BrandsIT talks to Mariusz Kuczynski of iiyama Poland about the market, future prospects and opportunities.

BrandsIT: Sales of monitors are declining year on year, how do you intend to deal with the current situation?

Mariusz Kuczynski: Where do you get the information that it is decreasing? According to my data, the monitor market may not be growing, but it is by no means declining. After the market correction in 2010/2011, the monitor market has been stable for several years, with sales in Poland at a level of around one million units per year. It is true that there is a noticeable drop in demand in the retail segment, but the main losers are manufacturers of cheap equipment. On the other hand, premium products, such as iiyama, are selling better and better. The market has also clearly expanded and diversified. There is a clear increase in the segment of monitors for gamers, and new branches such as digital signage, which includes large-format LFD monitors and interactive solutions, are gaining in importance. A particularly important task for any manufacturer is to thoroughly research the market in terms of the needs of individual and business customers. Extensive research allows us to avoid a situation in which the product we offer would not find interest and recognition in the eyes of consumers. This is why we produce industrial, educational and business monitors, monitors for gamers, graphic designers and photographers, as well as advanced touch panels, which are already commonly found in Polish museums and popular restaurants. The wide range of products on offer, together with our awareness of the needs of our end customers, allows us not to fall into a vacuum and avoid creating products for which there is simply no room in the market, for which there is no demand. The modern customer is aware enough of his or her needs to be able to choose a monitor perfectly tailored for a specific application, and iiyama can deliver such a monitor.

BrandsIT: The gaming hardware segment is experiencing growth, what opportunities and threats does iiyama face?

Mariusz Kuczynski: G-Master series gaming monitors are really popular today. Gamers are eager to buy our devices, and the industry media speak highly of their capabilities. In other words, we are currently managing to make good use of the opportunity to make a name for ourselves in the minds of gamers and to avoid the dangers of mispricing individual products or mismatched offerings. We know that all gamers cannot be seen in the same way, that different target groups expect different types of equipment. For fans of fast and dynamic games, we offer monitors with a very high refresh rate of 144 Hz. Fans of strategy titles, where the size of the working area counts, which affects the efficient management of units, will find monitors displaying images in WQHD or UHD 4K resolutions perfectly suited to this type of games among our G-Masters. Our range is so broad that we cater for both professional and casual gamers, which I count myself among, meeting their requirements in terms of equipment capabilities and price. In this way, we avoid risks and seize the opportunity that comes from understanding modern gamers.

BrandsIT: Monitors are an integral part of the equipment of state institutions, what should Resellers look out for when tendering?

Mariusz Kuczynski: Quality, durability and warranty care are three key features. Our monitors are distinguished by the possibility of extending the equipment warranty to as much as 5 years, advanced LFD models are built on robust metal frames, and several types of matrix used allow for the appropriate selection of equipment for specific tasks. These three features contribute to the versatility of our monitors, but the most important task facing resellers is to select the right equipment. An office monitor should have good ergonomics, an adjustable stand and tilt angle, while the most advanced models should be able to work in portrait mode. The quality of the matrix is also of great importance, especially in the case of equipment for advertising agencies, where graphic designers need matrices with saturated colours and wide viewing angles. The real challenge for resellers is always to know the company’s needs properly. It is only in this step that the desired features can be selected and then the best value for money, durability and warranty care can be sought.

BrandsIT: Touchscreen monitors are becoming increasingly popular, why is this trend and where can they be used?

Mariusz Kuczynski: Touch panels owe their growing popularity to their ease of use, which is particularly important in commercial applications, and the trend towards digitalisation and improved customer access to various services or goods. Today, touchscreen monitors are not only not unusual in industrial plants, specialist workshops, healthcare facilities or educational establishments, but are actually something desirable. They streamline the work of staff, increase productivity, help with document management and facilitate the selection of specific products. The possibility of implementing touchscreens in various public institutions translates into their ubiquity. Consumers do not just want to see the content displayed, they want and need to be able to interact with it. It is for this reason that touchscreens can be found almost everywhere, from diagnostic stations to shopping malls and restaurants or museums. What is more, there is no indication that they will reach saturation point and start to lose popularity in the near future. Touch technology is constantly evolving, opening up new possibilities. Let me give you an example: in our range of touchscreens back in 2011, we had three models from 15 to 19 inches in just one technology. Today, we have 52 Touchscreen models from 15 to 86 inches in as many as five different technologies, including the most advanced capacitive technology – projective capacitive. The future lies in touchscreens and touch interaction, and iiyama is actively helping to make this future a reality.

BrandsIT: What plans does iiyama have, what new products does it intend to introduce?

Mariusz Kuczynski: iiyama plans to continue doing what it does best, which is to continue producing excellent computer monitors. We are expanding into all segments of our product range, constantly ensuring their quality and adapting them to market requirements. This summer we have the launches of our new G-Master series monitors from 24.5 to 32 inches in the Black Hawk and Red Eagle lines for pro-gaming. We are also working on the design of our monitors, currently updating the design of our higher-end models to edge-to-edge (bezel-less). We will also soon debut a 5K model for graphic designers and designers with an IPS matrix in a sophisticated design. And in August, a new series of large-format screens of 65, 75 and 86 inches with 4K UHD resolution dedicated to educational applications will go on sale. Towards the end of the year, our range of open frame touch screens will be expanded with a new series with diagonal sizes from 10 to 24 inches aimed at the retail segment. Things are definitely going to be happening at iiyama.