge, but the challenge is to identify the partners.” 

 

APC is focussing on two types of channels and the retail channel is one and the other being the IT channel. The company is engaged with 50 retail partners and has rolled out a comprehensive retail programme. 

 

There are two distributors who are engaged in this product line, i.e., Compuage Infocom and Asia Pacific Brands India Limited. 

 

As far as the IT channel is concerned, the company is looking at the partners who actually can justify the product line. The company has created programmes to address them and their customers. It should also be ensured that they are adequately equipped to pitch the products with the customers. 

 

APC surely has a projection for this business, but Subodh asserts, “Whatever target we set looks conservative because the reality has been far higher than the projection. Our purpose is to expand our market. Our focus is to identify where the opportunities are.”