* By Indika De Zoysa 

When it comes to business, we’re often reminded that there is no one-size fits all strategy to success. That is to say, just because a certain approach worked well in Europe or the Americas it doesn’t guarantee success here in Asia.

For instance, if you’re running a social media engagement platform across geographies, you would tailor content based on the needs of the individual markets you’re speaking with to enhance impact and engagement.
With the influence of technology on our everyday lives showing no signs of slowing down, this level of personalisation must now extend to the design of the computing devices we regularly use in Asia – from smartphones to PCs, and tablets to computer software.

To give an example, Intel research suggests that in India phablets are the preferred device for voice and accessing data on the go, while tablets are used to consume data in the home[1]. Likewise, the cost of connected devices is often cited as a barrier to smartphone adoption across Asia. Therefore, to be successful, manufacturers must build devices that accommodate these unique consumption habits and address market demands.

Powering the Intelligent Generation

The most successful organisations in this new era of local innovation are those that drive the required development from the markets at which the products are aimed, helping grow local economies further. Businesses now need to design specifically for Asia. Encouragingly, new devices are coming to market, such as those built by Taiwanese technology company ASUS, opening up new opportunities and empowering a new intelligent generation of users across the continent.

If Asia-Pacific and Japan is successful in overcoming the barriers to smartphone adoption, such as by delivering affordable devices and implementing the necessary communication networks, the region’s mobile device market is expected to become the second largest by 2020. As such, there is still much work for us to do to overcome these issues and offer a vast portfolio of mobile devices addressing regional needs.

By working to resolve these issues today, we can ensure markets across Asia continue to realise the potential of smart connected devices, helping drive productivity and maintain the region’s increasing economic influence.

Designed in Asia, Made in Asia, For Asia

At Intel, we’re committed to enriching the lives of all through technology, and in early 2015 we launched a new processor specifically for emerging markets – the Intel® Atom™ x3 processor. Aimed at entry and value smartphones and tablets, the Atom x3 processor enables manufacturers to bring to market devices offering premium capabilities at a fraction of the cost, empowering the region to realise its growth potential and the positive economic impact of connected devices.

Besides its capabilities, one of the most critical aspects of the Intel Atom x3 processor is that it is designed in Asia, made in Asia, for Asia. The Intel Atom x3 processor started life around two years ago, with the architecture team in Singapore – with collaborators across Asia and the Intel worldwide team – setting out to build a new mobile platform aimed at powering cost effective devices.

Based on their local expertise of market demands in Asia – a hunger for cost effective devices – and expert capabilities, the team was perfectly placed to bring this product to market. With the first prototype, the team highlighted the significant value this offering would bring to Intel and its partners and customers.

Over the next year, the team in Singapore worked with Intel teams across the globe, including China, Vietnam, US, France, India and Israel, on the testing of the product to develop the processor we see today.

Inspire Innovation

The innovation seen in Singapore is testament to the importance of designing to meet the needs of a specific market, and evidence of the innovative work taking place across Asia. We hope that beyond powering a new range of connected devices, the Intel Atom x3 also acts as an inspiration to all innovators across the region.

With the Intel Atom x3 processor – alongside our investment in the China Technology Ecosystem to accelerate the development of smart devices, and opening of new innovation centres across Asia – Intel aims to equip Asia with the tools and knowledge it needs to successfully create for the local market. Designing in Asia, for Asia must become common across all business areas if the region is to fulfil its economic potential, and we’re looking forward to seeing a growing range of offerings specifically built for Asia’s new and burgeoning Intelligent Generations. - (The writer is the Country Business Manager of Intel Sri Lanka)