HCL Infosystems is on the trail of MBA colleges and other academic institutes in the country to tie up for laptop sales and services.
The company is foreseeing the education segment to be one of the fastest demand markets for entry level laptops in the country.
Industry estimates put the market for laptops in India at around Rs 2,000 crore (Rs 20 billion) of which HCL claims to hold a market share of around 12-15 per cent. Revenues obtained from the education segment have been pegged at 15 per cent of the total laptop market, which is reportedly growing by over 100 per cent.
"With an increasing number of post-graduate and under graduate colleges making the use of laptops mandatory, the education segment is poised to more than double its growth in the coming few years," Rajendra Kumar, executive vice president, HCL Infosystems told Business Standard.
The HCL laptops targeted at students cost about Rs 27,000 and a Toshiba laptop is priced at Rs 32,000. Toshiba has a marketing collaboration with HCL.
The company has tied up with various academic institutes across the country and is currently working with many others to devise a common fee structure to include acquisition or hire of laptops with easy installment schemes for students.
With an aim to tapping other segments, similar schemes would be offered to SMEs, professionals, middle-level and entry level executives in the country, said Kumar.
In its first foray into the digital lifestyle retailing sector, the company has launched its first concept store, 'HCL Digilife' in Ahmedabad, which would house a range of products including computers, digital music players and gaming devices as well.
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