RP Tech India needs not any introduction as the company is called backbone of IT distribution in India. With 50 branches across India and many other huge investment, RP Tech is one of the sought distribution houses in India, who has contributed a lot for the growth of IT market. The company has been consistently growing it's revenue YoY since 1989 and helping all major tech brands in doing smooth business across India. Rajesh Goenka, Director, Sales & Marketing, RP tech India recently shared his opinion and business in year 2020 with Telecom Today.
Q: How successfully you achieved your target in the distribution business in CY 2019?
A: Due to wide products/brand portfolio, and having India's largest branch infrastructure of 50 branches with service centres and warehouses, RP tech India for the last 15 years have been the most consistent growing distribution house in India. Even this year, we are following the same trajectory and will continue to have a double-digit growth as planned. While there are various challenges in the market in terms of demand and credit availability, RP tech will still manage to grow per the roadmap.
Q: What is your entire business plan for the year 2020?
A: In challenging times, it is best to consolidate and strengthen your business rather than going on an expansion spree. Thus, we will continue to strengthen our existing business line and look for selective business opportunities if any. However, I would say openly that we missed the mobility business.
Q: What remains your key business challenge while going forward in year 2020 as well?
A: Striking a balance between inventory and credit management is the biggest challenge any distributor has to face in a stable market and RP tech is not immune to the same. However, with our sound commercial leadership team and experienced branch heads pan India we are fairly able to manage the double-digit growth in challenging situations.
Q: How do you see overall post-sale support from vendors?
A: There was a phase where the most product would come with a one-year standard warranty. Then it moved to 2 years warranty and now the majority of the products come with 3 years warranty and some of them are even with a lifetime warranty. During this transition, vendors also changed the service models and adapted to the demanding nature of the consumer. Some of the products like laptops, TFTs, offer an onsite warranty. In my opinion, there are negligible service issues across product categories as vendors have scaled up their service infrastructure realizing that this is the key to their success. The only exception could be a lot failure where there are challenges but again such cases are once a while.
Q: How do you take care of small resellers & retailers who are doing business with you?
A: RP tech India has always been the first mover to support small town partners and that is the reason we have this huge distribution infrastructure of 50 branches with service centres. Besides our a complete portfolio of Components Peripherals, PCD and Networking allow smaller partners to buy all their required material from one-stop-shop/ RP tech. Apart from this, we regularly run breathe schemes, channel meets and product training programs for these channel partners. We recently conducted a mammoth Channel Satisfaction Survey to understand the channel sentiments and improve on our offerings and services. This activity has received hugely positive reviews from the channel partners across the country.
