‘We are building dedicated SMB-focused products and solutions to help SMBs unlock innovation and rebound from the present challenges’

In an interaction with CRN India, Sunish Raghavan, Senior Director, Printing Systems, HP India talks about how HP is helping the SMB ecosystem through its product innovation to maintain business productivity

Can you share HP’s outlook on India’s SMB segment and how HP is helping the SMB ecosystem through its product innovation to maintain business productivity.

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit SMBs harder than most industries owing to their relatively smaller size, low technology adoption, and most importantly difficulties in accessing capital funding. HP recognizes that small and medium businesses (SMBs) are a crucial element of India’s economy. We are working to digitalize their business, a trend that has accelerated during the pandemic, and SMBs are at risk of being left behind. As per HP’s global small business study, more than 75% of SMBs rank digital transformation as the key to their recovery from the pandemic. With the segment being critical for the growth of the economy, we are building dedicated SMB-focused products and solutions to help SMBs unlock innovation and rebound from the present challenges.

Catering to the evolving needs of entrepreneurs and small business owners looking for reliable, cost-efficient resources in all facets of their business, HP has launched an industry-first Laser Tank Print portfolio targeting value-conscious small and medium businesses. This game-changing portfolio offers innovative capabilities such as advanced scanning features via the HP Smart App, a 15-second self-refillable Toner, and an ultra-high-yield Original HP Toner Kit all of which contribute to an efficient print experience. HP’s Laser Tank printers can print up to 5,000 pages straight out of the box and offer 5X more toner page yield compared to standard cartridges to reduce common printing interruptions. Keeping affordability as one of the main factors that influence buying decisions, the first Laser Tank Print portfolio offers the lowest cost per page for laser print.

Reimagining its small business printing category, HP is furthering its commitment to build dedicated products and solutions to help SMBs with high-volume printing needs and is going beyond products to help Indian SMBs by assisting them to invest in digital to revive their businesses.

In the present hybrid work culture, has the company noticed upsurge in printer sales for home printing? Please elaborate?

HP is the market leader in India’s printing market and almost every 2nd printer sold is an HP printer. In Q3 2021, basis the IDC report, HP maintained its leadership in the overall HCP market with a share of 46.9% and a YoY growth in shipment of 2.3%. The growth was led by the inkjet printer segment, wherein HP grew by 9.1% YoY, increasing its market share in the last few quarters to 46.3%. Through evolving consumer preference, remote working has changed the hardware we use. With an overwhelming preference for hybrid work culture, customer expectations are also evolving in favor of intelligent, efficient, affordable, and hassle-free printing solutions.

The Print Industry has seen a revival in terms of its business performance amidst the pandemic. Keeping this in mind, what are some of HP’s technological innovations that are driving Home Printing in India?

HP has been a dominant leader in the Indian print market across the three main printer categories of inkjet, laser, and page wide. HP is building its strategy to innovate with fast-evolving needs, basis the consumer insight.

In the home printing segment, the current innovations are focused on ink and laser technologies for ease of printing and affordability. HP offers a range of ink tank printers designed to meet the versatile needs of families and small business owners who want affordable yet high-quality printing through a modern and sustainable product. HP Smart Tank 700 series is powered with smart guided lighting, low ink, paper sensors and mobile alerts informing users before the ink runs out. It is the first smart tank printer to offer users the ability to print on both sides of the page. Equipped with time-saving intuition capabilities it supports a spill-free refill system and enables you to print documents 50% faster with Smart Shortcuts, text recognition, and intelligent file naming.

We have also introduced the HP DeskJet Ink Advantage Ultra printer 4826 which comes with two full cartridge sets and can print 2600 (black)/1400 (color) pages. This printer offers low cost per page printing cost with minimal initial cost, resulting in a competitive total cost of ownership making it an ideal choice for home users. It also offers enhanced connectivity through dual-band Wi-Fi® with self-reset and HP Smart mobile print app with easy integration through a USB port.

What are the key trends that you’re witnessing in the market? How do you see technology evolving in this space? 

Growth in demand for Home printers: With the rise in advanced technologies and growing demands from emerging entrepreneurs, SMBs, and educational institutions, we foresee the demands for multi-function digital printers to have sustained momentum in the coming years, making printers one of the most essential ‘to have’ hardware.

Enhanced Connectivity: Enhanced connectivity at affordable prices remain the prime focus for our consumers. Wi-Fi connectivity remains the prime focus with users wanting to connect wirelessly and print from all of their devices.

Investment in Security: With cyberattacks on the rise, a requirement of vigilance, and continued investment in new solutions, such a security-enabled printer will be a must.

Rise in demand for sustainable goods: Climate change and waste reduction will become a global priority for everyone to address. As consumers are becoming more and more environmentally conscious, the brands will need to keep evolving new and existing products to become overall more sustainable, accessible, and flexible, all the while remaining high-quality

How does the HP India road map look like for this year?

The pandemic has changed where and how we work and has created unprecedented opportunities to accelerate our business across a range of segments. We are addressing emerging, evolving, and exciting growth opportunities. We are looking forward to introducing a new lineup of printers to further elevate our users’ experience and upgrade their future print needs.