GEC NEWS WIREAs the MEA IT industry is poised for a major transformation driven by innovative technologies and services, addressing the customer requirements with the right set of products and solutions is top of every vendor’s agenda
Q. The MEA IT industry has grown by leaps and bounds in the last two decades. How do you foresee the MEA IT business evolving till 2020?
We foresee continuous growth for the region’s IT industry in the coming years, in line with intensive efforts at the local and regional levels to grow genuine digital societies and knowledge-based economies.
Q. What kind of growth expected out of IT business by 2020? What are the factors that will drive this growth in the region?
There are several factors driving IT business growth in the region. The MEA economy, for one, expanded rapidly over the past year and is on track to post higher growth and increasing budget spends through 2020. Another element is that the people of the MEA region are well-educated about new technologies and are always looking for and demanding the latest innovations.
Q. Highlight some of the megatrends that will drive IT business landscape and create new opportunities for the industry by 2020?
At the top of the list is the huge budget we see being directed towards the sector by both the private and public sector. Government efforts to bolster IT-related spending are particularly worth watching out for. And then there’s the growing MEA economy which will sprout new and exciting opportunities moving forward.
Q.Which all new verticals and customer segments that will largely invest in IT? In which areas, do these investments will take place?
We can expect the education, banking and government sectors in particular to invest heavily in IT in the coming years.
Q. While the industry has the potential to generate trillions of revenues in 2020, a portion of this opportunity is at risk if continuing problems are not tackled soon. Highlight some of the common challenges that needed to be overcome?
One critical issue that industry must address is the proliferation of counterfeit products. We need to encourage the region’s governments to take more effective actions against the grey market to ensure fairness and competitiveness.
Q. As a leading player, what will be the contribution from your end to build the domestic market?
We have a dedicated R&D team that meticulously studies customer needs to ensure that the new products we launch satisfy local market demands. We also foster close relationships with our channel partners to get a pulse of the domestic market and help direct and expedite its growth.
Q. How will the role of channel partners evolve with these changing times? How significant will be their contribution in the growth of IT business by 2020?
We see channel partners continuing to play both important and strategic roles in providing key logistical and technical services to enterprises. This will be a key factor in the sustained and substantial growth of the IT business.
Q. While MEA’s technology and business services industry has flourished in the last decade. Industry stakeholders will need to break out of the traditional mould that resulted in past successes and step up to the aspirations of 2020. Please comment.
The IT industry is growing rapidly, so major market players should always stay ahead of competitors. The best approach is to provide products that meet both the present and future needs of consumers, who are becoming more demanding when it comes to new technologies.
Q.What’s your vision and goal for 2020? Please outline your roadmap to achieve this goal?
We would like to see an Epson product in each and every home and enterprise in the region by 2020. We will continue to launch new products that meet our customers’ need to fulfill this vision.
