HP in 2013, the return to normal

HP went through a couple of years ago a rather turbulent period, which reached its peak with the announcement of its previous CEO Léo Apotheker that he was considering selling the PC segment of the company. The news caused quite a stir and aroused serious doubts about the future of the company, but the arrival of Meg Whitman had the effect of bringing some sanity to the firm and opened a process of changes and cuts that starts exhibiting its first fruits.

HP never left, but in 2013 he has managed to achieve normality away the ghosts of the past. The year was marked by the improvement that has experienced in recent months in the PC market and the innovations in the professional market segment and printers. You have primary keys that have marked the 2013 HP.

The U.S. Company has gone ahead with the restructuring process that opened Meg Whitma n to take over the reins of the company in 2011. A very thorough process which aims HP diet costs and prepare for the coming years. Whitman was very clear from the outset by stating that it was a long process that would take several years. The consistency has been the key note speech at this executive, and its work is beginning to bear the first fruits.

In data collected by Gartner in the third quarter on the sale of computers, HP got back on the path of positive results to increase its sales of light way. Though this is a growth of 1.8% over the third quarter of last year, this is a very important fact for the firm as it represents one of the first clear signs of recovery. And bear in mind that during this period, the PC market fell over 8 %. Good news to address the year 2014, in which the company is expected to return to the positive results.

One of the keys to the past few years has been the meteoric growth of the Chinese Company Lenovo, that kingdom to the crisis in this market has meant a turning point in the situation. The Asian giant has overcome the U.S. Company as the top seller in the market, and for some months the two companies fight for leadership of this segment. According to the same data released by Gartner, Lenovo is just above midpoint HP, and the recovery of the U.S. Company the fight for first place is exciting adventure.

One of the fields that can tip the balance of power between HP and Lenovo is the tablets. Both of them are investing heavily in this segment. The U.S. Company this year launched their first tablet with Android, the HP Slate 7, in an attempt to gain foothold in the market of the most affordable devices on this platform. This investment has strengthened this fall with the announcement of several more models with this operating system formats seven, eight and ten inches. The premise of bringing to market inexpensive devices that can cope with the more established companies like models is repeated across these models Apple or Samsung. Indeed, HP faces in this field having strong leadership Samsung in the tablet market with Android (a domain also found in smartphones).

HP has shone especially in the professional field. The U.S. Company has launched a number of professional devices that the company’s efforts are appreciated to channel the new market trends. Teams like the HP EliteBook 840 14 inch combine a very thin and slim design (just beyond the kilo and a half) with significant improvements in areas such as autonomy (holds up to sixteen hours of use) or connectivity.

Indeed, the company has begun to deploy a 3G connection service in collaboration with several operators that will allow plans to offer fixed or monthly connection without roaming throughout Europe. Moreover, most of the new business notebooks that the company has deployed in recent months include the option to have a 3G module that reinforces the passion for mobility.

This vocation is also found in the field of printers. For example, the company has introduced a few accessories that will allow us to have wireless connectivity in older computers and print from a mobile or a tablet. Have also been launched printers that leverage technology NFC mobile phones and tablets present to print from one of these teams just approach the machine. In addition, HP is also investing very strongly in the development of software solutions that enable deploying a comprehensive and coherent provision for companies, from computers to network solutions.

Long been rumored on a HP around the smartphone market. It should be remembered that the company already tried an entry in this segment with its operating system WebOS, a proposal that ended in complete failure and caused the company decided to abandon this field. But since then there have been voices and reports that suggest that the firm will go for smartphones (most probably with the operating system Android). 2014 could be the final year of the return, and rumor has it that the first smartphones be directed to emerging markets such as Asia or Africa with entry price (under 200 euros).

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the will of HP is to offer a portfolio of products that covers all the needs of the user and the company, so it seems a matter of time that the American company tried to embark again in the world of smartphones. Anyway, expect a difficult challenge because it is a very competitive market almost completely dominated by Samsung and Apple.