The most significant growth in the current financial year has been in the multi functional devices (MFD) and digital projector (DP) segments. Home and small office users have triggered the growth of MFDs, whereas corporate users are responsible for the growth of digital projectors. I expect to see the MFD and DP market growing at approximately 30-40 percent, not just this year, but in the next two or three years to come.

Epson, too, has seen the market share triple for MFDs and photo printers in the last nine to ten months.

Certainly, the number of home users opting for MFDs will continue to rise. This is because, customers have in recent times, become more conscious of the evaluating the true value of the product, rather than being swayed by lowest prices alone. So, while price is still a major determinant of buying decisions, the value proposition of the product is the first criterion.

As for the Union Budget, I don’t see it bringing anything substantially different from what is being offered in the current year.

As mentioned earlier, MFDs will continue to be the key drivers, not just for Epson, but for the peripheral industry at large.