By R. Narayan
Wearable Technologies are the next frontier of opportunity
The emergence of new form factors have disrupted established models of Business and supply chains over the past few years. The changes have been fast and furious, unleashing undercurrents of great anxiety in the traditional IT industry.
There seems to be no respite from such almost cataclysmic changes that force manufacturers and their partners to continuously be on their toes, trying to predict which way the wind blows. It is a tough call when manufacturers have to decide their go to market strategies with new product lines that have shorter and shorter life cycles these days, as it were.
In this context, Tablets are a good example. They have become the darlings of the masses. There is plenty of choice too. With between 100 to 150 Brands available across the regional market, it is a tight rope walk for all manufacturers that are in the fray. The entry barrier have been on the lower side. It will be a toughening battle this year at all price points, from entry level talents to models with high end specs and all the bells and whistles. Differentiation would still be around features and the services provided but it could leave the consumer perplexed as to what he should choice. Tablets offering 3G/4G connections for instance would be more in number.
Manufacturers who are able to maximize their product availability and negotiate masterfully with as many retailers including the big guns in the segment would be, needless to say, better placed for maximum sell out. The good news is that the demand is still quite high in the region and far from saturated.
What next after Tablets? Wearable Technologies are coming in and could be the next frontier of opportunity. First movers have introduced some products including smart watches and this could get to be a busier segment this year.