Year 2018 saw many challenges for Networking brands in India especially in consumer market. But at the top, we saw huge opportunities as well in other verticals. The brands are very much excited to see the opportunity coming in SMEs/SMBs or SoHo segment due to massive economy growth. TP-Link, one of the market leaders in Networking business has been always serious about tapping such business opportunities by bringing best quality networking solutions to different size of businesses in India. TP-Link is a world-renowned networking solutions brand with innovative and cutting-edge product portfolio. They have already placed excellent range of products to cater the networking need of any customers in India. Bijoy Alaylo, Vice President – SoHo Sales, TP-Link India is looking for another successful journey in this new calendar year. Along with his team, he has already worked out his Go-To-Market strategies to capture major market share to maintain it’s leadership position in India market.
DT: How has been the year 2018 for you?
Mr. Bijoy: 2018 overall was a year of rebuilding from the business setback in 2017. We have been able to maintain our passion to lead the Indian market by offering best quality networking solutions at an affordable price point. With a wide range of products for all set of customers, we are successfully serving the need of consumers networking need. TP-Link team has done quite well in terms of working as a unit to develop and grow the business in year 2018. Collectively we have worked on gaining the channel partner confidence and working around incentive schemes for them.
DT: What adoption of new tech trends we can see in year 2019 especially in networking market in India?
Mr. Bijoy: Well, Mesh Wi-Fi is the newbie in town and this is where everyone should try to explore. India has come much ahead in the data usage space and just Wi-Fi has been a thing of the past. Faster Speeds, LAG Free connectivity is the need of the hour. That is where TP-Link has been developing and providing the consumers a varied range of Mesh products which will add to number of products in the basket this year. Gaming was the buzz of 2018 and Mesh will be the buzz of 2019.
DT: Please brief about your channel ecosystem in India. How are you currently working with your partners to strengthen your market position?
Mr. Bijoy: Channel partners play very crucial role in our successful business in India. They have been helping us in reaching to large customer base across all region. TP-Link really value this partnership which has bee build on trust and mutual growth commitment. We work with a healthy channel ecosystem comprising of National / Regional / Master Distributors. We have been continuously maintaining the target-based incentive programs, reward trips, secondary sale schemes so that our partners always feel business with TP-Link is great deal for them. Partner training programs are also held in different cities to introduce them to new products and how it can help them grow their business bigger.
DT: What is your overall roadmap to escalate your growth further in CY 2019? On what products or solutions, you will be focusing?
Mr. Bijoy: We at TP-Link are targeting a stable business growth in current line of products and expanding aggressively with the new market trends of networking segment like the Smart Home, GPON and Gaming products. CY 2019 is a very important year in terms of enhancing the overall basket of products we are planning to introduce to our customers. GPON ONU/OLT will be our target introductions this year for the enterprise customers and MESH WIFI range of products will be launched on a bigger scale for the consumer segment.
DT: What are your suggestions to policy makers to counter any existing business challenges in ICT market?
Mr. Bijoy: Currently in the ICT industry, it is very important to make any policy which is in favor of the dealer community. If the Channel makes healthy margins and can be able to rotate their inventory at a fast pace that is what will bring in success to the brands. We really look forward to policy makers to bring some policies which will boost traditional partners growth.
