RP Tech increased Asus’s market share to double digits within three years of the partnership. The figures were impressive and attracted many other companies. Logitech, a Swiss company at the time, soon became a client of RP Tech to expand its business in India. RP Tech’s robust distribution network and customised strategies led to remarkable growth for Logitech in the Indian market. Within 2-3 years of the partnership, Logitech gained a substantial market share and today leads the keyboard and mouse segment in the country.

RP Tech also helped Sony expand its footprint across India. Sony was the largest company for floppy disk drives, CD-ROM monitors, and CRT monitors at that point. RP Tech scripted a similar story for Sony with its evolving distribution network. The company’s clientele was growing consistently, with giant players in the segment fostering partnerships. The company consistently expanded its geographical presence and consumer base, currently serving over 60 clients, including tech behemoths like HP, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, Intel, AMD, and Nvididia.

Along with the distribution network, the company also opened service centres across locations, adding more value to stakeholders and enhancing the consumer experience. The service centres helped with after-sales services, crucial for all technology products. This 360-degree approach made the company a one-stop shop for its partners and differentiated it from competitors.

Over years of effort, the company developed a vast distribution network with 51 branch offices and 65 warehouses across India, covering over 700 towns and 600 districts. With a customer base of 9,900+, it continues to expand rapidly, adding approximately 10 per cent new customers annually, reflecting its strong market presence and growth in diverse regions.

Exploring new areas

“Our partnership with RP Tech has been instrumental in Asus’s rapid and extensive expansion across India. With their strong distribution network, we have successfully reached 423 districts across the country, and we are on track to cover over 600 districts by the end of 2024. This level of penetration would not have been possible without RP Tech’s unmatched presence, especially in smaller towns where their sales force and logistics capabilities have allowed us to bring our products to previously inaccessible markets. Over the past 30 years, our collaboration has evolved into a strategic alliance. With RP Tech’s continued support, I have no doubt Asus will achieve its goal of becoming the number one consumer and gaming PC brand in India,” says Arnold Su, Vice President – Consumer & Gaming PC, System Business Group, Asus India.

Pansari shared the company’s future plans, emphasising their commitment to broadening their product portfolio by expanding into surveillance systems to address the growing demand in the security sector. Additionally, RP Tech is exploring new avenues such as the distribution of AI data centre solutions, networking products, and enterprise solutions, all gaining significant market traction. This strategic focus on diversification across multiple technology verticals positions RP Tech to cater effectively to emerging technologies, ensuring sustained growth and relevance in a rapidly evolving market.

Moreover, the company is expanding into Large Format Displays (LFDs) to serve sectors like corporate, education, and retail. These displays enhance presentation capabilities, fuelling demand for digital transformation across various industries. By prioritising LFDs, RP Tech is strengthening its strategy to support IT infrastructure and digital solutions for corporate clients, aligning with the increasing need for advanced visual and communication tools in business environments. This expansion further diversifies RP Tech’s product offerings, enabling the company to meet the evolving demands of modern organisations.

Talking about numbers, RP Tech has maintained an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23 per cent over the past 20 years, weathering global financial crises like the 2008-09 downturn when its growth remained above 4-5 per cent. During stagnant market conditions in the early 2000s, the company achieved organic growth by increasing market share and expanding into new product lines. More recently, the Covid-19 pandemic fuelled a surge in the Indian PC market, growing from 10 million units to nearly 15 million, a trend from which RP Tech benefited significantly.

“As of FY24, our revenue at RP Tech surpassed Rs11,000 crore, up from Rs9,400 crore the previous year. We operate through two main business verticals: Lifestyle and IT Essentials (LIT), and Personal Systems, Enterprise, and Cloud Solutions (PES). The LIT vertical contributes 43 per cent of our revenue and includes essential components like motherboards, hard drives, and CPUs. The PES vertical, which accounts for 57 per cent of our revenue, focuses on finished products such as laptops, desktops, servers, and enterprise solutions,” observes Choudhary.

The PES vertical is experiencing faster growth, having started from a smaller base, and presents substantial growth potential in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. This growth trajectory highlights RP Tech’s ability to adapt and thrive in changing market conditions, ensuring its leadership position in the Indian tech distribution industry. With a robust distribution network, diversified business model, value-added services, and strategic product offerings, the company is poised to continue its expansion in the coming years.

Open to public

After maintaining consistent growth, the company decided to launch its IPO in 2024. The trust developed over the years of operation encouraged the company to make this move of going public and giving small investors an opportunity to invest in its growth-driven strategies and futuristic vision. The strong financial results shown over the years gave more confidence to the leaders to move ahead with the decision. Moreover, the opportunity presented by the thriving market and the growing demand for IT and PCs also motivated the company to go public and raise capital for further growth.

It finally issued the IPO on 14 February 2024, which was warmly received by investors. They raised Rs600 crore through the fresh issue, which was subscribed almost 60 times. The company plans to utilise this capital to further expand its operations into untapped markets and enhance its consumer base. As the country is undergoing a shift to digitisation and the demand for PCs is growing, it’s critical to invest more capital in the business to not only expand but also meet the increasing demand.

“We issued our IPO and it was well-received by investors. Our plan is to use this capital to expand into untapped markets and grow our consumer base. As the country shifts towards digitisation and the demand for PCs rises, it’s crucial for us to invest more in the business — not just for expansion, but also to meet this increasing demand,” adds Pansari, who has long prioritised strong corporate governance, demonstrating his commitment through quarterly board meetings where financial performance and accounts are thoroughly discussed. The company follows a proactive approach to financial monitoring, conducting weekly and monthly assessments of recoveries and outstanding payments to ensure robust cash flow management.

Transparency and accountability are key pillars of RP Tech’s operations, fostering strong relationships with investors and promoting sound financial management. Its financial governance structure is rigorous, supported by the implementation of SAP in 2006 for enterprise resource planning, which was further upgraded to SAP S/4 HANA during the Covid-19 pandemic for enhanced efficiency and integration. To ensure financial stability for both the business and its shareholders, RP Tech maintains comprehensive credit assessments, bolstered by credit insurance policies. These measures mitigate risk and reinforce confidence among stakeholders. Through these governance and operational strategies, RP Tech has built a resilient and forward-thinking business, ensuring sustainable growth and long-term success.

The company is investing heavily in AI data centres, recognising the growing demand for advanced storage, computing, and networking capabilities. By leveraging partnerships with major tech companies like Nvidia, Intel, and AMD, it is well-positioned to supply cutting-edge solutions.

In alignment with the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, Pansari disclosed that the company will be expanding its focus on embedded verticals by supplying essential components like microprocessors and memory for manufacturing. This strategic approach includes partnerships with prominent companies which will facilitate the integration of RP Tech-distributed products into a wide range of applications.

The company’s Embedded Lab in Bangalore plays a crucial role in this process by offering Proof of Concepts (POCs) and equipment testing to ensure seamless integration. For instance, RP Tech supplies microprocessors to Tata for use in automotive lighting systems, demonstrating its ability to cater to industry-specific needs. These initiatives underline RP Tech’s commitment to advancing technology infrastructure in India and beyond, positioning the company as a key player in the AI and manufacturing sectors.

According to Goenka, Rashi Peripherals’ growth strategy has focused on expanding its workforce to support operations across multiple branches and service centres throughout India. By investing in pre-sales, sales, and post-sales support, the company provides comprehensive 360-degree service to its customers, distinguishing itself from competitors. The enhanced workforce has played a crucial role in scaling the business, especially in addressing the diverse demands of product verticals such as component, lifestyle, power, enterprise, embedded networking, PCs, and peripherals.

In addition to its robust business operations, RP Tech has earned recognition as a top employer, being certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for three consecutive years. This accolade, based on independent employee feedback, highlights the company’s dedication to cultivating a positive, inclusive, and empowering work environment. The combination of workforce excellence and customer-centric service has been a cornerstone of RP Tech’s success and sustained growth.

Committed to society

In addition to its business initiatives, RP Tech has consistently prioritised education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. Choudhary discussed their CSR efforts, highlighting the company’s commitment to supporting educational projects, including the operation of schools serving over 1,300 students. These efforts focus on providing residential facilities and promoting student welfare. Additionally, RP Tech contributes to building hostels and developing educational institutions to create nurturing environments for students.

Vikas Sharma, CEO - Air Networking Solution, says: “Rashi Peripherals has been a trusted partner for over a decade, consistently providing exceptional support and collaboration. What truly sets RP Tech apart is their hands-on approach, with both local teams and product managers working closely with us to address our specific business needs. This direct involvement builds confidence and strengthens our operations. RP Tech’s focus on channel business and their strategic stock allocation ensures that we always have access to the right products at the right time, allowing us to meet customer demands effectively. Their dependable logistics system guarantees timely deliveries, which is crucial to maintaining customer satisfaction and loyalty. Over the years, this partnership has not only enabled us to better serve our clients but has also been instrumental in expanding our market presence. RP Tech’s unwavering commitment has been vital to our ongoing success, and I am confident that this strong collaboration will continue to fuel our growth and innovation in the years to come.”

Amul Mahale, Director - Micropoint Computers Pvt Limited, says: “RP Tech has been an invaluable partner in Micropoint Computers’ journey of growth and success. Their competitive pricing, which consistently outperforms the market, combined with timely deliveries, has allowed us to secure both new business and repeat orders, establishing long-term trust with our clients. One of the most significant advantages of working with RP Tech is their diverse product range, which enables us to offer a broad spectrum of solutions to meet the varying needs of our customers. Their dependable logistics ensure that our orders are always fulfilled on time, maintaining the high level of service that our clients expect from us. Moreover, their technical assistance and pre-sales support have given us a competitive edge, enabling us to enter new markets and strengthen our foothold in existing ones. Flexible payment terms and a highly responsive support team further cement RP Tech as a trusted partner, and we look forward to continuing this mutually beneficial relationship as we explore new growth opportunities.”

A significant part of their CSR efforts includes supporting CA students in hostels, providing a strong learning environment that boasts a high success rate for passing exams. Beyond education, RP Tech demonstrates its commitment to sustainability through e-waste awareness initiatives, helping reduce environmental impact and promote responsible disposal practices. These combined efforts reflect RP Tech’s long-term dedication to fostering social responsibility, creating educational opportunities, and contributing to a healthier, more sustainable future for communities across India.

Future strategy

RP Tech is strategically positioned for future growth, especially in the expanding data centre market. Partnering with major enterprises, the company delivers AI-based GPU server solutions to meet the increasing demand for computing power. The implementation of the Data Protection Act in India has fuelled a surge in local data centre development, a trend from which RP Tech is poised to benefit significantly.

With its robust foundation in AI-driven products and cloud solutions, the company is well-equipped to capitalise on the growing demand for IT infrastructure across industries. As sectors continue to embrace digital transformation, RP Tech anticipates accelerated growth in its tech offerings, reinforcing its leadership in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.