Prabhu RamConsumers can expect discounts on smartphones later this month as online-focused handset brands such as Asus, Lenovo, Realme and Huawei/Honor look to get rid of their unsold inventory before the new FDI in ecommerce policy comes into effect from February 1.
A person familiar with the matter said that Huawei/Honor, Asus, Realme and Lenovo are believed to be the ones in big trouble, while the likes of OnePlus don’t work with much inventory and hence won’t be desperate to liquidate stocks.
Cybermedia Research’s Head- Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), Prabhu Ram said that major online-only brands would need to pause and reflect on their India strategies, and their business models.
“They would look at a mix of online and offline sales to liquidate their current inventory. In the January-March quarter, the focus for major smartphone brands will be on the building, deepening and leveraging their offline retail network,” he added.
