Eager to expand its portfolio in the face of changing macroeconomic conditions and a disruptive supply chain in the AI age, Acer India has resolved to go beyond its laptop and large appliances business to include more consumer products as well as open a lifestyle business focusing on travel bags and smart rings.
Speaking with businessline, Sudhir Goel, Chief Business Officer, Acer India, said the company aims to be a multi-brand service for consumers and for the enterprises, including the infrastructure management services. While stressing the company will not move focus from its laptop business, persisting macroeconomic trends have highlighted the need for a resilient business portfolio, including washing machines and fridges as well as smaller appliances.
What was the driving factor that led you to open up to the larger electronics consumer appliances business?
It was important for us to broaden the technology ecosystem, rather than only getting confined to PC. Newer models of AI will give us the growth in the PC, but we also wanted to address other needs of enterprise and consumers. We wanted to get into the homes of the consumers already enjoying Acer PCs using the consumer electronics background. So there’s a lot of ecosystem, both on the demand side as well as supply side.
It was also to ensure we have a more balanced and resilient business considering dynamics keep changing because of global and local scenarios. So, to bring an insulating opportunity and more balanced opportunities, we decided to get into both these categories.
The consumer market is still rather saturated in terms of players. What is the differentiator with which you’re going forward?
Yes, the consumer electronics market is crowded. We have different sales but we are confident. We have a huge customer base in the consumer segment who have for the last two decades enjoyed and used the Acer PC products. They trust Acer as a brand and Acer is known for offering the fresh technology at affordable prices. We have been talking about AI PC for the mainstream. Similarly, whether it is in the television or in the air conditioner or washing machine or small appliances, we will make the best of the technology affordable for an aspiring middle-income group of users or consumers.
Yes, lifestyle is the next on the card. We have just introduced luggage as a separate entity. For the time being, we are doing the market study using the luggage and at some point, we will form that as a separate organisation. It takes about six to seven months to understand what kind of market specifications. We already have the tie-up for luggage and it’s already being offered online, which is through Flipkart, Amazon and Myntra.
You are making this move amidst many macroeconomic developments. There’s already a lot of discussion around how the festive season is going to go. How are vendors adapting to your announcement?
We are quite confident that Acer India is going to bring the market share in the PC category, both in the enterprise as well as in the consumer. Along with that, Acer Pure will rub off on the PC market and vice versa. So, combined together and we are quite confident that both of these are going to grow. Since the Acer Pure is starting with a small base, the growth percentage is expected to be much higher. We expect calendar 2026 to close at two and a half times of 2025 and continue to grow at around 200 per cent y-o-y.
Do you have any numbers on how the market share will move?
We aim to get closer to about anywhere between 70 to 80 per cent of the market share, which will take us to our number two position for sure.
Harish Kohli had last year estimated that Acer will reach around $1 billion in revenue by year end. Any similar estimations for this year?
This year, there has been a lot of disturbance in the supply chain. The local supply chain has become very, very complex. We’re targeting 17 to 18 per cent in the market share.
Copyright© 2026, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.
Source: Read the original article on www.thehindubusinessline.com
