HP enhances Smart Office portfolio for high-growth SMB market in AsPac

Building on its position as a leading provider of technology solutions to small and medium businesses (SMBs) in the Asia-Pacific, HP recently announced one of its broadest-ever enhancements to the HP Smart Office portfolio of computing, imaging and printing products and solutions targeted at this high-growth segment in the Asia-Pacific.

The company announced a refreshed SMB portal which now promises easy access to interactive solutions and information for SMBs.

HP also launched a superior HP Total Care program in the Asia-Pacific, further enriching one of the industry’s most comprehensive lifecycle support and service program for customers of all types.

"SMBs are growing at a rapid rate in the Asia-Pacific and HP is well-placed to provide the level of support and service that they need," said Adrian Koch, senior vice president of the Personal Systems Group of HP Asia-Pacific and Japan.

"We understand that business is very personal for SMBs and HP has the broadest portfolio of products and end-to-end solutions to help take care of their business," he said.

He added: "To enhance the way our SMB customers experience technology, HP has launched HP Total Care, which offers forward-thinking businesses innovative, practical and personal solutions to help their business become more competitive. HP Total Care is a clear differentiator for HP in the SMB/commercial space."

According to a recent study by Access Markets International (AMI) Partners, for the first time IT spending by SMBs in the Asia-Pacific and Japan region overtook that of large businesses.

At end-2005, of the $171-billion total IT spending in the Asia-Pacific and Japan region, SMBs (one to 999 employees) accounted for 58 percent, and large enterprises (1,000-plus employees) dropped to 42 percent.

"Going by current trends, we expect IT spending by large enterprises to decline this year and next," said Raju Chellam, vice president for the Asia-Pacific of AMI Partners.

Chellam added that SMBs are increasing IT investments in an array of areas, including computing, infrastructure, data storage, security, mobility and applications development, and deployment.

"That should be good news for vendors like HP which are well-positioned to offer solutions that cover key areas of focus that SMBs are most concerned about," he said.