As the world embraces new ways of working, we have seen a significant shift in users’ requirements whether it be for connectivity or productivity. Today, organisations expect a high level of performance from devices to ensure that their employees have fast, fluid and secure experiences no matter where they are.
We caught up with Acer Middle East’s country manager, Michele Montecchio, to know more about how requirements for commercial devices are changing and how the company is innovating to address these market needs.
What are the specifications professionals should look for in a commercial product line?
Professionals should look for a brand that have a commercial range of products that suit a wide variety of professions and work environments. They should look not only at the product specifications, but should also consider ergonomics, and battery life to suit their needs.
For example, Acer TravelMate P6 would suit a professional that travels regularly for work and requires a lightweight laptop, that’s powerful, has great battery life, is secure and is portable. Examples of alternate ranges for other professions include ConceptD, for those looking for a one-stop high-performance laptop for all their creative needs and Enduro; perfect for those who work in harsh conditions and need a rugged device on top of premium level security and durability.
Professionals need a powerful product that can easily handle their heavy workload without slowing them down, and to be able to do that a laptop needs the latest CPU with dedicated graphics that would enhance device’s performance. Additionally, having products that feature the latest technology for connectivity, creates a more seamless experience with downloading and uploading content online.
For both businesses and professionals, it’s paramount that your information and data is secure on your device in order to avoid breaches. Professionals should consider a device that has security features such as TPM 2.0 and enhanced sign-in security with fingerprint reader and Windows Hello.
In an increasingly hybrid work era, how is Acer innovating to address changing demands of its commercial customers?
At Acer, we develop our product line to be able to serve every type of user and are regularly adapting to the changing needs of our customers and their industries.
We were the first in the industry to switch our commercial line up to Wi-Fi 6 to provide our customers with a smoother wireless experience in such a hyper connected environment. As many workplaces have taken a hybrid approach, we’ve introduced lighter devices with a better battery life for users on the move and to improve video calling and conferencing, we’ve optimised our devices through AI powered noise reduction technology that minimises background noise and added a MIPI camera for clearer images even in low light environment.
In this new hybrid approach to working, physical privacy is important and that’s why we added Acer Privacy panel option in our commercial lines to obscure the panel if viewing angle is beyond 90 degrees. Additionally, with Acer’s User Sensing technology, it allows your laptop to detect when you’re near or far, allowing you to quickly login as you approach or lock as you leave.
What do you think is the most important element or feature that professionals today are looking for in a device?
It really depends on the user profile and how they’ll be using the device. From there, they can then look at the performance, durability, form factor, portability, connectivity, and the service available for the device. For example, a video editor or graphic designer would prioritise a powerful processor, while a professional who travels would prioritise the form factors and the weight of the device.
What differentiates Acer’s commercial line from its competitors in the market?
At Acer, we follow a dynamic yet stable product roadmap to ensure we’re meeting the demands of the market – we’re normally the first to introduce new technologies, while keeping legacy models that our customers trust consistent. As user profiles change, we always aim to diversify our line up to the meet their changing needs, usage scenarios and even technology environments.
An example of this is our recently launched Travelmate Vero – a green PC that doesn’t sacrifice performance or features. With powerful processing, security, and manageability, an organisation now has the choice for an eco-friendly business laptop which is designed for working at or away from the office.
Something else that has become increasingly important since the pandemic is our antimicrobial solution which are available in selected commercial line ups to reduce the spread of bacteria.
What is the regional response received for the launch of TravelMate?
Acer has always had a very strong consumer offering in the Middle East, so when we decided to introduce TravelMate, our commercial range of laptops, there was a lot of excitement. Our commercial range has been a central pillar of the organisation for many years and we’ve always had very strong brand recognition across the UAE. Our TravelMate range provides many device solutions, depending on a business’ needs, like TravelMate Vero, which is our green PC that doesn’t sacrifice on performance or features.
The decision to provide our commercial clients with our Acer Reliability Promise, which guarantees the quality of our product, is really a testament to our commitment to the market, and this has really helped to cement our presence as a commercial player.
To strengthen the commercial line up and give our clients peace of mind, we have included a variety of warranty options and we are now able to cover onsite warranty across the entire region, making repairs and support easier for clients.
