by MTHULISI SIBANDA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – BUOYED by recently-launched, artificial intelligence-powered solutions and its dominance in Southern Africa outshining the global share, Lenovo is upbeat at increasing its market share in the continent.
This is according to Yugen Naidoo, General Manager at Lenovo Southern Africa, in an interview with CAJ News Africa.
The executive told the agency that in the continent’s largest economy, South Africa, Lenovo continued to lead the consumer notebook and desktop segment with its products such as the Legion, Yoga and Ideapad range, which contribute to the company’s 22,6 percent market share.
“The businesses success in South Africa has mirrored the global success. Globally our PC (personal computer) market share is 24,3 percent,” he said.
“Across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, Lenovo has been able to be successful with a market share of 34,4 percent, making us number one in the region.”
Naidoo said Lenovo aimed to continue increasing its market share by leveraging on our AI-driven innovation.
During the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, United States in January, the business showcased 60 new product announcements, including the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 rollable laptop, lightweight ThinkPad, ThinkPad X9 and the Yoga Slim 9i.
“These are products we hope to launch in the continent in 2025,” Naidoo said.
Through this, Naidoo pledged, Lenovo pledges to continue delivering products that are designed to empower professionals, gamers, creators and students, through delivering smarter technology and AI innovation to delivering personalised, productive and protected solutions.
“Lenovo continues to push the boundaries of innovation in Africa, we plan to continue this trend by leading the way in delivering powerful desktop and visual solutions tailored to the evolving needs of our customers,” Naidoo said.
The Chinese multinational is nonetheless wary of the challenges, including economic instability, high import costs and limited access to the latest technology faced by the PC industry in Africa.
“These issues are compounded by infrastructural deficits and a lack of skilled workforce. However, there are promising opportunities on the horizon,” Naidoo said.
“AI adoption is one such opportunity. AI can revolutionize various sectors by improving efficiency, enhancing decision-making, and fostering innovation.”
For instance, Naidoo said, AI-powered PCs can streamline workflows, enhance security, and provide personalized user experiences.
Additionally, the Windows 11 refresh offers a strategic advantage. As businesses transition from Windows 10, they can leverage advanced AI-enabled devices that future-proof IT operations.
“This transition not only ensures compliance with the latest software but also enhances security and operational efficiency,” Naidoo explained in conclusion.
– CAJ News