Brief

Logitech eyes the corporate segment

As part of its strategy to look at newer avenues of growth, Logitech India is eyeing the lucrative corporate segment. Using its traditional strongholds of mice and keyboards as a springboard, the company wants to expand the market for a relatively nascent category known as notebook interface devices. Many corporate users who are accustomed to working on desktops prefer using a cordless mouse or attaching an optical mouse while working on their notebooks instead of using the in-built trackball. As the notebook segment is enjoying a burst of frenetic growth at this point of time, the company believes that there is

an untapped segment for notebook interface devices. According to market research firm, IDC India, in the first half of fiscal year 2004-05, notebook sales fell short of the one lakh mark by only a hundred units.

Says Moninder Jain, country manager, Logitech India, “The opportunity for growth in the notebook space is phenomenal. As there is no focused player in this segment, even a small percentage of the market can translate into huge volumes.” Besides mice, Logitech is also pushing other interface devices such

as the QuickCam and a Bluetooth cordless presenter. The cordless presenter has a range of 30 feet and also works as a cordless optical mouse. Logitech believes that every CEO, CFO or a CMO is a potential customer for this product.

Logitech is also trying to drive the desktop cordless market by educating companies about the benefits of using a cordless keyboard. The company is trying a different tack by claiming that cordless mice and keyboards can result in health benefits as users can avoid crouching by using these products. The company has announced a couple of replacement schemes to promote its optical and cordless optical mice.

The company has appointed Ingram Micro as its third distributor after Rashi Peripherals and Neoteric with the aim of targeting corporate buyers. Ingram Micro is a big player in the corporate segment and has one of the largest service networks in India, especially after the acquisition of Tech Pacific. The company is also planning to add around 50 corporate resellers.

Srikanth R P