For Neoteric, slowdown is the period when it is prudent to focus its attention on fundamentals, maintain business hygiene, focus on inventory management, collections, and also focus on value adds that will act as a true differentiator in the marketplace.
If the Indian IT market is to experience a revival in fortunes during the second half of 2009, then you are unlikely to find many people who think it is going to happen over the next three or four months.
Whoever you talk to in the market — from IT vendors and retailers to powerful IT services and corporate resellers — the general unanimity is that the market is not likely to witness any relief until September at the earliest.
So when the slowdown is in, what exactly should the channel do in the period?
According to Kaushal Khandor, Vice-President – Corporate, Neoteric, “Companies should exploit this period to revisit their strategies, review internal processes and upgrade their training so that they are ready to face the market, when the market hopefully begins to pick up again.”
“The summer season was a lean period. There is no doubt about that. Being an election time, it was bound to be so, so for a market that has been contracting thanks to slowdown.”
“However, this is going to change as a result of the installation of a stable government at the Centre,” adds Kaushal.
He explains that the dynamics of its environment is shifting now and mobility is coming. He says, “Channel expansion and spread business have always been one of the key fundamentals of Neoteric, and this is an ongoing process. It reaches to more than 350 Indian towns through a network of over 7,500 channel partners.”
Neoteric has recently completed its series of road shows “Xplore and Evolve” in the northern region of India. The meets showcased several products in Neoteric's distribution portfolio, including gaming and entertainment devices. According to the distribution house, through these events it wants to fulfil the needs of its channel partners.
The events also saw product and strategy presentations by Neoteric and its vendor partners. The vendors included Hitachi, McAfee, Logitech, Samsung, BenQ, Lenovo, Gigabyte, Iomega, and Umax.
Earlier, Neoteric held similar road shows in the western region. Kaushal said, “Xplore & Evolve has been an eye opener for us as well as our principal partners. We now realize the huge growth potential that the small city markets offer.”
Finally…
During this period of economic slump, for Neoteric it is time to focus its attention on fundamentals, maintain business hygiene, focus on inventory management, collections, and also focus on value adds that will act as a true differentiator in the marketplace. Says Kaushal, “Stay focussed on fundamentals, focus on value adds like solution selling, demand generation, and go in for technological upgradation, seminars, conduct end-user trainings, road shows, etc.”
