OPPO, a leading global technology brand dedicated to provide consumers across America, Africa, Europe, Oceania and Asia with pioneering products. OPPO is committed to designing beautiful technology products with an open attitude. Mike Wang, CEO, OPPO, has nearly two decades of experience in mobile handset industry and brings with him a wealth of management and leadership expertise. In the current role, Mike is seen building strong marketing; sales and service centers network for brand in India and achieve company’s vision to be a leader in the Indian market.
- Team Estrade: How has been your work experience till now in India?
Mike Wang: We entered India in January 2014 and have received an overwhelming response in India. The Indian smartphone market is growing very fast, and the supply for feature phones is slowly disappearing. There has been positive feedback from customers about the product quality in terms of the design & innovation, and on the after sales service. Till date, we have launched 20 smartphones in the Indian market. The Smartphone boom in India indicates the time is just right to focus on expansion plans and increasing volume in India to a comparable level with the China market. 2016 will be a year of expansion for us and we are targeting 300% growth by next year.
- Team Estrade: How do you look at the competition with other Smartphone vendors in India?
Mike Wang: I can only speak for OPPO and our experience has been entirely positive. India is a huge market – much like China. And it is experiencing rapid change and growth- again just like China. The two markets have a lot in common but I would say that the diversity of India is different. Indian consumers are comparably more diversified, both culturally and in terms of tech-savvies. That makes for a very competitive landscape and means that we have to invest in the right infrastructure and marketing presence that is locally relevant.
- Team Estrade: How do you ensure that your competitive strategy aligns with the market?
Mike Wang: India is a very competitive market as far as the mobile and smartphone market is concerned. However, we believe that ultimately it comes down to the product and to the consumer’s experience with the product. That is why we have such an emphasis on the quality of design and innovation, on using the best possible technology and materials in all our products. We are focusing on giving our consumer best of services in terms of quality, technology and features which can be very well seen in our current range of models. OPPO has a different business model. E-commerce channels are growing fast, but also the general trade/retail market is also huge and growing.
“The Indian rural market is catching up fast and we are trying our best to cater to the affordable budget Smartphone segment and provide the best service & quality to the people”
- Team Estrade: How do you foresee the Smartphone market in India?
Mike Wang: On the brand aspect, we expect our brand will become a well-known name for its innovation, quality and service over the next five years. The company has plans to expand more service centers this year. As of now, we have 120 service centers across India and are targeting to open 200 service centres by end of 2015. We also have hot line services to communicate with the customers. As far as R&D Centers in India is concerned we are considering it but cannot comment on it as of now.
- Team Estrade: What technology trends are likely to transform Smartphone industry over the next 5 years?
Mike Wang: The ongoing trend of affordable smartphones will continue in the coming year as well with expected launch of more mid segment smartphones which will fit the budget and deliver the best in class experience to the customers. The innovative nature of the Smartphone industry has been steadily gaining ground in recent years and in a competitive market, manufacturers look towards providing users with features that give their products the cutting edge. Fast charging, better camera quality, fast data speed/quality and low-cost data connectivity options with introduction of 4G will be major game changers in 2016.
- Team Estrade: What’s next for OPPO Smartphones? What are you looking forward to?
Mike Wang: The Indian smartphone market is growing very fast, and the supply for feature phones is slowly disappearing. We believe that Smartphone market share would increase quickly in coming years. With the advent of affordable smartphones intended for the Indian customers and increasingly low-cost data connectivity options, more people are shifting to smartphones and mobile Internet. The Indian rural market is catching up fast and we are trying our best to cater to the affordable budget Smartphone segment and provide the best service & quality to the people. Our R&D team is diligently working to come up with the best and the latest and products that delight our customers and we will be investing more on localized R&D in India.
Oppo will become a well-known name for innovation
