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R K Philip
CEO,
Computer Gallery,
Imphal
How big is the Imphal IT market?
In spite of being the capital of Manipur, the city has limited opportunities. We have only 20 resellers selling 100 PCs per month. We have witnessed a growth of around 10 percent since last year. The slowdown has definitely made an impact on sales, we have witnessed a fall in demand as consumers have become quite conscious about buying IT products.
What are the drivers for IT growth?
The main demand driver of the city is the home segment. This segment generates 60 percent of the entire IT demand, while the remaining 40 percent is contributed by the government and education segments. The corporate segment contributes minimally to the IT demand as there are only a few industries here.
What are the buying trends?
The consumer segment usually demands for PCs and accessories like notebook stands, USB drives and backpacks. The government and education segments require PCs and networking products like routers and high speed cabling. Consumers prefer branded computers in comparison to assembled computers. Of late, there has been a considerable shift towards notebooks. This is evident in the sales of 60:40.
What are the key challenges faced by resellers?
Lack of a proper infrastructure to support IT is one of the major problems plaguing resellers operating in the city. The government doesn’t take any initiative to improve the IT infrastructure.
Logistics is another problem that we face here. Hilly terrains and inclement weather add to our problems. Movement of products in and out of the city is difficult. Landslides and inclement weather cause a delay in the delivery of products.
Service is also another issue that we face in the city. The vendors do not have their own service centers in the city and often there is a delay of two to three weeks in the replacement of products.
What are the activities organized by your association?
Currently, Imphal doesn’t have an association of its own. However, the resellers are planning to start an association soon. |