As we move into 2025, the high-end consumer electronics market is poised for an exciting evolution, with cutting-edge technologies rapidly reshaping the way we live, work, and interact with our devices. From ultra-premium smartphones and laptops to immersive smart home systems and wearable technologies, the demand for products that combine superior performance, sleek design, and seamless integration continues to grow. In the coming years, key innovations such as 5G connectivity, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and sustainable design will not only push the boundaries of what’s possible but will also redefine the user experience in unprecedented ways. These advancements are set to make consumer electronics more intuitive, personalized, and integrated into every aspect of our daily lives. To delve deeper into the specific trends shaping this future and to understand how companies are preparing for these changes, we reached out to Anand Dubey, the CEO of Indkal Technologies, whose expertise in the tech industry offers a unique perspective on the high-end consumer electronics sector’s rapid transformation.
Can you share the story behind your journey with Indkal Technologies and how the brand has evolved under your leadership?
When we started Indkal, the hope was to be able to build a large-scale consumer electronics and appliances company which Indian and focuses on value creation for customers at a local level.
How has Indkal’s revenue grown over the years, and what strategies have you implemented to sustain and accelerate this growth?
Indkal’s revenue has been steadily growing on the back of multiple growth levers. We started with the launch of Smart Televisions in 2021 and since then have successfully launched multiple product categories under multiple brands and have also expanded our distribution and service footprint. We clocked a modest 61 crores in FY 2022 and then grew to 260 crores in 2023. Last year we crossed over 620 crores in revenue.
Could you shed some light on the product categories Indkal Technologies plans to focus on in the future? Are there any new or innovative segments we should watch out for?
While the focus will be on the existing product categories and new launches such as smartphones, what we should keep an eye out for is the innovation, benefits, and advancement that we are making in these products. For instance, Indkal became the first company to launch Android 14-based Google TVs in India under the Acer brand which was a unique feat for an Indian company as it has not been a common phenomenon for an Indian technology company that has been able to assume leadership positions. Similarly, you will see some unique innovations in Room Air Conditioning from us this year when the season starts. This is what we feel are focus most on, creating high quality and innovative products that genuinely cater to our customer’s needs and expectations, and the best part is all of these are developed and manufactured in India.
With advancements in technology and shifting consumer preferences, how do you see the TV market shaping up in 2024? Do you foresee higher demand for larger screens, cutting-edge technology, or both?
We are seeing a strong trend for both, if you look at the current form of the market, there is an aggressive shift for TVs of much larger screen sizes. Also, this year we saw display technologies such as QLEDs and Mini-LEDs getting unprecedented growth while the regular display saw degrowth. Both larger screen displays and QLEDs are growing owing to better pricing from brands owing to better component pricing which in turn is a function of improvement in economies of scale.
What are some key technology trends you believe will dominate in 2025, and how is Indkal positioning itself to leverage these trends?
It is a bit of a cliche but clearly, AI-based systems will be the trend in consumer electronics. ML-based tools help improve customer experience and create better interaction with devices and Indkal is working towards building capabilities that will help us in leveraging these technologies and applying them in our products. In 2024, Indkal launched its first set of Televisions with a native processor capable of AI functions which was unique in this category. We are also working towards building these capabilities to improve the core functions of products like smartphones.
The luxury tech market is growing steadily. Does Indkal Technologies have plans to tap into this space, and what unique value could you bring to high-end consumers?
With our prowess in product development and Innovation, I think Indkal is perfectly placed to have a strong play across the spectrum of consumer electronics and appliances and this includes high-end luxury products as well. If you look at our current brands, Black+Decker TVs and Appliances are designed and developed for customers who look for absolutely top-end products and want everything top of the line both in terms of performance and aesthetics. We are continually building that portfolio up.
