Developing world's businesses gagging for PCs - study

ACCORDING TO ACCESS MARKETS International Partners there is a hugely untapped market for PCs in four of Asia's most populated countries - India, Indonesia, China and the Philippines.

AMI Partners said in a recent study that as many as 75% of small business in these four countries don't own any computers at all, leaving a great opportunity for computer vendors.

In the study, it's said that around 40% of non-PC owning small business were planning on buying PCs over the next 12 months, while it's just over a third in China and a quarter each for the Philippines and Indonesia.

Analyst for AMI Partners Dev Chakravarty says that small businesses in China and Indonesia tend to lean towards the pricier end of the PC market, particularly with desktop PCs. "The retail store remains the preferred channel for buying computing hardware," he said.

"The touch-and-feel concept is still crucial among non-PC small businesses - especially those with a low level of computer lteracy," which Dev says explains the large preference for buying in-store in these four countries.

A fair few small business simply don't feel that they have a need for a PC, however, many stating that a fax and phone is more than enough for their businesses. As well as this, potential buyers feel intimidated about the installation and general workings of computers.

AMI Partners reckons it's time for vendors to really dig their heels in and convince non-PC-using small businesses that computers really are the way forward. Many of those in small businesses have said that they would choose their PCs based on word of mouth from friends and family rather than IT magazines or such like. µ