As Acer celebrates 25 years in India, we speak with the brand’s Chief Business Officer, Sudhir Goel, to learn more about the brand’s journey in the country. We also chat about its growing retail footprint, the evolution of gaming in a mobile-first market, and how the brand is preparing for an AI-powered future.
Q. Acer has completed 25 years and has over 250 stores across India. Can you shed light on this journey and Acer’s contribution to India’s consumer electronics journey?
Acer’s growth has closely mirrored the country’s digital transformation. From the outset, Acer has led innovation, pioneered the gaming laptop segment, and supported the rise of the gaming community. We also helped reshape education by introducing smart classroom solutions, driving tech-enabled learning nationwide.
Our portfolio now spans enterprise and government sectors with Altos Solutions and extends into the lifestyle space through Acerpure, catering to the growing demand for connected, health-focused technologies. We have strengthened our digital and offline retail presence to enhance accessibility, affordability, and personalized experiences across urban and rural markets. By adopting the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme early, we have boosted local manufacturing of desktops, laptops, and more, actively contributing to the “Make in India” vision.
Acer’s journey has been anchored in innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth. Our focus on building a robust, future-ready ecosystem—through partnerships, nurturing local talent, and responsible practices—positions us to lead confidently into the future. As we progress, Acer remains committed to shaping India’s technological landscape with purpose and impact.
Q. Acer is expected to hit 300 stores in early 2025. Can you shed light on the retail expansion strategy? With the growth of online shopping, can Acer shed light on online vs offline shopping for laptops and PC parts?
We are targeting over 300 stores by the end of 2025, underscoring our focus on improving customer accessibility and engagement. Each retail outlet is designed as an experiential center, allowing customers to interact with products, seek expert guidance, and make confident, informed choices. In an era where computing needs are increasingly specialized, these hands-on experiences are more important than ever.
While e-commerce continues to grow, offline channels remain strong, especially for laptops and high-performance gaming PCs, where personalization and product interaction are crucial. Our omnichannel strategy bridges the best of both worlds, combining the ease of online shopping with the in-depth support and service of in-store experiences, ensuring consistent value for our customers across every touchpoint.
Q. Can you talk about Acer’s focus on tier 2 & tier 3 cities for retail expansion? How do you see tier 2 and tier 3 city shoppers shifting between online and offline shopping for laptops?
With rising digital adoption and a growing appetite for high-quality, performance-driven technology, these markets are showing encouraging momentum. Consumers here are increasingly making aspirational purchases, creating strong demand for trusted, value-driven brands like ours.
While online shopping offers ease and accessibility, when it comes to high-involvement products like laptops, many customers in these cities prefer visiting a physical store. Offline outlets provide more than just a point of sale—they deliver personalized guidance, local language support, and dependable post-sales service, helping build deeper trust and enhancing the overall buying experience.
Q. Acer is among the top five PC players in India. Can you shed some light on the long-term vision for continued growth and leadership in the Indian market?
We are strategically investing in future-ready solutions—from AI-powered devices and energy-efficient computing to advanced gaming technologies—to meet the changing needs of consumers and businesses.
While Acer continues to be a leading PC brand, we aim to evolve into a complete technology partner, delivering a broad range of offerings across computing, smart devices, and digital infrastructure. Expanding our role in critical sectors like education, government, and enterprise is integral to this journey.
By combining cutting-edge innovation with value-driven products and strengthening local manufacturing to enhance speed and agility, we are well-positioned to deepen our leadership in India’s vibrant and evolving technology landscape.
Q. I remember way back in 2015 Acer Predator was synonymous with quality gaming laptops, and the same holds true even today! Gaming as a category has evolved over the past decade. Can you shed light on the evolution of the PC and gaming laptop landscape in India, especially since we are a mobile-first market?
Acer has always been a pioneer in the gaming PC space in India, and the journey since the introduction of the Acer Predator series has been nothing short of remarkable. Back in 2015, gaming laptops were a niche, primarily catering to enthusiasts. However, over the years, we’ve witnessed a radical shift. The explosive rise of eSports, content creation, and the streaming culture, coupled with a growing recognition of gaming as both a profession and a passion, has significantly expanded the gaming category.
While India remains a mobile-first market, we are increasingly seeing a shift toward high-performance gaming laptops and desktops. This is driven by users seeking more immersive experiences, enhanced graphics, and competitive performance. Gaming PCs have evolved from being products for hardcore gamers to versatile machines now used by students, professionals, and creators who demand power and flexibility in one device.
At Acer, we’ve been in lockstep with this evolution. Our Predator and Nitro series continue to push the envelope with advanced thermal design, powerful GPUs, and AI-driven enhancements. We’ve also made concerted efforts to make gaming more accessible by offering a range of devices across different price points while ensuring they maintain the high-performance standards and build quality, we’re renowned for. India’s gaming community is growing at an impressive pace, and we’re proud to be a part of this exciting movement, empowering gamers at every level with the technology to excel.
Q. Acer has a wide portfolio of products for different types of users. Can you shed light on the product expansion strategies across laptops, gaming, and lifestyle consumer electronics?
Acer’s product expansion strategy is designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s diverse consumers, providing cutting-edge technology across laptops, gaming, and lifestyle electronics.
In the laptop segment, we offer a wide range of options, blending performance, innovation, and accessibility to cater to everyone, from students to professionals. For gaming, we continue to lead with high-performance hardware, advanced cooling, and immersive displays, ensuring gamers have the tools they need at every level, from casual to competitive.
With lifestyle electronics like Acerpure, we’re tapping into the growing demand for health-focused, smart home devices that enhance everyday living. Additionally, our commercial solutions, such as Altos servers, are helping businesses and sectors like education and government drive efficiency with reliable, high-performance computing.
Through this diversified portfolio, Acer is committed to delivering technology that is not just advanced but also accessible, empowering users in every aspect of their lives.
Q. Can you shed light on where you see Acer five years from now?
Over the next five years, Acer aims to lead India’s digital transformation by evolving from a premier PC brand into a comprehensive technology solutions provider. Our focus will be on delivering AI-driven, smart, and sustainable solutions that extend beyond traditional computing, empowering sectors such as education, healthcare, and manufacturing.
Acer is committed to making advanced technology accessible to all, particularly in Tier 2, 3, and 4 cities. These regions are experiencing rapid digital adoption, presenting significant opportunities for growth. Our strategy includes expanding our retail presence, strengthening service networks, and offering localized solutions to meet the unique needs of these communities.
By 2030, Acer envisions itself as a trusted partner in India’s digital journey, delivering intelligent, interconnected, and sustainable solutions that foster innovation and inclusive growth across the nation.
Q. AI is still the big buzzword in the PC space. Can you shed light on how Acer is educating the customer regarding the benefits of AI in real-world applications?
At Acer, we view AI as more than just a buzzword; it’s a transformative force that enhances everyday computing. We’re committed to integrating AI into our products in meaningful ways that directly benefit our users. For instance, our Swift Go 14 AI and Predator Helios AI laptops leverage advanced AI capabilities to optimize performance, manage system resources efficiently, and deliver personalized user experiences. These features are designed to make computing more intuitive and responsive to individual needs.
However, incorporating AI into our products is only part of the equation. Equally important is ensuring that our customers understand how to leverage these AI features to enhance their daily tasks. To achieve this, we employ a multifaceted approach to customer education. Our retail experience zones are designed to provide hands-on demonstrations, allowing customers to interact with AI-powered devices and see firsthand how these features can improve productivity and user experience. Additionally, we provide informative packaging and targeted digital campaigns to communicate the benefits of AI in a clear and accessible manner.
Through these efforts, Acer aims to demystify AI and empower users to harness its full potential, making advanced technology accessible and beneficial to all.
